Take two, try again tomorrow

When you have the addiction are times you need To satisfy the monkey on your back. Even though it's only been a couple of weeks I desperately want to fly on Christmas Eve. The perfectly nice morning was wasted in  fixing people's cars. By early afternoon I finally made it to the airport, Inc. clouded up wasn't raining. I waited it out, hoping to find clear spot between the low SCUD rolling in. Finally about 230 it brightened up I pulled the airplane out finish the preflight and fired the engine as soon as it was warm up or the cold and took off on 34. It was clear to the North I could see the buildings from Seattle, but as I turned on the downwind looking south I could see a low haze and extended all the way to the ground beginning about Highway 18. Just as I made my turn for base for 34 I was running into the haze. I pulled off a great landing making a. I taxied back to the beginning and did it again. The haze is getting closer and as I turned my  base for 34 I was on the edge of the haze. There was no view to the South., And the overcast is too low to clear the Hills on either side comfortably. That was enough, two hops and put the airplane away. Dr. Dave's prescription for what ails you when you got the flying bug

The new Co-pilot

Sometimes I forget but not everybody can pilot a plane. One regular copilot, Corey, was flying with me and south to said when asked him to hold the yoke, OMG, I would've been better off just letting go. He immediately began over correcting us in karting us all over the sky, it was as good a ride as I ever got a dirt bike. I immediately knew was time for copilot lessons. We took off on a Saturday morning, my treat, and made eastbound turnout took toward the Enumclaw plateau. And first I had him just follow through holding onto the controls as I flew the aircraft, then I gave him full control of the open for short periods, while I use the writer pedals. Next I demonstrated the red of petals by stomping them myself. Then I had them operate both yoke and rudder pedals, afterwards first having involved me through a couple of smooth turns. He quickly was able to hold altitude and make smooth gentle turns in the either direction. Really not much more is needed from a copilot, that along with some radio work, and Corey's really a valuable asset anytime we fly. We discussed emergency procedures should I be incapacitated. Since we fly local most of the time, I directed him to call this Seattle center frequency and declare a Mayday telling them he wanted land on one of the three longest runways in the area, SeaTac, Paine, or McCord. Almost anyone can fly down over a runway chop the power and let the airplane settle down and survive it with a Cessna. The good ol' Cessna land O-Matic landing gear will take  incredible abuse. After a few practice sessions, I let him fly from Crest to the Supermall." My plane"and soon we're in the pattern and landing back at Auburn,. Well, at least I landed I think Corey was airborne for another twenty-four hours at least. Unable to qualify as a pilot, is going to make a great copilot, and I can see where it have more adventures in the future.

Amy's Anacortes party

Everybody loves a party, and this year's Anacortes fly in party at the end of the year was one of the best we've had. Amy promoted it online in the Puget Sound aviation Meetup group showed up with all of one plane, the 182 with Rhonda Corey and myself. We took off later in the afternoon had a nice smooth trip with flight following North Anacortes. We arrived just as in the flour bombing competition, got to see a few drops, consummate act we. We tied down a crap down the ramp into the hangar. Several people arrived and more soon arrived into we had quite a group around the hangar. I met lots of friends but I didn't know I had, got a good look at Faisal's beautiful Cherokee, and got to chat down on the numerous potluck items people supplied. Fortunately the fuel burn off off set the weight gain in my stomach for weight and balance on the aircraft. They had wine tasting for those who drink alcohol, of course I always supply myself with my own root beer. They had a DJ, and played music that was appropriate for all ages, and soon they were people dancing. Myself I stayed off the floor to avoid bears with the both myself and this disgust by others. Finally well after dark we decided to leave and mounted our trusty steed 182. On the southbound climb out with the deck angle high there was little to see in the darkness around. Piloting one compass heading, with the attitude into dictator to keep the wings level, we rose to 2500 feet) was above the surrounding hills. Leveling off we can now see all the hills silhouetted by the likes behind them. Nothing is quite as beautiful as flying on a clear evening under the stars apply to the city in the distance in the rural areas below you sparsely a sparkling lights of the people living below. We picked up Whidbey, got flight following South till finally arriving at SeaTac and taking the transition across to the Auburn Valley where home awaited us. Despite flying in and out of Auburn numerous times even in the evening and in darkness, I still mistook some lights and turned Long on approach before finally making a smooth touchdown on 34 at Auburn.

Quillaute is an abandoned air base near Forks Wa.  It has a porta potty(real nice one in a shelter) and a NOAA weather station. It was an ideal place for a summer fly in and BBQ.  despite low ceilings in the morning , 20 airplanes and fifty people arrived to enjoy the clear afternoon.  The flight in took me across the Olympic mountains, a few miles from Mt Olympus itself.   The views were incredible.  After brats & dogs we had a flour bombing contest.  It was the first time I have seen the target hit.    It was not me, flying a 182 ar 85 knts in a 20 knt X-wind ,I had my hand full just staying near the airport, and in stable flight.  I was a bit intimidated , trying to handle it that low & slow.  The NOAA weather guy said it was the most plane he has ever seen at UIL, and our aerial photo of the base in WW2 only showed 17 planes on the ramp, we had 20.  I am making the unofficial claim of the largest turn out at UIL since WW2.