Thanks Giving Flight Home

So, we delayed our return home for a day due to the forecasts for high winds on Saturday.  We had built an extra day into our travel plans anyway and with the winds at home fore casted at 15-25 with gusts of 30, we decided we would extend our visit until Sunday.  I am the ultimate conservative especially when it comes to my flying.  It's probably the reason that I'm still taking trips like this and filing a VFR flight plan instead of an IFR flight plan.  I know, I know, I just have to get over it and utilized the system.  It's coming slowly.  Anyway, the extra day gave us a chance to drive into Roanoke with Dawn to see her classroom  The ride in was a beautiful ride with the mountains of Virginia on both sides of us.  Just awesome to see.

 

As we arrived in Roanoke, you couldn't help but notice this beautiful city tucked in the mountains.  I remember flying Dawn here for here job interview and as we came over the mountains at 5500', there was the city tucked in the valley below us.  Just spectacular to see.

 

Dawn's class room looked so nice.  We are so proud of both of our girls.  They both finished college and have taken jobs teaching and making a difference in the lives of young people.  Dawn's student are very special young people and need a lot of encouragement, discipline and understanding.



 

It didn't take Lynn long to get busy cleaning and decorating the room.  You just can't keep a good woman down.  Before long the room was clean and decorated, ready for the children on Monday.

 

We spent the rest of the day driving around and looking for some possible housing opportunities in the Roanoke area.  Although the town house in Lynchburg is wonderful, it leaves Dawn with a 1 hour and 10 minute drive each way to work.  She is fortunate to have two other ladies that share the ride with her and rotate the responsibility.  There have been many good friends that Dawn has made during here time in Virginia.

 

After looking at some areas and a nice lunch, it was time for the drive home.  Up on the hill was a beautiful site of a new church that's been built just outside of the Roanoke city limits. 

 

I filed both VFR and IFR for the flight home on Sunday.  Our plan's were to head out around 10:00 am and be home some where's around 12:30 or 1:00 PM.  With an early start, we were at the airport by 9:30 am and took care of our gas bill, did the pre-flight for the plane and load and started for the ride home.  VFR conditions on the way home, kept me on the VFR path.  After a little warm up and a good mag check we were cleared for departure on Runway 22.  Winds were variable and 926GZ took flight about 1/3 the way down the 6500' runway.  I decided to level off at 5500' and we moved along nicely with a good tailwind at 145 knots.  There were times when I looked down and saw the 530 reading 149 knots.  Not too back for my nice little Cherokee 235. 

 

As we said goodbye to the mountains we cautiously watch a layer of clouds above us at about 7500'.  This layer stayed right there all the way home.  Over Pautuxent the turbulence was light and I continued to watch for unpredicted situations.  A layer of few clouds over Dover turned into broken over the Delaware and the winds had picked up a little to 260 at 10 with gusts to 19.  As we slipped over the Delaware I decided to make a nice slow descent down to 3500' through a nice opening in the clouds.  Philly approach cleared us to South Jersey and we communicated with a Cessna departing South Jersey to the south as we headed north.  With no one in the pattern it was a very easy ride into downwind from crosswind for 26 at South Jersey.  After a nice easy base to final turn, we floated gently down to the runway and declared another wonderful flight home.  Thinking about it,  realized that we just spent a holiday weekend making a 12 - 15 hour driving trip in a 4 hour flight.  This makes all the training so worth wild.  Til the next time, enjoy your flights and stay safe!





Thanks Giving in Lynchburg

Wow, it seems like it's been forever since I have posted on here, but finally we took a trip.  After all, when your daughter and mother move away to Lynchburg, VA, what else do you do for the Holiday's but travel.   We watched the weather all week and it went from looking bad to looking great.  Tuesday I stopped over and check 926GZ all out and had fuel delivered.  Since we were traveling with our oldest daughter, Danelle, I did my weights and balance calculations to give us as much fuel as I could without over loading.  Wednesday we were all packed and loaded by 12:00 noon.  After receiving a Standard Briefing everything was a go.  By 12:30 we were rolling down Runway 8 and lifting off into the clear blue sky.  McGuire gave us flight following for just a few minutes and then handed us off to Philly.  Philly approach was soo busy that they put us on hold.  As we traveled south, it became more and more apparent that they was no way Philly Approach was going to be able to help us.  We had commercial flights all around us as we continued our path south across the Delaware Bay and towards Dover.  By the time we reached Dover, we were able to pick up flight following with Dover Approach. 

As we flew over Dover, we could see some military aircraft working below us.  It was quite a sight. The air was smooth at 6500' and with a little tail wind we moved along nicely at about 139 knots.   A couple of freq. changes and we were soon coming up on Patuxent Air Force Base we made our turn to the west and headed towards Lynchburg.  Just over one hour in the air and we had one hour to go.  As we turned towards the west, we couldn't help notice how beautiful the Chesapeake Bay and the marina's looked below us.  Danelle got this wonderful picture with her I phone.

The turn towards the West slowed us just a little, but not much.  As we crossed over I-95 I couldn't help thinking how if we were driving we wouldn't even be to Baltimore yet.  The closer we got to the mountains, the more I noticed the thickening of the layer of haze below us.  Still able to see the ground, we could tell that there was temperature difference going on as we moved further inland.  About 30 miles out, I began and slow gentle descent into Lynchburg.  May have started a little early, but I was a little concerned about the layer of haze.  Of course about 10 miles out and at 2,500' we began to feel the mountain effect.  Still the haze began to clear and everything looked beautiful below.  Roanoke Approach switched us over to Lynchburg Tower which asked us to report midfield downwind for Runway 4.  I moved a little lower and prepared for the pattern.

Liberty University peeked just over the mountain as we prepared for our entry into the pattern and before you know it we were pattern level and midfield.  I reported the same to Lynchburg Tower which cleared us for Runway 4.  A nice gentle descent and turn to Runway 4 and we touched down just beyond the strips.  After being handed off to ground we departed the runway and rolled over to Falwell Aviation.  Just a little over 2 hours and we had made the 360 mile trip from South Jersey Airport to Lynchburg Regional.  We were ready for Dawn to pick us up and head to the town home for a wonderful Thanks Giving.  We all have so much to be Thankful for and at this special time of the year I pray that each of you that reads this takes time to REMEMBER what God has blessed you with.  Enjoy the day, enjoy your family, but don't forget to REMEMBER.  HAPPY THANKS GIVING!