Where Did You Fly Today?

[SkySteve]

I couldn't find a good place to post this. I am thinking we need a new sub-section under the Reports & Reviews, called "Where Did You Fly Today?" for reports about what you did, where you went that is not realy a Trip Report. What do you all think?

I only put 0.5 hours on the HOBBS today, but man, what a flight! I have been trying to schedule some flying time for myself lately. Most of my business appointments take about 2 hours and I got to thinking, "I should schedule an appointment 1 or 2 days per week just for myself", so I tried it this week. I prescheduled two appoinments for me, one on one day and another on another day. Both "appointments" were great, but today's was outstanding. I fired up old 85DD, called Ground Control, gave them all the necessary prelims and requested, "Taxi to the dirt strip and remain in the pattern". Got clearance, taxied out, did my runup and called the tower for take-off clearance, requesting stop and goes on the dirt strip. After I took-off I was immediately cleared to do an early right turn, left tear drop and land the opposite direction on the dirt strip. I've never had that happen before, but let me digress to yesterday's "appointment" so you will understand today's thrill. Yes, we are having a great flying weather week. Today it was 70 degrees, variable 4 mph winds, perfectly clear skys and bright sunshine! But back to yesterday.

Yesterday I had a very nice leisurely flight. When returning to the airport I called the tower and was told to enter a straight in approach for runway 16 and call 2 miles out, which I did. I was then told to enter a right base for runway 21, which I did. Just as I was about to turn final for runway 21, the tower called again, requesting I "fly to the mountain road and do a 270 degree left turn, then enter a right downwind for runway 34", which I also did (mountain road is about 3 miles east of the airport). You guessed it, when I returned and began to enter the right downwind for runway 34, the tower called again requesing i do a 360 before entering the downwind. I did, then entered the downwind for 34. Then, the tower called again saying, "keep the downwind in tight". Right, don't I always do that? I mean, come on, I'm flying a Kitfox! I responded and continued on the downwind thinking, "OK, I'm all done flying now". But as I approached abeam the numbers for runway 34, the tower called again! This time they said there was a lot of traffic (duh!) and could I execute an early base turn and final. I responded politely, "early base turn, 5DD", and banked that baby in! I mean to tell you I threw old 85DD into a full slip desending at 1,700 ft per minute, straightened her out at the thresshold landing on the numbers and she was all done flying. I had to power up to get to the first taxiway turnoff. But, again as I approached the first turnoff and started to head to that side of the runway I did notice a rather large business jet taxiing on the same taxiway straight at me. Tower, "Kitfox 85DD continue taxing runway 34 to Charlie, Charlie to the ramp, monitor ground point 7". I responded and taxied for another 30 seconds down runway 34 to taxiway Charlie, made my turn, passed the hold-short line and hit the flip-flop on my radio to ground control. Ground control came on the radio, "Kitfox 85DD thanks so much for your help today. We had an unusual amount of traffic, probably due to the good weather". I responded with the perverbial, "No problem, and thanks for the dance!" Ground controll said, "We'll make it up to you." I went on my way thinking nothing more about it, but I was kind of proud to have a plane that could manouver like a bird, and a tower that knew me well enough to ask for the help they apparently needed. End of appointment one.

So, TODAY, appointment two was the payback. I wasn't even thinking about it, but it was the same tower controller as yesterday and he was ready for me to get a chance to play! Let see, where was I? Oh, yeah, so there I am, taking off today and I get the clearance for the tear drop and return landing. So that's exactly what I did, hit my mark on the dirt strip, stopped and took off. Well, as soon as I took off the tower called, "Kitfox 85DD cleared for an early turn out, right or left turn, your choice and a teardrop back to the dirt strip, at your discretion, at your own risk". Immediately I replied, "early left turn, right tear drop for the dirt strip, at my own risk", and away I went, looking out the top of the turtle deck as I made a climbing tear drop turn, then entering a descending turn to complete the tear drop once I had reach the 1,000 ft AGL required pattern altitude, desending down the opposite side of the tear drop full flaps in a full slip to the dirt strip, hitting my mark and coming to a complete stop on the short half of the strip. Then, full power, nose up, half flaps, then yanking full flaps and lift off, blead the flaps while climbing, right early turn out, into the tear drop, look out the top of the turtle deck hitting the 1,000 AGL mark, turn and push the nose down, extend flaps, into a full slip, hit my mark, stop, go again, and on-and-on and on for a total of 8 take-offs and landings. Total time on the hobbs? 0.5 hrs hangar to hangar. Man, was I tired. And yes, I did thank the tower for "letting me play today!".

Well, it was such a great flying "appoinment" I just had to tell someone, and all of you are the someones! Thanks for listening. (ah, yes. The Kitfox grin)