Great cause & flying on 12/13/14 in Virginia

Wow! Love when a day with no particular plan ends up being one of your most enjoyable ones!:-)

I received a text from a Flying friend, Jack Pettigrew, about a toy airlift & donations event to support Military troops this holiday season. I'm a proud Army brat who grew up in military communities. Even though I'm not in the military, that community will always be an extended family and hold a special spot in my heart! I jumped at the opportunity to rush to pick up some goodies for the kids and supplies for Veterans in the hospital. 

Jack met me there and had a crew of his flying friends. I love chatting aviation with others who share the same enthusiasm. I ask all kinds of questions and want to hear about experiences to soak it in like a sponge. I always learn something new and now find opportunities with the flying I've done, to date, to inspire others to visit new FBOs. A few of us had a great chat about Tangier Island being a MUST visit. I flew there last month with my instructor. Click here to view that post: 

http://aviatorslounge.blogspot.com/2014/11/flying-inspirations-windy-flight-to.html?m=1

The aviation community is a unique and special one. I love the new connections and sharing in the excitement of flying.

When I came to this event, I actually didn't have intentions to fly. That being said. I happened to snag my headset just before leaving. BOY, that was an excellent decision!! I was offered a brief flight in my first experimental and it was exhilarating! Andy is the owner of a Maj. Preddy, ace WWII pilot, RV-7 replica plane. It's exterior is painted with symbols that share the history of this ace pilot. The interior was SWEET! I loved the glass canopy top & seatbelt! It felt like being a Star Wars X-Wing pilot, yes I said it! This plane is so much faster than my trainer 152. To think I almost passed on a ride. Boy, thank goodness I came to my senses!!:-D After I climbed in the cockpit, I had to go up!

I was impressed with Andy. He was very focused, together, explained every detail of the preflight checklist/runup and shared his way of diagraming/noting aviations specs. I really enjoyed seeing his style of operation and was stoked he showed me how incredible the RV-7 flies! I've heard from other pilots to fly in various models, where opportunity presents. This experience opened up my mind to a whole different flying experience... One that's much faster than the 152!!;-)

I left the airport with a HUGE Cheshire Cat smile.. Still wearing it!

I encourage you to spread some holiday cheer by giving, where you can at events like this Toy airlift, or whatever resonates with you. 

For my fellow Flying friends, what are your favorite holiday aviation related events?

Check out some action pictures from this Fun Filled Saturday at Chesterfield Executive Airport! Big shout to my friend Jack for spreading the word & sharing his enthusiasm for aviation. He's not 1 of the top 2 Virginia Aviation Ambassador passport holders for nothing!

 

ME FLYING & my FULL FORCE RV-7 Grin!!!!!! LOVING this flying experience! EEEEEE:-D

Here is my on the ground "RV Grin"! Virginia Aviator Stewart Purvis enlightened me with that phrase!:-) I climbed in the cockpit & was like HELLO, Let's DO THIS!!:-D

Pictures of KXSA Tappahnock FBOs great contributions to the toy Airlift! Love the picture with the Troops!

Me arriving to drop off gifts to the troops! Santa flew into the airport to see the kids. Awesome!!

Fun chatting flying with others who love it and share the enthusiasm to tell their aviation stories, tips, and passion!

After the buffet lunch, we went to check out people's planes. Here's Jack's taildragger!

Here's Andy's RV-7. NEAT!

Planes need to eat, too. Filler up!

Very cool of Andy to take me Up! 

Dude, this interior was Rocking! 

Santa, I want one now!

Ready!!

There goes the gifts! Happy I could contribute. It warmed my heart to do so. :-)

Learn more about Major Preddy, Ace WWII American Aviator: http://www.aviation-history.com/airmen/preddy.htm  

Check out my previous Pilot Spotlight Interview post on Jack: http://aviatorslounge.blogspot.com/2014/03/meet-jack-pettigrew-adventurer-flying.html?m=1

Interested in sharing your Love at First Flight story? I want to share it! 

Visit http://www.wingsconnect.com/ & click on TALK for details on being considered for the Spotlight interview!

Happy & Safe Flying, Always!

