Aviation Love Flow

Hello Fellow Fantastic Flying Friends!

I hope 2015 has started off great for you all and has included some awesome ️flying! Mine has, including a few of my best flights to date this month. WOOHOO! Eager to stay this pattern!:-D

Flying, for me, is an Aviation Love Flow. A winning recipe includes clear planning prior to flight, a great takeoff, turns enroute, adjusting, refining, & a great landing that makes you feel a big YESSS in every cell. Great weather helps, too!:-)

I reflect on why I flying resonates with me so strongly. It's the sense of growth and personal accomplishments in a challenging field most do not partake in. It's all the amazing feelings And memories I gain. It's also fellow pilots I meet that match that extraordinary passion and energy in how they fly & live!

I have yet to meet a pilot who was like, "Meeeeeh..." when I've chatted with them about flying. Regardless if they are active or haven't flown for a while, there is a fire in the eyes and the love for flight palpatable. That Rocks!

In connecting with fellow pilots, I value that passion and enthusiasm we share for this extraodinary field. This type of planning and discipline applies to many facets of a successful path in Life, aviation and beyond.

Aviation to me is a wonderous blend of passion, determination, perseverance and being in tune and nimble to adjust along the way for better performance. Personally, there are few things I have found in Life that demand your best to this degree, to focus everything on these flying moments, to show up giving your best everytime and never want for complacency. Flying is one of those things to me. That is how I'm wired, so I value the alignment of those standards I feel I get in aviation. I celebrate my growing skills/experience and am eager to improve, all while learning more. I love the challenges and learnings I gain. It's making for a better version of me!

Shoutout to great things that support my journey to find my wings --> great FBOs & crews like mine, NKA, CFIs like Jim Oddono & Matt Welch who are setting me up for success, fellow pilots I connect with that inspire and share insights with me that enhance my journey and organizations like AOPA & EAA that support General Aviation efforts/education and safety. 

Life moves fast. I challenge you, like I do myself, to keep doing great things that make the journey an EPIC one!

What is Aviation to you? How does it make you feel when you fly? 

Here are a few pictures & YouTube videos caught on my GoPro from my flights this month. 

This is my flying love face. You'll see it in often in my flight posts! 

I love wearing it.:-)

1/2/2015: W96, New Kent Aviation (NKA), Virginia. 

A little drizzle, but still VFR! My focus in this day was pattern work and finesse my landings. It was great flying! I was very pleased with my TP setups & landings. So was my CFI, Jim Oddono!

Love the patchwork design from up high 

Post flight smiles! 

1/5/2015: W96, New Kent & KRIC, Richmond International Airport Virginia back to W96

My birthday flight rocked! Was a tad windy, but not too terrible. It was my first time flying with NKAs new full time CFI Matt Welch. On a social media plug note, I'm active on it. I actually met Mat through LinkedIn before I met him in person at NKA. That was a cool example of how digital connections can enhance your reach to connect with great contacts!

So this flight we did a XWind take off and landing at W96, then headed to KRICs towered airport. I wanted to observe Matt's radio handlings. There was activity there. We came in behind a jetliner, big guy so he ensured we kept a safe distance. We did 3 touch and gos. Runway 34 seemed like it went on forever (was very long) for our little Cessna 152!:-) I like the added challenges of all the activity happening at this airport. Keeps you on your toes even more than usual! It was a fun flight with new learnings.

Winds

Me getting prepped.  am sporting a Wazoo survival tools parachord bracelet. Love their products! Bringing 'Be Prepared' to a new level. I likie! My favorites are the Adventure bracelet, this Zombie bracelet, & Woodchuck key chains. Check out their site: http://www.wazoosurvivalgear.com

Check out my product review on their survival skills bracelet on my Adventure blog:

Enroute to KRIC

LOVE this view!

We spotted and came in after this big guy! Seeing the passengers de-plane as we climbed out.. They looked like ants!!!

Here's Matt in action!

KRIC

Hard to see, but there are the National Guard helicopters. I LOVE helicopters! 

Working it! Line up for landing runway 34.

Back to W96

I see my car!:-)

Post flight smiles! Check out that sock. Windy!

