Add story about flying to Monterey
This commit is contained in:
R. Tyler Croy
parent
f4478f9d20
commit
4e972fcb6b
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
|
|||
---
|
||||
layout: post
|
||||
title: Flying in severe clear to Monterey
|
||||
tags:
|
||||
- vfrpilot
|
||||
- aviation
|
||||
- flying
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Reunited with an old friend, the [Ugly
|
||||
Duckling](https://secure.flickr.com/photos/agentdero/9741854709/), I finish my engine start
|
||||
checklist and the Duckling roars alive. Unlike some of my lessons over the
|
||||
summer, the plane gives me no trouble starting up.
|
||||
|
||||
So far, so good.
|
||||
|
||||
*"Hayward Ground, Skyhawk Seven-three-seven Golf-mike, at the green ramp with
|
||||
X-ray, request taxi to Two-eight right."*
|
||||
|
||||
Slowly advancing the throttle, my wife, Ugly Duckling and me roll forward off
|
||||
the line; I perform my brake check.
|
||||
|
||||
During my flight training, I was always *very* timid with my short-field
|
||||
landings. When you perform a short-field landing, you want to pick a spot, land
|
||||
on it, and then apply max-brakes to stop in the shortest distances possible.
|
||||
The Ugly Duckling has had chronically mushy brakes. It seemed like every other
|
||||
lesson, one pedal or the other (independent brake lines) was giving far too
|
||||
little resistance, forcing me to practice my "stop with a failing brake"
|
||||
procedure.
|
||||
|
||||
Performing my brake check, *both* brakes were very squishy. My toes
|
||||
in almost a full ballerina's point, the brakes finally performed their duty.
|
||||
Not a deal breaker, but not confidence inspiring either. Strike one.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Following a full run-up, I inch towards the hold-short bars for runway 28R.
|
||||
|
||||
*"Hayward Tower, Skyhawk 737GM holding short of 28R for a right downwind
|
||||
departure"*
|
||||
|
||||
Clearance received, I check final one last time before rolling onto the runway.
|
||||
Lined up on the centerline, I slowly start to advance the throttle, scanning my
|
||||
instrument panel. Oil pressure is good, oil temp is good, right fuel tank
|
||||
indicates full, left fuel tank indicates **empty**.
|
||||
|
||||
I abort the takeoff, calling tower with "Hayward Tower, 7GM is aborting
|
||||
take-off" as I slowly roll towards the next taxiway. Tower helpfully asks if I
|
||||
need assistance, "negative, just need to check my instruments again."
|
||||
|
||||
Going through my "required instruments" in my head, I'm 100% confident that the
|
||||
fuel gauge is one of them, and I have a hunch that the FAA expects the gauge to
|
||||
indicate *something*. I taxi back to the green ramp and shut down. Strike two.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I decide we won't be proceeding in the Ugly Duckling with mushy brakes and a
|
||||
left-tank fuel indication of empty. Fortunately, the 172SP is available, so we
|
||||
take that instead!
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/agentdero/12061787296/"
|
||||
title="N296ME by agentdero, on Flickr"><img
|
||||
src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/12061787296_7036816ddc.jpg"
|
||||
width="500" height="375" alt="N296ME"></a></center>
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Two-niner-six Mike-Echo is a Cessna 172SP. A more modern 172, with a better
|
||||
interior, auto-pilot, a fuel injected engine, and bigger tanks. The last time I flew this
|
||||
plane, we needed the additional useful load and range in order to ferry my
|
||||
instructor, our wives and myself for some late night diner food in [Willows
|
||||
Glenn](/2013/09/14/most-expensive-bacon-and-eggs.html). This time it would just
|
||||
be my wife and I, cruising in style to [Monterey Regional
|
||||
Airport](http://airnav.com/airport/kmry).