Buckle UP! Meet Adventurous Alaskan Aviator RoyRobert Fischer-Akootchook!

Boy, do I have a treat for you all! 

One of the favorite things I do with my aviation site & blog is to share unique, exciting, and pure Aviation loving Pilot Spotlight Interviews!! I'm a firm believer that Great stories are meant to be shared and I genuinely love shining the light on different pilots I have the pleasure of connecting with either in person or online by sharing some of their flying story.

Each interview is an Adventure, a glimpse into a different world.... different faces, experiences, and places, but we all have the same fierce aviation love burning strong within. I find each Pilot Spotlight lends itself to new learnings, reinforces others, has the potential to ignite sparks of inspiration to visit new places and adds a deeper dimension to each pilot after reading about their responses that show their love & passion for flying.

I'm so exited to feature in this Pilot spotlight with you RoyRobert Fischer-Akootchook! He's one of my favorite IGers. Follow his handle and you will be in for an exciting visual aviating Alaskan ride when you do: @ROYROBERT130

His Alaska aviation pictures on Instagram captured my attention. It takes a special something to keep capturing my eye & his pictures are ones I look forward to show up on my feed!!:-) With his feed, you gain a first hand, steady stream of beautiful wild Alasaka. From what I see, Alaska is so different from the concrete jungles I have walked. Even after moving to Virginia, which is less concrete junglish:-), it is far from the wild & more natural I see in much of Alaska. Growing up, I remember my Dad getting National Geographic, and seeing pictures of Alaska. For some reason they resonated. In the past few years, I saw Flying Wild Alaska and was very much WOW'D by these pilots called, "Bush Pilots" and the glimpses of some of the lives I saw there.  Now THAT's some wild windy flying!! I've been & continue to be fascinated by Alaska. A trip there is on my list. Of course, it must include Flying Alaska & fishing!:-)

 When I read RoyRobert's responses his love for flying sonic boomed!:-D Flying love sounds to be engrained in his every cell. His responses are energized, fiercely focused on his long love for aviation and his pictures show a beautiful lens into the flying world he lives in Alaska! I loved reading every response & seeing the pictures shared! I share with you his dedication to share his pictures. It took him a few attempts to send all pictures as I got to see that the internet connectivity was slower in Alaska, especially in the bush. Despite, he kept with it until I had all the beautiful aviation pictures to share with his spotlight piece here.

With no further wait, it is my pure pleasure to virtually introduce you to RoyRobert & share his responses in this edition of WingsConnect Featured Pilot Spotlight. Enjoy the ride!

Question 1: Tell me your Love at First Flight story and how you fell in love with aviation - where & when was your first flight? Also, what did you fly?

I fell in love with aviation from the second I was born! Since as long as I can remember! I grew up in an Aviation / Military family. It's what we always talked about and loved to do. My whole life all I every talked about or wanted to talk about was aviation. You know when you grow up with your best friends they always changed what they want to be we they grew up. Like in preschool they want to be a superhero, the next year they want to be just like their dad, a year later they want to be a firefighter, and it changed every year. But not for me, my whole life I knew I wanted to become a pilot. It never changed. That's what I loved and had passion for my whole life. It's still the same today, but my love for aviation grows everyday. Through out school all my teachers I had growing up they used to get mad because I usually changed the subject somehow and talked about as always, airplanes! Aviation! All my friends and family know that's all I every talk about. I can go on forever and ever and ever about aviation as you can see. Lol. :-) ✈️

