As part of my service to the community, one of my many organizations has received flights for fund raising. Recently I was able to fulfill one of those gifts by taking up a young father and his two children. The flight began at South Jersey Airport, (KVAY). Cameras flashed as the parents took multiple photos of the family and kids and you could feel the excitement in the air. It was a little windier than I had hoped it would be, but it didn't seem to bother the kids. After walking around the plane and trying to explain several details about the trip it was time to load up. More pictures and an opportunity for baby brother to sit in the cockpit kept us busy until time for take off. Other family lived a little north of the airport and gave us a local place to fly. We settled into the plane with one of the kids in the front with me and the other in the back with dad! Once every one was settled in, it was time to start up and do radio checks. Before long we were heading down the runway and waving to mom and brother on the ground.
Mom got some pretty good pictures! As we settled into a nice 1400' trip and started searching for the family homes. I had already given Jeff some suggestions on how to use dead reckoning, so it wasn't long before he began spotting locations that were easily recognized. We were able to zero in on the development and Jeff discovered he could still text his family to verify that they saw us circling over head.
After making several passes around the neighborhood, we took a ride north east and soon found Great Adventure and made a circle around the park. Then we headed back towards the airport and diverted west a little to fly over the family home. After an hour flight the kids were ready for more. Realizing were I was, I decided to make a nice easy 3 mile final for runway 8 at South Jersey. A nice easy landing brought the kids clapping and we taxied back to the tie down with a family with memories to last a life time. It was worth the time and the trip and even the expense!
