The Joy of Aviation

So far, I’ve been very fortunate to have enough friends who want to go up with me. And during this awesome autumn season, I’ve tried to get as many as possible up to see the foliage. Now with the leaves brown and down, I feel the need for a little “me” time. Just go up for a while and fly around a bit. Maybe do some steep turns. I typically have a passenger with me so I haven’t performed them or explicitly practiced them in quite some time.

Well… “just fly around a bit” simply won’t settle in my brain. Part of me always has to find or add some productive element to whatever I’m doing. I caved and decided to navigate the first leg of my next upcoming cross county – a southwestern jaunt to the Sparta [SAX] VOR and back. I’ve not been in this neck of the woods yet, so it would be something new, slightly challenging. Then “mission creep” started to come in… hmmm…. while I’m up there, let’s see how soon I can pick up the Broadway [BWZ] VOR, because that might be better for next week’s flight.

I get my briefing online. Since I’m going to be closer to NYC than usual, I’m particularly tuned into any potential TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) for the NY area. I know there are some scheduled for tomorrow (something’s happening at the United Nations, I’m guessing). So whenever they start popping up, I try to be on alert for changes to times, dates, or even locations. The weather (winds, ceiling and visibility) looks good.

I’m also mentally preparing myself for what I predict to be a lot of traffic. A) it’s a weekend day and b) we’ve had a run of crappy weather so there’s going to be a lot of pilots chomping at the bit to get airborne.

11:45am I arrive at the tie down and pre-flight the plane. Luckily, the temperature is 46º so I don’t have to break out the engine preheater. I pre-flight the plane, dial up the ATIS. Winds 220 at 11 gusting to 17 with 4800 broken ceiling. Runway 24 is active. Flip to Ground and get permission to taxi. Move into position and do my run-up. Call Tower. Cleared for take off, with the caveat that I have to keep an eye on the helicopter using the north end of 33/15 for pattern work. It’s 12:20 and off I go.

The climb out is uneventful. The first thing that is apparent is that I don’t have any pax weighing me down – and it’s a little cool out. The plane always leaps off the runway when it’s cold and I’m solo. The colder the air the denser it is giving the engine more power, the propeller more “bite” and the wings more lift. 200lbs less weight for a 150 hp engine to pull is always noticeable performance gain!

As I climb to 3,000′ (I want to get over the top of Stewart’s [SWF] airspace) one thing is stunning – the visibility. WOW! I can clearly see as far as the curvature of the earth will allow. It’s amazing! I can clearly make out NYC, Hartford CT and just south of Albany – all with a turn of the head. Very likely, a good 50 miles in all directions. Bill, my friend in Baltimore, MD also flew today and has the same experience:

“…and at 1800 feet above the ground I could see small details below me. In fact, my eyes kept wandering to the altimeter because the ground looked so clear it was hard to believe I was nearly a third of a mile above it.”

I tune my two VORs (one for Sparta and one for Broadway) to 243º. Sparta starts to activate almost immediately. I don’t pick up Broadway until I’m about 10 miles closer. Still, at least one goal (oops… this was supposed to be a non-goal, easy flight) is done – I can use Broadway for next week’s trip.

As I fly to the southwest, some small mountains begin to rise up to greet me and began to feel like they’re encroaching on my personal space. Similar to Bill’s experience, I reach for the charts to double check that I was indeed flying high enough for my personal minimums (typically minimum 3,000′ AGL over rural wooded areas). I am indeed well above them.

There’s much more traffic than I typically see, but nowhere in the “congested” category. So far I’ve spotted about five other small planes. (On a typical flight it’s unusual to see even one.) Coming up on Sparta I increase my vigilance as the airspace around VORs, have the potential to be busier than other airspace since they’re popular and sometimes necessary waypoints. Think of a 360 degree intersection, and you get the idea. While I’m within 5 miles of the VOR, I do see two other planes navigate through the area.

The flag on the VOR dial flips from TO to FROM. I mark the time 12:45pm and turn northeast – homewardish bound. Not wanting to take the same path home, I decide to head towards the Shawangunk Mountains – a prominent feature even though I was over New Jersey. I pass familiar airports Orange County on my left and Stewart on my right. Over the rural farmland between Illinois Mountain and The Gunks, just south of New Paltz, I scan my airspace in preparation for some air work maneuvers – steep turns. (A 45º banked, 360º turn. It feels almost like you’re pirouetting on one wing – though I’ll bet acrobatic pilots feel what they do – 60º-90º turns are a lot more like that description.)

Steeps have never been my forte. I can get them done, but I always feel like I’m horsing the plane around. Then during my private pilot check ride, my FAA examiner showed me a way to finesse the plane around…. two full turns down on the trim and then start your turn. Since that day, I’ve done partial steeps (if there is such a thing) – say 25º to 30º while circling a house or such but really haven’t needed to try that technique. The “trick” stuck with me and today I’m going to try it on my own.

Airspace cleared. Slow to maneuvering speed – 90 kts. Two full turns down of the trim wheel. Start my turn. Bank her over to 45º and hold it there. Increase power to make up for the loss of lift (because a lot of the lift is now being used to turn the plane). Watch for traffic. Scanning gauges for altitude gains or loss, heading indicator. 350º passes by. Time to level off. Straighten and hold the level flight. Less than 50′ altitude change. Nice! That was FUN. Let’s do that again – this time to the right! Then followed by another left and another right. Whew… this is so much fun… and a lot easier than the way I used to do it. Much more fineness than horse – makes me happy.

I was happy and relaxed. Practiced some air work and did a preview of next week’s flight. All missions accomplished. It was time to go home. As I approach the Class D airspace, I hear the new female controller juggling five others looking to land. It’s certainly one of those nice days that many are taking full advantage of.

Sorry, no photos this time. I left my camera on my desk at home.
How often do you proactive maneuvers?
What kinds of “life” prompt you to go up for some “me” time?

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