|
||||
|
||||
My second full pre-flight of the day, EC and I hop into Mike-echo, dilligently
|
||||
follow the start procedures for the fuel-injected system. Whereas the Ugly
|
||||
Duckling roars to life, Mike-echo has politely coughs to life before assuming a
|
||||
gentle purr
|
||||
|
||||
Rolling forward off the line, I check the brakes, abruptly stopping Mike-echo.
|
||||
Excellent, let's go places!
|
||||
|
||||
Run-up completed, take-off clearance received, I assume my position on the
|
||||
runway and slowly advance the throttle.
|
||||
|
||||
Flying the Ugly Duckling is a crass experience, it's loud as hell, dirty as
|
||||
hell, ugly as hell. It's still fun to fly around in, especially with
|
||||
short-field manuevers. Mike-echo is nearly the polar opposite. It's quiet,
|
||||
unassuming, and generally *smooth* to fly.
|
||||
|
||||
Without much discussion, Mike-echo calmly lifts off the runway, methodically
|
||||
climbing up and out of the pattern.
|
||||
|
||||
We're going places!
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
The route southward at 5,500ft is as clear as it's ever been. On a previous
|
||||
flight to Monterey with my friend [Dave](https://twitter.com/stuffonfire) the
|
||||
sky was clear, but the ground was matted with clouds, forcing us to divert to
|
||||
[Modesto](http://airnav.com/airport/kmod).
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Passing the outer reaches of San Jose's Charlie airspace, the controller if I
|
||||
would like to go ahead and make my turn to fly direct to Monterey.
|
||||
|
||||
"We're going to do a bit more sight-seeing before we turn towards Monterey,
|
||||
6-mike-echo."
|
||||
|
||||
While a truthful response, it wasn't the whole truth. In my weather briefing, I
|
||||
was reminded that there would be parachuting over
|
||||
[Watsonville](http://airnav.com/airport/kwvi) such that I made plans to head
|
||||
far enough south, such that my west-ward leg toward Monterey would keep me well
|
||||
clear of any potential drop zones.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Over [South County](http://airnav.com/airport/e16) we turn towards the
|
||||
south-west, humming along towards the south-side of the Monterey Bay. Switching
|
||||
over to the Monterey Tower frequency, it's uncharacteristically quiet. Normally
|
||||
the field is buzzing with corporate jet traffic. We're given our landing
|
||||
clearance 10 miles from the field, as I enter my slow descent into a right-base
|
||||
for "the big runway" (28L).
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Mike-echo, ever the cool customer, smoothly enters ground effect and allows me
|
||||
to perform a textbook-perfect landing flare and gentle touch-down. Chatting on
|
||||
the radio with Tower to get taxi clearance to the FBO, I don't give my
|
||||
passenger the opportunity to congratulate me on my stellar landing. By the time
|
||||
I pulled up to the FBO, she probably forgot about it as she was wowed by my
|
||||
stellar parking job. I deny her the opportunity to compliment me again as I ask
|
||||
the lineman to top the plane off.
|
||||
|
||||
I'm such an inconsiderate pilot.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
With a [crew car](http://www.flickr.com/photos/agentdero/12061820686/) from the
|
||||
FBO we head into town for some fishy food.
|
||||
|
||||
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/agentdero/12061247873/"
|
||||
title="Fish Hopper for lunch! by agentdero, on Flickr"><img
|
||||
src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/12061247873_2e2080e1d7.jpg"
|
||||
width="500" height="375" alt="Fish Hopper for lunch!"></a></center>
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Our stomachs full of salmon and <strike>tuba</strike> tuna (respectively), we head back to the
|
||||
airport to return home.
|
||||
|
||||
At the FBO, I decide to plot a new course northward. Instead of traveling up
|
||||
the valley east of San Jose, I wanted to fly up the coast towards [Half Moon
|
||||
Bay](http://airnav.com/airport/khaf). Like a good little low-hour pilot, I call
|
||||
for my weather briefing, draw lines on my charts, jotting down headings on my
|
||||
legal pad.
