Aviators Lounge: For The Love of Flying

Great flight last week! Flew from W96 to KCHO Charlottesville, Virginia and back with my CFI.

We used flight following. Great service and each time we use it I see more examples of how valuable it is to take advantage of it.

This flight brought new challenges and opportunity. This was my first time to KCHO. Really had to adjust my eyes to see things differently. One thing I learned was that there were mountain peaks to keep an eye on approaching the airport. The FBOs TPA is 1700. The highest peak nearby is 1830. Do the math means being very aware of these things, picking great pilotage points prior to flying, and staying clear of that peak!

You could just see a faint shadow of the mountains. The lights below, towns, baseball fields, parking lots, the airport all stand out against pitch black. I found night flying very enjoyable. Very zen!

Here are a few night flying Virginia pictures and a YouTube clip of my 2 touch and gos at KCHO. Enjoying the view in a great flight you're a part of is priceless! Already looking forward to my next flight.

Spotted a rainbow before the flight

Love the city glow below.

It is beautiful and more peaceful up here!

Landing on 21

I see Richmond's dazzle

Richmond glow.

I'm more than enjoying my growing flying experiences and skills. Looking forward to my greatest chapters ahead!

Video of my 2 touch and gos at KCHO with some chill tunes

https://youtu.be/nM74ucz5BGk

Do you enjoy day or night flying better and why?

Happy and Safe Flying, Always!

Emily

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