Flying Summers Brothers

I can’t believe it, but an entire year nearly slipped by before I wrote up one of our criss-crossings (two of our crossings!) of the country. Part of the problem is that I was posting photographs from the trip along the way and that sated some of our usual desire to get the trip documented somehow. Continue reading →

I even got photo credit!

How exciting! My first article for Plane & Pilot magazine is up on their website. It will be in the physical magazine on August 10th.

Obviously, I already wrote here on the blog about the wonders of the iPad as an electronic flight bag, but it was fun to write blurbs for a bunch of applications I tried out.

I wish there weren’t people touting the iPad as a navigation device or a pseudo-HUD (Heads Up Display), because the hardware inside it makes that really dangerous, but other than that I loved all the development going on for the platform in the aviation space.

Garmin Magic

This is technical, about the avionics in the airplane. Avionics are the electronic instruments in the plane, some of which sample air pressure in the pitot-static system, or sense the earth’s electromagnetic field. The very first airplanes only had a compass mounted on the panel and a spring-loaded device to suggest the airspeed. N971RD is loaded with more electronics and computer power than went to the moon. Actually, it is probably more computing power than was in the lunar mission or back on earth in Houston.

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This is about as cool as technology gets. For now, I guess.

One of the people that I took flying with me was the father of a friend of mine. Tom flies a lot of interesting planes just sitting in the right seat. Antique warbirds and Civil Air Patrol planes. One of the things he said when I was about to taxi out onto the runway was, “Do you mind if I follow along?” That’s apparently a standard procedure: he just holds the controls lightly so he can really feel what I am doing as I take off, land, or do a barrel roll. (I rarely do barrel rolls.) Now everyone can follow along. It’s a tiny plane, so stay seated in front of your computer. I’ll explain.
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I love when reality final catches up with my future. Apple and Foreflight have delivered the Electronic Flight Bag that I was waiting for ever since I bought my first NACO book of instrument approach plates. Why was I dragging around all this paper? Why was I sitting in the run up area flipping through this booklet trying to find the departure procedure for taking off from KPOC in Pomona, which of course is under B for Brackett Field? Continue reading →

Monday, August 24

The last two legs

KABQ – KDVT – KSMO

Part of the lost trip report.

The last day was easy flying. I think we all slept well, but I don’t know because I stumbled into dreamland, tripped over something, and came to eight hours later. The breakfast at the hotel was not horrific and we headed to the airport. I really like Cutter in Albuquerque. It’s not the fanciest or most modern FBO we have been to, but the people are really good at their jobs and they don’t treat the little planes as second class citizens. We were tied down around the corner from the main ramp, fully fueled, and the tie down job was really secure. That’s important when you are in for a night of fast moving storms. Continue reading →

Sunday, August 23

Through the Desert

KSPI – KRVS – KBGD – KABQ

Part of the lost trip report.

Lincoln Stood Here, But Taller

Nell is great at finding us something interesting where we are. Bob and I flew in and out of Springfield, Illinois and, other than debating a visit to the Lincoln museum, saw nothing but the Outback Steakhouse. I know, typical American tourism. Terrible. But, fortunately, the boys and I have Nell. After breakfast we wandered outside, crossed one long parking lot and then we were traipsing about the capital of Illinois. Somehow there was a lot of information just on the plaques and various tour spot points. We learned how Illinois was (and still is) a farming state, that the revenue is really from the agriculture and animal husbandry across the state. We learned about the capital and it’s dome, which we peered up into. It was a little nippy, since it was early morning, but so clear and beautiful. Continue reading →

Saturday, August 22 2009

Westward ho!

KMMU – KCAK – KCMI – KSPI

(Part of the lost trip report.)

MORRISTOWN

Our departure out of Morristown was our first return-to-field event as a family. (I had done this once with Art in the plane taking off out of Long Beach after service.) The truth is, I expected the plane to misbehave a little since it had been sitting for a week. Well, that and I always expect the engine to quit at any moment. That’s what I am planning for. Continue reading →

Wednesday, August 12

Not Even Enough Time to Switch Tanks

KACB – KTVC

Part of the lost trip report.

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