As George Potts would say – the flying today was a real juicer.
With lunch behind us, Dave and I launched for a series of pond-hopping; gator-spotting; airboat formation flying; confined area and canal landing adventures – one after another. This guy was good, and he kicked my ass today. Everything we did I was able to absorb. Non-stop action all day long. This was a hand-flying visual experience that required both a fine touch and allot of muscle to get done. My time with Tristan and Brian was coming into play today, and I was highly motivated.
Take-off today gave me some additional pre-flight and docking experience.
We left Cherry Pocket for Dave’s house to get him a replacement cell phone, but did a good amount ot training on the way. The house was beautiful – positioned on a lake with its own boat/seaplane ramp; and just across the road from Kermit Week’s Fantasy of Flight. We practiced a variety of maneuvers before we left, including rough water, docking, and step taxi maneuvers.
Out of courtesy for the residents around these lakes we visit; take-off and landing work is limited to a few circuits. We left the area at 500′ agl looking for the next lake, and came upon a smaller body of water. Each place we visit gets a bit smaller as my skills grow and my training intensifies. The wind is picking up now, and I’m learning to read the water consistently. We overfly a new lake where tourists are launching in an airboat to go gator watching. Dave knows these folks, so after a touch down I get airborne and keep it in ground effect to pass well clear of the boat, but close enough to give them a photo-op. Passing out in front I pull it into a climbing turn across their path. They got a great view of the top of my airplane wing as I climbed away at full power. This was not a buzz job, mind you, but a low pass that was well clear and safe.
Next up – we line up on a lake and Dave sets out to make a point. Now that I can get into smaller and smaller areas, we come upon a reasonably sized lake with a smaller one attached to it’s side. There is a little island going from larger lake to the smaller one, but I’m completely confident I could take advantage of the wind protection and land. I’d touchdown in the smaller one on a heading for the larger one, while slowing past the north side of the island. Only yesterday, this would have been beyond my capability. Dave’s point here was that the island – unexpectantly – had one pole on it. That pole had a wire strung across the very path I would have chosen. I could not see that wire as I passed by at 500′ agl, even after being told it was there. It would have been enough to ruin my day. Point taken.
Smooth water landings are next. When a seaplane pilot approaches a body of water that is protected from wind and is glassy, it is virtually impossible to judge flaring and touchdown. To get around that, you try to get a reference to surrounding terrain; trees; weeds; or something similar just before crossing onto the water. Then you set up a stable descent and a fixed pitch and hold that hold that hold that all the way to touchdown. This part I am good at – it translates very well from my instrument work. Flying through the weeds at the edge of the lake is also very cool. I am having a ball.
I’m doing well enough to pass a check ride at this point. I understand that I’m still a rank amateur on the water, but I am good enough to pass my ride and go learn on my own for awhile. Dave senses this too, and the tempo increases. We do several of these and its just fun. My previous experience is coming into play and I’ve got this.
One more post should capture what I experienced down there…. look for that soon.