a b-17 visited KJYO (leesburg airport) today. i didn't go for a ride but i did take (a lot) of pictures. you can find a few at:
http://flickr.com/photos/dougtoppin/sets/72157607031708979
it can only be described as iconic.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
a reason to get your instrument rating
this aopa course (vfr into imc) is an excellent example of why to get your instrument rating:
http://flash.aopa.org/asf/acs_vfrimc/
(note that it's a bit slow loading, don't give up while waiting for it)
http://flash.aopa.org/asf/acs_vfrimc/
(note that it's a bit slow loading, don't give up while waiting for it)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
a little pattern work and back taxi practice
i felt like doing a little KJYO (leesburg airport) and the weather was perfect today so i left work early and did some pattern work. work is being done on the taxiways so the NOTAMs say this:
08/010 - TWY CLSD ACFT BACK TAXI ALLOWED TO CENTER
MID FIELD RWY 17/35. 18 AUG 10:00 2008 UNTIL UFN. CREATED: 16 AUG 18:41 2008
08/009 - TWY SOUTH CLSD FM CENTER RWY 17/35 TO RWY 35 RUN UP
PAD. 18 AUG 10:00 2008 UNTIL UFN. CREATED: 16 AUG 18:26 2008
what this boils down to is that to take off you have to taxi on the runway to the end and then turn around and take off (which is called back taxi). you have to careful about this to ensure that you do not taxi back while someone is about to takeoff/land.
winds were calm so i was using runway 17. the 17 runup area is available now so you can back taxi and then move off the runway. the first couple of pattern loops went ok and i was planning on 2 more. however, while on the downwind of the 3rd loop someone was doing a back taxi and someone was waiting for them so they could back taxi as well. the first one made it off but the second was just starting his taxiback when i was ready to turn downwind to base. he asked me to extend my downwind (which meant the guy coming in on the 45 for the 17 downwind also had to extend). i probably set a record for a downwind extension before turning base. when i turned to final a helicopter (not the usual medevac but i think a military aircraft) was transiting the area and was maybe 1,000 feet in front of me passing right to left at the same altitude. we were talking (and seeing) each so it wasn't a problem but it looked pretty close to me. my landing left something to be desired but i walked away and they can use the airplane again. after hearing 2 more planes coming in i figured that i was done the day so i parked it. the 3rd landing would have been better but i think the situation was on my mind so i floated a bit more.
i'm glad that i did the pattern work today because it exposed me to a few things that i hadn't had to deal with before. the only back taxi i've done before were on pretty much desolate/empty airports so having to do it in a busier situation was a useful experience (i don't think i made anyone else cry while doing it). it was also useful to read and experience the NOTAMs for the closed taxiways. it seems to cement better in my mind when i experience something rather than just reading about it.
one thing that i'd like to do is setup a multiplayer KJYO FSX online game and try the same situation at some point.
08/010 - TWY CLSD ACFT BACK TAXI ALLOWED TO CENTER
MID FIELD RWY 17/35. 18 AUG 10:00 2008 UNTIL UFN. CREATED: 16 AUG 18:41 2008
08/009 - TWY SOUTH CLSD FM CENTER RWY 17/35 TO RWY 35 RUN UP
PAD. 18 AUG 10:00 2008 UNTIL UFN. CREATED: 16 AUG 18:26 2008
what this boils down to is that to take off you have to taxi on the runway to the end and then turn around and take off (which is called back taxi). you have to careful about this to ensure that you do not taxi back while someone is about to takeoff/land.
winds were calm so i was using runway 17. the 17 runup area is available now so you can back taxi and then move off the runway. the first couple of pattern loops went ok and i was planning on 2 more. however, while on the downwind of the 3rd loop someone was doing a back taxi and someone was waiting for them so they could back taxi as well. the first one made it off but the second was just starting his taxiback when i was ready to turn downwind to base. he asked me to extend my downwind (which meant the guy coming in on the 45 for the 17 downwind also had to extend). i probably set a record for a downwind extension before turning base. when i turned to final a helicopter (not the usual medevac but i think a military aircraft) was transiting the area and was maybe 1,000 feet in front of me passing right to left at the same altitude. we were talking (and seeing) each so it wasn't a problem but it looked pretty close to me. my landing left something to be desired but i walked away and they can use the airplane again. after hearing 2 more planes coming in i figured that i was done the day so i parked it. the 3rd landing would have been better but i think the situation was on my mind so i floated a bit more.
i'm glad that i did the pattern work today because it exposed me to a few things that i hadn't had to deal with before. the only back taxi i've done before were on pretty much desolate/empty airports so having to do it in a busier situation was a useful experience (i don't think i made anyone else cry while doing it). it was also useful to read and experience the NOTAMs for the closed taxiways. it seems to cement better in my mind when i experience something rather than just reading about it.
one thing that i'd like to do is setup a multiplayer KJYO FSX online game and try the same situation at some point.
Friday, August 15, 2008
instrument rating sim lessons
my first instrument rating simulator lesson (frasca) was a couple of days ago. it's pretty sensitive so i was "all over the sky" but i'm hoping to get the hang of it soon. i've got 9 more or so and then we hit (so to speak) the real sky. i'm looking forward to all of it.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
faa instrument rating written test - pass!
i took the faa instrument rating written test today and passed it. i put a lot of study time in for it and i'm very glad it is over. i could have done better on it but i could also have done worse. now it's time to start instrument flight training.
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