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Northwest Flying Photography Blog

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Making plans for planning

So my plan it to get current again prior to winging my way to Airventure this summer in a borrowed Cessna 182, or maybe a borrowed 210, or maybe a borrowed something else. Actually, it will most likely be my compatriot Scott who will be doing the borrowing with me quietly hanging out in a dark corner before jumping into the airplane right before it taxies to the runway. Be that as it may, the plan is to get to Oshkosh this year in a small aircraft, and before I do that, I want to get current.

It’s been two years since I’ve been Pilot in Command of an aircraft and while I don’t think the FARs have changed that much in the intervening time, I’m certain that my memory of them has certainly degraded. Not to mention the almost certain decline of much neglected skills like chart reading, flight planning and navigation. With all that, I feel like I need to start all over in ground school before I call up the local FBO and schedule a Bi-annual Flight Review. To that end I’ve purchased the ASA test prep book and a new FAR/AIM, which I hope will get me going for my next aircraft checkout. I plan on taking a couple of hours of instruction prior to getting my BFR, so hopefully everything be smooth sailing, or rather, smooth flying.

I’m also planning on doing my flight planning the old fashioned way, with a sectional, a plotter and an E6-B. Oh sure, I could just go buy a fancy computer flight planner, but where is the fun in that? And just in case you are wondering, no, I’m not planning on navigating to Oshkosh on nothing but a compass and a stopwatch.

I’ve been to Airventure a couple times when I was working for the man, but this will be the first time I’ve been as just a participant, not to mention that it will be the first time I’ve not flown commercial. It will be extra special this time because the poor sod I’ve convinced to fly with me has never been to the show, so he doesn’t know about the hordes of rampaging wildebeests or the ritual cat dancing…Just seeing if you were paying attention.

Anyway, it should be a busy couple of months as I re-learn and reapply all that pilot type stuff.

Can I borrow your airplane?

Why Fly?

Hiya folks! 2010 planning is underway with me feverishly collecting airshow dates and making my mind up about conflicts. McChord is having their expo again this year, and I’ve always thought I should go to Abbotsford for their show. We’ll see what happens once I get everything on the calendar.

In Other news, I’m happy to announce the launch of Why Fly; an on-line multimedia journal developed by my friends,  Hal, Mike, Michelle, and Glenn. Are all fantastic people that are passionate about aviation and passionate about brining a new view of aviation to all you propeller heads out there. Plus they let me show my stuff, so I have to say that they show excellent taste. With photo’s, videos and some great articles, you should defiantly keep Why Fly in your Favorites. 

www.whyfly.aero
Why Fly: Celebrating the passion for flight

My 2009 retrospective.

I took more shots in past years, but I think I took some of my best shots this year. Not only did I get 3 (count’em…3) air to air shoots in, I also got to go flying in a Swift, something I’ve always wanted to do. My goal for next year is to do an Air to Air for a Swift. Anyone need some shots taken?

Without further ado, here are some of my best shots for 2009.

Air to air with a Piper cub for Silverwings Flying Company:

air to air

Cub_AtA

Boeing’s 747-400 (modified) Dreamlifter:

dreamlifter landing

The Flying Heritage Collection:

FHC-09008

FHC-09-37

BF109E

Bud and Ross Granley:

Skagit Fly-in: The Granleys

Air to Air, For private owner:

V-Tail

Air to Air, For private owner:

Comanche

Super Cub at Concrete Fly-in:

super_cub_takeoff_2

Swift and crowd at the Concrete Fly-in:

Swift_takeoff

Stinson at the Concrete Fly-in:

Stinson_5

Bud Granley at the Arlington Fly-in:

Bud Granley in the T-6

Heritage Flight P-51 at Paine Field:

P-51d

This is by no means an extensive list, and I left out a lot of good or better pix. I guess you’ll have to go look at Flicker to see them all.

Swift Flying

I have mentioned previously that I am a fan of the Globe/Temco Swift. I think it is a classic airplane with great looks and performance. I was recently offered my first ride in a swift and it really exceeded all my expectations.

Nate's Swift

Swift GC-1B, N3783K, owned by Nate Andrews is a fantastic example of the type. Nate is an A&P and restored his aircraft himself. The care and precision that he took really shows in the aircraft. It has a great paint job the skin is very straight. The seats and cockpit are immaculate. It was love at first sight.

Nate’s swift sports a 200hp engine, which really pushes you back into your seat on take off. Flying out of Harvey, we flew west bound. The swift was a very stable flyer. After getting it trimmed up you could go hands off and it would fly right where you pointed it.

Out of Harvey

I had the opportunity to take the controls and found out that it’s not the typical C-172 that I am used to. All the controls were a lot more sensitive than what I was familiar with. I just tapped the rudders and started the tail swinging. The same happened on the ailerons and elevator. Any light control movement and the aircraft jumped to respond. Naturally one starts to wonder what is possible with all that responsiveness.

The Swift Likes to roll

As Nate told me. “The Swift likes to roll.” And indeed it does.

Nate also demonstrated a power off stall for me. It was a very positive break with a nice and pronounced shudder right before the stall. Either Nate is a better pilot than I am (likely) or the aircraft likes to maintain a level attitude in the stall, because there was no wing drop at all.

After we landed back at Harvey, I thanked Nate for the experience and grinned all the way home. Thanks again Nate!

Concrete

Let’s start off by saying the Concrete is actual a place, in addition to being something you make roads (and runways) out of. This particular place called Concrete resides along highway 20 in Washington State and is home to the Skagit Aero Education Museum who, not by chance, host the annual vintage aircraft fly-in at the Concrete Municipal Airport. Concrete is a really cool place to fly into, and makes for a great back drop for some airplane pictures.

Speaking of which:
Swift_formation_8

Stinson_6

Ryan_landing-3

DH-Moth11

As always, the complete set can bee seen on Flickr.

P.S.  That first shot is a flight of four Swifts, my favorite airplane. Aint they beautiful! you can learn all about the Swift at the Globe/Temco Swift Home Page

EAA Fly-in this weekend.

I’ll be at AWO this weekend for the EAA fly-in. You should come out and look at airplanes.

I did some work.

Well, not paid work, but fun and educational none the less.

Thanks to Kevin and Erik for making it possible:

V-Tail

Comanche

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