|
||||
|
||||
Once again, Mike-echo hiccups to life without issue, and like a good little
|
||||
low-hour pilot who loves automation, I plug my way points into the GPS, hiding
|
||||
my paper with headings underneath my kneeboard.
|
||||
|
||||
Calling up Monterey Ground, I hear no response. Volume's good, I'll try again.
|
||||
Nothing. Perhaps Comm 1 is flakey, I'll try Comm2. Nothing. Hrm. I know the
|
||||
Tower frequency worked last time, so I call them back.
|
||||
|
||||
Turns out, I had written down the wrong frequency.
|
||||
|
||||
Like a good little low-hour pilot, I still make silly mistakes.
|
||||
|
||||
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/agentdero/12061223473/"
|
||||
title="Looking west into the wild blue yonder by agentdero, on Flickr"><img
|
||||
src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/12061223473_a84b643f9c.jpg"
|
||||
width="500" height="375" alt="Looking west into the wild blue
|
||||
yonder"></a></center>
|
||||
|
||||
Flying northward, I hug the coast because I'm too scared to fly too far over
|
||||
the water. Practically speaking, you should stay within gliding distance of the
|
||||
land, but impractically speaking, I'm kind of chicken.
|
||||
|
||||
As we progress up the coast, NorCal Approach terminates services because they
|
||||
can't see us so well on the west side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. All on our
|
||||
own, with no traffic services, I remind my passenger that we need to be
|
||||
hyper-vigilant in looking for other airplanes.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
Closing in on Half Moon Bay, the marine layer is creeping inland from the west,
|
||||
and suddenly we spot another airplane to the north east, also flying northward.
|
||||
The other craft is clearly performing manuevers, closer to my altitude than I'd
|
||||
like. Descending, advancing the throttle, we keep the plane in sight until
|
||||
we've put him behind us. Due west of the [San Carlos
|
||||
Airport](http://airnav.com/airport/ksql), the other airplane turns around, and
|
||||
we turn east to transition across the San Francisco Bay towards Hayward.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
Reporting the Toll Plaza to Hayward Tower, I hear 737GM in the pattern. Tower
|
||||
clears us to "enter the pattern on the downwind for 28L, cleared for landing,
|
||||
number 2 following type Cessna."
|
||||
|
||||
"Entering on the downwind for Two-eight Left, number two, following the Ugly
|
||||
Duckling, Two-niner-six Mike-echo."
|
||||
|
||||
My wife looks at me, understanding what I just said on the radio "do other
|
||||
people call it that?" "Well, I hope they do now!"
|
||||
|
||||
Entering the pattern, the pilot of 737GM responds "I'm hurt" on the frequency.
|
||||
I'm laughing, far too pleased with myself, as I go through my pre-landing
|
||||
checklist, slowing down to put the flaps in.
|
||||
|
||||
Lining up on the centerline, power comes out over the displaced threshold. I'm
|
||||
watching my airspeed like a hawk, in no mood to futz with the trim, I resolve
|
||||
to holding the yoke at 60 knots. Entering ground effect, I begin my flare, eyes
|
||||
darting down the runway. The stall warning horn, which starts complaining far
|
||||
too early goes off, I continue to pull back. Right then left main touches the
|
||||
pavement followed by the nosewheel settling down.
|
||||
|
||||
Mike-echo slows down, we turn off the runway and taxi back to the green ramp.
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
I couldn't have picked a better day to go flying.
|
||||
|
||||
<center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/agentdero/12059823085/"
|
||||
title="Returned safely from the wilderness beyond the Santa Cruz Mountains by
|
||||
agentdero, on Flickr"><img
|
||||
src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7452/12059823085_a0424f0e33.jpg"
|
||||
width="500" height="375" alt="Returned safely from the wilderness beyond the
|
||||
Santa Cruz Mountains"></a></center>
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
Loading…
Reference in New Issue