Sunday, May 20, 2012

A New Home

KFAM 202155Z AUTO 28011G17KT 10SM VCTS FEW036 BKN070 OVC120 19/16 A3009 RMK AO1 LTG DSNT ALQDS TSB2057 P0001

Shade-hangar at KFAM:


The engine cover is pushed back because I was cleaning the bugs from the cowling and the wings.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

A Long Day, Indeed.

KGON 191256Z 35005KT 10SM CLR 18/07 A3016

KFAM 192315Z AUTO 20008KT 10SM CLR 29/15 A3000

9.4 hours of flying time, 11.5 hours overall, all hand-flown. I'd have killed for roll trim. And a turbo. 333C will climb to 10,500', but it takes a long time for the last few thousand feet. It was worth it, for the air was smooth and cold.

The last leg of the flight was down lower, under the late afternoon cumulus clouds. Air temps were in the low 90s; pretty much summertime flying with all of the fun that entails. At least there weren't any thunderstorms.

Tomorrow I'll go clean the bugs off the leading edges. I was too tired when I got into KFAM to do that, although I did clean them off the windshield.

Onward.......

On the ground at I12. I've had a bit of tailwind, so I've been extending my legs.

400 or so miles to go!!!

Friday, May 18, 2012

A Long Day Approaches

KGON 181156Z 02004KT 10SM CLR 13/10 A3022

Early tomorrow morning, I am going to launch on my ferry flight from Groton, CT (KGON) to Farmington, MO (KFAM). Today would have probably been a better day to go, at least as far as weather goes, but it is what it is. I had a long day traveling back east and a day to rest is a better idea.

One of the really nice flight-planning tools is Airnav's fuel flight planner. It computes the great circle route and then finds the best places to fuel, based on your preferred airspeed, fuel burn and leg length. You can opt for safest (depart with full fuel each time, cheapest (leave with minimum fuel when you can save money) or you can pick the routing. Since I hold that the only time you can have too much fuel is if your airplane is on fire, I plan using the "safest" mode.

One gripe is that it doesn't avoid Class B airspace. In the northeast, you'll have to tinker with it. One routing would take me to Harrisburg, PA, but that would require going smack-dab through the NYC TCA, which I prefer not to do.

Anyway, I'm off to the airport today to do an extended preflight.

UPDATE: Pumped the tires, topped off the tanks (the line guys did the first two), added a quart of oil, and did a ground-turn of the engine with a full run-up. I did that all early so as to finish before most people started flying and demanding line services. Looks good to go!