Last flight before vacation was a great one!: I’m on vacation for the first time since starting this job. 22 days off in row!! The last landing I’d be flying was into Charlotte on the ILS 36 Left. At 4000′ and about a 20 degree intercept angle to the localizer inbound, I clicked off the auto-pilot and hand flew the intercept in the 100 series DASH.
Inbound on the localizer and capturing the glideslope, approach co
ntrol instructed us to keep up our speed to the final approach fix. I waited until a mile before that fix, and leveled off somewhat, slowing the final approach speed. Gear out and flaps out – I called for the landing checklist. Previous airplanes reported breaking out at 1300′, and by then I was dead on localizer; glideslope; and speed. We had no contact at 1300′, so I continued on down and expected a missed approach. We descended another few 100 feet before breaking out and seeing the runway. I called out ‘landing’.
The runway was wet with rain but the wind wasn’t too bad. Right over the centerline I took my time and ended up with what I think is the best landing of my career. It feels that way, at any rate, because the Captain was excited about it. You don’t get many compliments in this business, so when one pops out like that – I get a real kick out of it.
I’m not kidding – you could barely feel the wheels spinning up as I transferred just a little weight at a time from the wings…. Kept the nose up initially until I eased it down on the centerline. Props to full disc right after the nosewheel came down, and we make the high speed turn-off without brakes. I love it! The Captain was smiling – which is damn cool.
Vacation setback: Bad news is that my airplane only just now got into the hangar for it’s annual. It will not be completed until well into next week. I’ve already heard that the compressions are good – so that is a start and some good news. Once the annual is done, I’ll still have to fly up to New Castle County Airport (KILG) to get the IFR certs done, so that is what we call a plot complication.
On a positive note, Bev and I went through this earlier in the year when I came back from my Comanche training with a weak right alternator – just before Oshkosh. The folks at Sussex Aero dropped what they could and got me done in time to go. Bev and I had a very memorable trip as a result, so I cannot complain about this timing issue.
Making Lemonade: when life hands you lemons….. well, you do the best you can. I have an amazing girl by my side who is very flexible. We are going to do the first leg of our planned trip by car now.
Not wanting to waste a week, Bev and I started looking at options. We could fly for free to Savannah or Nashville and get our trip started that way. We have all the time in the world, and are ready to be flexible as non-rev requires at times(flying for free as seats are available) . We could also drive to local trips or do a major road trip.
What we decided to do is a major road trip. We are going to take her new van to Harpers Ferry and Luray Caverns. We’ll take skyline drive south, heading for Nashville and several days of exploring. I expect our plan to change several times before we get there, and I’m really looking forward to getting away with my bride. Train museums are also on my list of places to visit. Music and shows are there too. This should be fun, and when I get back my airplane should be ready.
We may even go to see Chattanooga and even visit friends in Atlanta before heading north. Once we get back, maybe we’ll take a few days to recover while I get the airplane ready, and then we’ll fly down to New Orleans for a visit. We have no idea how it will go, timing wise, but I guarantee it will be fun.
Incoming Weather: We are not sure exactly when we are leaving because we are waiting to see what this incoming hurricane will do. Last night, Bev and I got her boat ready to put away, and this morning we rode it out into the back bay in the dark and rain. There was a boat trailer and truck waiting for us, so they could prepare and store the boat. Bev is an excellent Captain, so there was no drama other than we got a bit wet.
The marine folks that care for the boat were completely impressed with the new flooring put on by DDR Construction. It looks fantastic.
The beach house is all ready for the storm, and now Smyrna is too… Anxious to go, but I’m enjoying every single day just hanging out in the mean time.
Fly safe….