Winter months are spent dreaming of warmer weather and easier flying conditions.
In most years, that is indeed the case.
However, this year between the intensive work on the Bonanza, other life experiences normally undertaken, and the smoky, hazy weather of this summer it has been less than ideal for flying.
The flights earlier in the year in the Cub have been fun memories. As long as the temperature is above 35 degrees, it’s comfortable to fly. As the structure is fabric stretched over metal, there is no insulation from the outside.
Visibility and wind are the drawbacks to the little clipped wing. The limited instrument panel is not equipped for flying in the clouds and winds larger airplanes can handle will beat up the occupants of the Cub as turbulence from the wind is reminiscent of a kite in wind.
The Barnstorming Carnival is held at a neighboring airport from where the Cub lives. Visibility over the weekend hovered around 3-4 miles due to smoke/haze from Canadian forest fires and the afternoon forecast for Sunday was gusts up to 20 knots.
If we were going to fly over just for a few hours and could head back whenever it may have been feasible. The plant-based barnstormer is a good friend, and we were helping out with kids’ activities for the day, something I think the aircraft restorer found he enjoyed doing as well.
We were both tired and not up for a challenging flight due to potentially gusty winds and limited visibility at the end of the day.
It was indeed the right decision for us: mental and physical fatigue from a long but fun day is still fatigue.
It is better to be on the ground wishing to be in the air than in the air wishing to be on the ground.
Yes, there were other airplanes out. Those pilots looked at the same weather we did and made a different choice. Some airplanes were equipped to fly on instruments and as such had more resources available to them. Some pilots, like one of the restorer’s sons, came over for a short period of time and returned before the wind was forecasted to increase.
There were airplane rides throughout the day, and airplanes staying close to the airport, in what is called local operations, have an easier time of it. Familiarity with the landmarks and visual cues close by allows for flying when conditions do not favor a long flight.
Sometimes being up for only a short time satisfies a need. Fifinella was able to take a short flight in their Champ during the day. She said being away from the baby barnstormer for a few moments was necessary – even moms need to fly!
This week is the migration between Ohio and Wisconsin ahead of Airventure Oshkosh.
Hagerstown, IN is a short flight away from Dayton. Many small, light airplanes head over on a summer day to see other airplanes and the people attached to them.
After Hagerstown, airplanes head to north central Indiana for another midweek flyin before heading to Brodhead, WI near the end of the week.
Brodhead is striking distance for Oshkosh and Airventure; for the small airplanes often designed to fly at a more leisurely pace, the short flight in is more exciting than stressing.
While airplanes are the initial draw of any event, it is the people encountered that beckon a return time and time again.
Summer storms are always a consideration as it is July in the Midwest. Morning flights are usually better as the heat of the day brings both turbulence and the possibility of afternoon storms.
Adding the smoke this year has changed the dynamic drastically. Some days visibility from the smoke has been reduced below 3 miles where flying on instruments is required.
As days stretch on with visibility limitations, flying is reduced. In some cases, it is fun flying like the cavalcade on to Wisconsin. In others, it is flight instruction or other purpose-built missions.
In the midst of the smoke and reduced visibility coupled with summer storms that have been this year, one of Rosie’s daughters, the blonde bomber, has found a way to work towards her private pilot’s license.
Between working for and attending a Civil Air Patrol glider encampment earlier in the summer and working with a flight instructor in several airplanes due to maintenance hiccups, she has turned roadblocks into bends in the road toward her license.
Weather is unpredictable. Forecasts are an educated guess. Some guesses are better than others. The smoke of this summer has given more for forecasters to ponder than usual.
Since returning from the glider encampment, the blonde bomber and her instructor spent time almost daily with the intent to fly. Some days were maintenance issues while others were weather issues that scrubbed flying.
This is to be expected; it is said tongue in cheek; time to spare, go by air. The journey will never be entirely as planned. Weather, illness, or maintenance may change the itinerary.
Perseverance is what leads to successful outcomes. Having an alternate course of events ready in the wings comes from experience.
Flight instruction is most successful when training flights occur in close succession. Shooting for three flights a week is typical. The blonde bomber planned on flying daily with the understanding that there would be hiccups.
In a small window between afternoon smoke and overnight storms, perseverance paid off with a moment of good enough conditions for a local flight.
The blonde bomber and her instructor stayed in the pattern of the airport completing takeoffs and landings. Visibility was becoming more of an issue at areas close by, but they had what they needed to see the runway and to go around the airport.
Circuit after circuit they flew around the airport until the instructor was satisfied conditions were right. He got out of the airplane, leaving our airport niece alone in the aircraft to stretch her wings for the first time solo.
Congratulations, amazing lady. Can’t wait to see where the journey takes you.
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