fiebichpvDecember 31, 2011, 5:37pm
The best time to go flying is anytime you can.
For several days the weather had become less wintry and more like the January thaw, but it was still December! With daily temperatures reaching the lower 50's and light winds, the projection for Friday was 60 degrees, sunshine and winds less than 10 MPH. This was an opportunity too great to pass up!
Following a group e-mail announcing a lunch gathering at the Stearman Inn in Benton, Kansas for Friday, responses began coming in. Some excitedly stating that they would attend and others bemoaning that they were not retired, laid-off, or a teacher, and work commitments would prevent them from participating. We missed you Avenger.
Friday dawned bright and cherry with the promise of the weather prediction coming true. This might just be the last day of the year to make a flight and join other pilots for lunch. Arriving at Selby Aerodrome at 11:15, I began the preparations for the 30-minute flight to Benton. Fuel tanks topped off, pre-flight done, I rolled my AirBike out of the dark hangar and into the bright sunshine. Simultaneously, other pilots across the area were undoubtedly doing the same.
After four pulls on the Rotax's "Armstrong starter", the engine sprang to life in its typical loping fashion before picking up RPMs and running smoothly. A mostly crosswind of about 5 MPH dictated taking off on runway 35. Following a visual check for aircraft, a radio call announcing my intentions, I taxied onto the runway's end and aligned myself for takeoff. One more radio call and I pushed the throttle forward. Soon the tail lifted and then we separated from my shadow---I was airborne!
Turning away from Selby Aerodrome and crossing the Arkansas River, I was soon indicating 75 MPH on the GPS. There was definitely more wind at 800 feet AGL than on the ground. It was choppy too. My leaf-like AirBike feels all those bumps, a G-meter would have indicated how hard they were hitting and a roll gauge probably would have indicated up to 30 degrees. With one hand I hung onto the stick and the other a structural member.
Snaking my way across country I avoided golf courses, subdivisions and towers soon coming into radio range of Stearman Airport (1K1). Entering the pattern on a left downwind I descended for landing on runway 35. Side-slipping off the concrete runway's centerline I moved over for a landing on the parallel grass strip. Rotor turbulence from the treeline made touchdown a little dicey but nothing I couldn't handle.
Taxing onto the apron I passed Joe's Cessna 140 glimmering in the sun. You need a pair of Ray-Bans to view it, the glare off the polished aluminum is intense! Larry and Bea met me as I began to tie down my plane now parked in front of the Stearman Inn. Going inside we met Joe and soon others began to stream in. Steve, who lives on the airport, walked over, Terry and Lawrence landed in their Aeronca, Mike and Beth drove in as did Jerry and friend Lynn. Soon Frazier arrived in his Aeronca followed by Harrison in the Kitfox and Ron in his Aeronca. An L-19 tied down and the pilot came inside.
Eventually, 14 people had joined our luncheon group. Conversation was as varied as it gets with any group of pilots. Everything was discussed from engines, new planes, project progress, pet animals, hobbies and how hungry we were. Stearman Inn serves great burgers and other sandwiches. The main dining room was packed with about 60 people while others were in the sun-drenched glassed-in patio area.
An hour later with multiple cups of coffee, chocolate, and tea under our belts we decided it was time to go. One by one, pilots took off while others left the parking lot in their cars. It was a great way to end the year: a good day of flying, wonderful friends and good food.
I bundled up for the return flight; pantlegs tucked into my socks, long johns secured, snow pants on, shirt collar buttoned, silk scarf in position, stocking cap on under the helmet and leather gloves snugged at the wrist. Contact! Taxi and takeoff. I was on my way home. What a great way to end the flying year.
AirBike Ace
For several days the weather had become less wintry and more like the January thaw, but it was still December! With daily temperatures reaching the lower 50's and light winds, the projection for Friday was 60 degrees, sunshine and winds less than 10 MPH. This was an opportunity too great to pass up!
Following a group e-mail announcing a lunch gathering at the Stearman Inn in Benton, Kansas for Friday, responses began coming in. Some excitedly stating that they would attend and others bemoaning that they were not retired, laid-off, or a teacher, and work commitments would prevent them from participating. We missed you Avenger.
Friday dawned bright and cherry with the promise of the weather prediction coming true. This might just be the last day of the year to make a flight and join other pilots for lunch. Arriving at Selby Aerodrome at 11:15, I began the preparations for the 30-minute flight to Benton. Fuel tanks topped off, pre-flight done, I rolled my AirBike out of the dark hangar and into the bright sunshine. Simultaneously, other pilots across the area were undoubtedly doing the same.
After four pulls on the Rotax's "Armstrong starter", the engine sprang to life in its typical loping fashion before picking up RPMs and running smoothly. A mostly crosswind of about 5 MPH dictated taking off on runway 35. Following a visual check for aircraft, a radio call announcing my intentions, I taxied onto the runway's end and aligned myself for takeoff. One more radio call and I pushed the throttle forward. Soon the tail lifted and then we separated from my shadow---I was airborne!
Turning away from Selby Aerodrome and crossing the Arkansas River, I was soon indicating 75 MPH on the GPS. There was definitely more wind at 800 feet AGL than on the ground. It was choppy too. My leaf-like AirBike feels all those bumps, a G-meter would have indicated how hard they were hitting and a roll gauge probably would have indicated up to 30 degrees. With one hand I hung onto the stick and the other a structural member.
Snaking my way across country I avoided golf courses, subdivisions and towers soon coming into radio range of Stearman Airport (1K1). Entering the pattern on a left downwind I descended for landing on runway 35. Side-slipping off the concrete runway's centerline I moved over for a landing on the parallel grass strip. Rotor turbulence from the treeline made touchdown a little dicey but nothing I couldn't handle.
Taxing onto the apron I passed Joe's Cessna 140 glimmering in the sun. You need a pair of Ray-Bans to view it, the glare off the polished aluminum is intense! Larry and Bea met me as I began to tie down my plane now parked in front of the Stearman Inn. Going inside we met Joe and soon others began to stream in. Steve, who lives on the airport, walked over, Terry and Lawrence landed in their Aeronca, Mike and Beth drove in as did Jerry and friend Lynn. Soon Frazier arrived in his Aeronca followed by Harrison in the Kitfox and Ron in his Aeronca. An L-19 tied down and the pilot came inside.
Eventually, 14 people had joined our luncheon group. Conversation was as varied as it gets with any group of pilots. Everything was discussed from engines, new planes, project progress, pet animals, hobbies and how hungry we were. Stearman Inn serves great burgers and other sandwiches. The main dining room was packed with about 60 people while others were in the sun-drenched glassed-in patio area.
An hour later with multiple cups of coffee, chocolate, and tea under our belts we decided it was time to go. One by one, pilots took off while others left the parking lot in their cars. It was a great way to end the year: a good day of flying, wonderful friends and good food.
I bundled up for the return flight; pantlegs tucked into my socks, long johns secured, snow pants on, shirt collar buttoned, silk scarf in position, stocking cap on under the helmet and leather gloves snugged at the wrist. Contact! Taxi and takeoff. I was on my way home. What a great way to end the flying year.
AirBike Ace
