Summary and Images
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by Maurice Sheldon
Today was a nice day to fly. We got to the field at our usual time, 5:30am. The weather was (as usual) sunny, few clouds, little to no wind. The main difference today was that any wind on the ground was coming from the west. Once it the air, the wind shifted, coming from the SE, as it usually does. The inversion layer was pronounced, but not as much as Tueday.
Bill was off the ground before me with an nice forward take-off. I followed soon after. We toyed around a bit and then headed east to the mountains we explored a few days earlier. This time, I decided to fly around the smallest hill just for the fun of it. Initially I was worried about turbulence or rotors, but as I made my way around, I noticed only smooth air. I always wanted to fly around a hill and today I had my first opportunity. :) I got a picture of the hill as I was leaving.
Flying over I-10 is still an exillerating experience for me. I love the stark cuts in the land of straight yet opposing movements of traffic. It's quite a sight from the air.
Today's new novelty was trying out my new Radio Shack FRS radio and headset. Unfortunately, Bill misplaced his connector for his microphone, so it was a one way conversation, with me doing all the talking. Here's my take on the unit. The radio seemed to work well, but I don't think this the headset worked too well for PPG purposes. With my earplugs on, I could barely make out my own voice through the speaker at half throttle. Anything above half thottle became intelligable. Also, Bill said that the VOX didn't work too well on it's lowest setting. He said I was in constant transmit mode. Looks like I'll be using the PPT button like everyone else. I think I'll need to get an in ear set or an over the ear unit like the SkyCom unit that Jerry and Michelle Daniele sell.
Lastly, I had a nice distraction on the way home: watching some dairy cows feed. In the picture I took, I wonder what the cow on the left, staring straight into the camera, was thinking.
Images
Bill doing a nice take off.
Some shots of Bill from the air.
I always wanted to fly around a hill. Here it is as I was leaving.
I-10.
Bill at the LZ. Notice my shadow on the ground near him.
Watching the dairy cows feed... Just a little distraction on the drive home. I wonder what the cow on the left, staring straight into the camera, was thinking.