The 1st time I took controls of an airplane was on December 21st 2012. The day people thought the world was going to end but it was just the beginning for me. I flew a Cessna 172 with a G1000 in it, down in Arlington, Texas. KGKY. Then in May 2013 I graduated from high school in my little hometown of Kaktovik, Alaska. I wasn't exactly sure where I was going to go to flight school at the time. But, I happened to go to a little air show in Fairbanks where I  talked with flight schools, that's where I fell in love with Warbelows Flight School. The school that I joined in August of 2013. I had my solo flight just after 10hrs of flight time. After a few of my solo flights I had to take break, 2 months off because I was having a hard time, I lost two close family members. So, in December of 2013 I wanted to finish and earn my license for the ones I lost. A week later, I passed my written and worked on more cross country hours so I could get my checkride in before the instructors left for Christmas break. My instructor and I scheduled my checkride for December 16, 2013. But the day before the checkride I cancelled it because I didn't like how the weather was. It was fly able for student pilots but it was in my personal minimums. Plus, I didn't feel 100% ready. After the break I went on another Mach checkride and felt ready. On the morning of my checkride the FAA examiner walked in and said, "good job." And shook my hand. I asked why and he told me that I made the right choice of canceling my first checkride. So I felt really good about the checkride! And I did do great, I earned my Private Pilots License on January 19, 2014. 

Question 2: What is the best advice you can give to fellow pilots?

The biggest one I can think of is to be "better safe than sorry." If you don't feel like flying cancel it and don't go. Or if the weather looks good for a few hours and you think you can beat it you most likely won't especially in Alaska. I've seen many crashes, all were pilot error and bad decisions. I have my own personal minimums, the regulations say you can fly but I wouldn't want to or feel comfortable doing so. You can always cancel flights if you don't feel comfortable. Advice I'd give to fellow pilots would be to always study and stay fresh. Because I took long breaks and didn't really get any studying in and I forgot a few things when I got back into flying. 

Question 3: What is your favorite part of being involved in aviation?

My favorite part about being in aviation is to fly airplanes! Well I love everything about aviation it's hard to name just one or a few.....hundred. Lol. I love to do any kind of work on the planes like taking off the wing covers and warming up the planes with the heaters when it's 45 below outside and I'm not even the one flying that day. Another good one is: I love how when you become a pilot you join the aviation family, like on Instagram all the student pilots or commercial pilots cheer you on or congratulate you when you pass a little test or something. It's great! They're always there to help you out if you have questions. 

Question 4: What is the best eating spots you've found in your aviation travels?

I'm not really too sure, since I fly to little dirt strips in the middle of nowhere. But I know when I buy my own plane and fly up on the North Slope of Alaska. I'm always welcomed into people's homes for dinner if I ever fly into any of the small villages in Bush Alaska, and I know native food would be on the menu. 

Question 5: What are your favorite airports that you've flown into and why?
My favorite place to fly into is Tanana, Alaska. PATA. On final you get to fly low over the Yukon River just before you touch down on the dirt strip.

Another good one is in Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. PAML. It's a new airport that just opened in the past year and it's like landing on a little narrow dirt road. It's fun to fly in when it's a little breezy because its a challenge to land from the winds or downdrafts from the huge hill next to the runway.

And my third favorite airport to fly to is in Lake Minchumina, Alaska. PAMH. It's a another airport that's not maintained, it's a soft strip and there's tall grass that grows on the runway. At both ends of the runway is the lake, so you have to land spot on, so you don't over shoot and fall off into the lake. 

Readers: Now, fasten your seatbelt tight, yell CLEAR PROP & check out his aviation action pictures!

WOW!

Nice!

Eyes out!

Like a Pro!

Legit! I like that fuzzy chair cover, too.:-)

Nice!!

Sky Gold!

Ready for high altitude adventure!

WOWZAS! What a supercharged ride through reading the responses & enjoying the view, right?!

RoyRobert, you have certainly inspired me and strongly reinforce my desire to visit Alaska one day! Thank you so much for sharing your time to divulge your responses and a few favorite Avi pictures so each of us reading gets to know you a bit more. What a fun visual & cerebral ride!:-)

Keep doing what you're doing & living it UP, Rockstar! I look forward to seeing your ongoing aviations adventures shared in your IG posts.

Happy & Safe Flying, Always! 

Flying Inspirations: Tangier KTGI Flight, Check!

Putting an APB out for my socks because they were KNOCKED OFF when I sonic boomed, as a result of my Awesome flight to Tangier, Virginia! 

3 words -->What a flight!!! 

The first time Tangier got on my radar was me seeing a picture and article in AOPA's Flight Training Magazine (see below, I still have this edition!!:-)). I was intrigued and interested in flying into Tangier when the time was right.

