Evening Flight

Matti and I departed Twin Oaks at 7:30pm, and turned north with the shadows growing long on a nice summer evening.

A quick call to Hillsboro's tower (HIO) and we were clear through their class D in route to Scappoose Industrial Airpark (SPB).

Once leaving Hillsboro's airspace and reaching the river, we were able to drop down to 1000ft agl over the farms on Sauvie Island and the occasional boat on the river.

As we neared Scappoose we turned to enter a right pattern for 33. I purposely set up high on final with only one notch of flaps (10 degrees) to practice a slip for losing altitude. Matti was a bit surprised by this maneuver, a maneuver which needs a little practice again.

A touch and go and we were continuing north down the Columbia.

We decided to check out Woodland State Airport (W27) as we continued north. Woodland's airport is located on a strip of land about 500ft wide between the I5 freeway and the Lewis River, and includes a 1953 X 25ft runway, tie downs for a few aircraft, and nothing else. I remember at one time there were a few hangers and what looked like an FBO, but sadly those were gone.

We did see one fisherman walking along near the runway to what may be a nice fishing hole, two airplanes tied down, and one pilot filling the wing tanks on his plane from a jerrycan. I have since heard that there is some good eating within a short walk, so maybe something to check out in the future.

The excitement here was clearing the trees after turning final, and dropping in through gusty wind to land on what looked very much like a sidewalk from the air.

A back taxi on the runway and 27 was at our tail as we climbed and turned back south.

We crossed over Hillsboro's airspace and Twin Oaks to spend a little time low in the Willamette Valley.

We overflew McMinnville (MMV), and decided since it was after sunset, it would be fun to turn on the lights and enter the pattern. The lights can be turned on at many, if not most, airports by keying the mic 5 times on the CTAF frequency.

Runway 22 has an approach lighting system with sequenced strobes that make it easy to imagine that you are landing a large commercial jet at a large class B airport.

Back north towards towards Twin Oaks with lights appearing below in the growing darkness.

Evening a night flight offers a whole new view of what's below. As fall comes and the days become shorter, I'll have to regain my night currency.

The Most Eggs I've Cooked

Last weekend was the 54th annual OPA Mulino Chapter Blueberry Pancake Breakfast out at Mulino Airport.

Matti and I spent a morning helping with setup, and a morning cooking eggs for nearly 700 people (= more than 1400 eggs cooked).

Along with an assortment of old and new arplanes, there were many classic cars. Matti was excited to bring dad's MG for the display.

A lot of work, a lot of soap to get rid of the smell of Pam no-stick spray, and a lot of fun.

Triple Digits 7/05/10

I took my next door neighbor Jim flying. He and I had talked flying for several years (including SIM and RC), but not flown together yet.

The weather wasn't great, preventing us from going too far, but we did get to spend just over an hour visiting McMinnville and Aurora before returning to Twin Oaks via a fly over of our neighborhood.

At the outset of this trip I made it into the triple digits for logged time. My total time logged is 101.3hrs, with 274 landings.

Hood River 7/03/10

After 5 weeks of not flying for one reason or another, I couldn't take it any longer, and Heatherle Audrey and I decided on a trip up the Columbia Gorge to Hood River.

The feeling of the wheels leaving the ground never gets old as we departed Twin Oaks and turned east.

We could have requested transition through PDX class C airspace, but decided to remain south and enter the gorge near Crown Point.

The flight up the gorge was great, with a cruse altitude of 1500ft we were able to experience the sights that draw many people to the area from a new perspective nearly all to ourselves.

As we approached Cascade Locks the sky became clear, and we began to get tossed around with some turbulence that remained with us to Hood River.

The winds at Jernstedt Airfield (Hood River 4S2) were 15 gusting to 28, but straight down the runway, making for a bumpy pattern and approach over the apple orchards, but easy landing.

We taxied around to take a look at the airport, and departed for the trip return west.

We had planned to head southwest, passing by the north side of Mt Hood, but the clouds on the west slopes of the Cascades meant a return down the gorge.

After exiting the mouth of the Columbia Gorge we turned south to follow the foothills, that is until Audrey announced that she needed a bathroom. A few minutes and we were entering the pattern for 34 at Mulino (4S9).

A quick stop and we were off to Twin Oaks.

A beautiful trip.