If you get a chance to fly to KTGI, take it!! Flying over the island and seeing the runway is such a memorable experience! On this day of flight, it was double digits windy with double digit gusts in Virginia. Despite that it was a fun and smooth flight! 

Ever since I shared my plans to fly to Tangier, I've received enthusiastic responses from pilots who have experienced this memorable flight themselves. Part of what I really enjoy about the journey of learning is hearing tips shared by those willing to dish so I can have as much fun on my trips as possible with added "insider" details! I, in turn, enjoy sharing the information I receive and experience in my posts for another to gain insights.

I was excited to visit Tangier! <-- Understatement:-) I'm tickled I did it and the memories of seeing the sights from above give me a lingering Cheshire Cat smile. Here are some pictures and insights from my flight and brief island visit!

I'd love to hear your favorite memories of Flying Tangier! Leave me a comment. 

A fantastic picture Jim shared with me taken last year on Final for Runway 20. Unfortunately, on this trip I didn't get any Tangier approach or take off pictures since the GoPro's battery I had drained.:-(Oh well, guess I'll just have to return!;-)

Epic Photo! Picture credit: Jim Oddono, NKA W96 CFI 

Here is the 10/2013 AOPA Flight Training Magazine where I first laid eyes on Tangier! 

I definitely want to fly into more of the island runways on this list!

I've hightlighted a couple things that helped make this a smooth flight for me.

-Orange circles are key visual markers that I used to keep me on track. 

-Orange arrows show you my intent to travel closer to land vs cross the water. 

-Yellow circles are VORs I used to triangulate my location through the flight.

-Blue rectangle shows the 64 highway, a great marker to follow to take me right to my FBO!

My flight instructor Jim has done a great job teaching me about VOR navigation. I really like using it to triangulate my location and track where I am in relation to the VORs I've selected. Here is a training video by MzeroA on VOR nav:

http://youtu.be/Eno0p1n2H84

I like Jason's training videos a lot. You should subscribe! He's got good topics.

Here we are traveling towards Hummel W75, one of my visual markers. FYI: Photos I take inflight I do after positive exchange of controls.

Tappahannock Bridge to my left & I know W75 is right near it.

Pretty lands end.

Swinging around Watts Island!!

Watts Island and I spy Tangier Island off yonder!!:-)

Landed on Runway 2 (Right Traffic Pattern). Hi Tangier! 

Now on the ground, I was on a mission. We headed into town to get our aviation stamp & some eats.

PILOT TIP: To get to town, walk away from the airport towards the water tank pictured below, take a left over the bridge, walk to the end of the road & Lorraine's is to your left.

Walking over the bridge & towards town.

Here we are!

Cheshire Cat smile after arriving!

Pilot Tip: Get your VA Avi Ambassador stamp at Lorraine's! Here's Jim getting his stamp.

Yummy crab cakes.

Check out the size of the crab cakes!

Jim got the crab cake sandwich.

Smiling with these lovely ladies --> Jaime (Lorraine's daughter) & Lorraine. Visit their restaurant and try those crab cakes! Their restaurant celebrated 30 years in

business & they were was featured in Southern Living Magazine 7/2012.

Time to go get another landing in before heading back to W96!:-)

Let me take a quick picture. Bundled up!

I LOVE this view. Taking off Runway 2!

Beautiful sights at high altitudes.

I love these views!

Tried out GoPro for the 1st time yesterday. Here are 2 videos I created mini-movies with music. Check them out!

Windy Virginia W96 Takeoff

http://youtu.be/2Vq4IZuLrsc

Brief clip of my flight over the big blue Chesapeake Bay!

http://youtu.be/dRZSVHvmfFQ

For those who have flown into KTGI: 

What are your favorite highlights? 

What do I need to check out next visit?

For those who have not visited KTGI yet:

Find an opportunity to go, especially if you're nearby. I was told it was a special flight and it is now one of my favorite aviation memories!

Happy and Safe Flying, Always!

More on Tangier Island: 

http://www.tangierisland-va.com/

Check out AOPA's Flight Training Magazine. I dig them! http://flighttraining.aopa.org/