1/19/2015 - New Kent W96 to West Point KFYJ to Hummel W75 back to W96 

Great flight to 2 different FBOs, KFYJ and my first time landing at W75. Shortest runway I've landed to date (2270x45). 

I planned out the routes to identify key landmarks along the way. I'm very pleased I spotted everything I wanted to get us to and from each location. I'm still working ing in finessing my landings. I was most pleased with my second landing at W75, which I share in a link below.

Here is Stuart, Director of Maintenance (aka the mastermind keeping the planes in tip top shape!) and Matt rolling out this mighty 152 lil' guy who's ready to be flown!:-)

Here's a few pictures: Upper left - Me with Stuart. Shoutout to the crews who ensure the planes are at their best! Upper right: Smiles with the Champ in the background. I must fly him this year. Lower left: High Altitude smile from beautiful Virginia! Lower right: Post flight smile. Another great day of Flying Virginia! 

Taking off w96

On Final KFYJ

Traveling to W75

On Final W75

W75, it's been fun. Time to head back to W96!

Below are two GoPro videos caught on this flight. I added music to this footage, so buckle up and enjoy the view on this virtual ride with me! They were a blast! I hope it leaves a smile on your face and the want to get more air time, fellow pilots. I know I'm ready to get UP again!❤️✈

Takeoff at New Kent #W96 Click here

Landing at Hummel #75 Click here 

Pilots ~ What is your favorite FBO to land at and what are those runway dimensions? I'd love to hear. May inspire a future trip for me!

Happy & Safe Flying, Always!

Emily

1st GoPro video: Flying Windy Virginia 11/14/14

My 1st @GoPro video! 

http://youtu.be/2Vq4IZuLrsc

I made a movie clip with it, would you expect anything less;-) First time I used the GoPro. After quickly playing with it, was pretty easy to use. It's worth taking some time to flip through the manual to get optimal use.

No distractions using flipping it on/off. I used the ceiling mount for this vid. Unfortunately, the battery died before my epic experience arriving at #KTGI #Tangier, Virginia! :-O Guess that means I'll have to return!:-)

It was double digits knots Windy and cold, but a great fun flight nonetheless! KTGI was an excellent flying experience! The view flying above the Tangier island & two sets of landings & take offs will be some of my favorite memories to date! I already want to go back.

Do not miss my action packed Aviators Lounge post, coming out this weekend, that will give you more info about my flight & some brief island visit tips... important things like where to eat if you visit! 

Until that post, enjoy this quick video of my Flying Windy Virginia W96 takeoff!

Happy & Safe Flying, Always!:-)

Spreading the Word! Taildragger FlyIn at KXSA on 11/8/2014

My aviation friend Jack is extending an open invite to a Taildragger Fly-In this Saturday in Virginia!

See below for details! Spread the word to other pilots who'd be interested. 

Also, read more about Jack in the Pilot Interview Spotlight I did on this aviator. He's amongst the first 2 people to get ALL the Virginia Aviation Ambassador program stamps. Read & see more in my post: 

http://aviatorslounge.blogspot.com/2014/03/meet-jack-pettigrew-adventurer-flying.html?m=1

Where will your next flight be to? Fess up!

Happy & Safe Flying, Always!!

Love is always in the Air for us Flying Lovers!

Experienced on of my best flights to date yesterday! I was set on visiting Accomack which is a spot on a sliver of peninsula east of Richmond, crossing over the James River, over the Chesapeake Bay, and unveils sights of the mighty Atlantic Ocean out yonder when you're over the bay. It was a beautiful day. I LOVE flying! 

I had a good pre-flight brief with my instructor before flight. Great takeoffs, flying, VOR navigation and landings. Still have to work on my centerline landing, but Life would be boring if we nailed everything perfectly. I like the challenge of working hard and upgrading my skills. 

I will be doing a separate post on my review of my new Stratus. Used mine for the first time in flight and I'm a fan!

Here are a few pictures from yesterday. The images I took in flying us to KMFV are ones I won't forget. So beautiful and makes me want to fly to the Keys and Caribbean one day.

Love!

& Love!

Beautiful blue over the Chesapeake Bay

Inflight cheese (yes, controls were positively exchanged everytime I took pics, Safety first!). I love when my glasses capture reflections while I fly, like this one of the ocean/land & skies!!

Plane parking lot

FBO has a nice cabin look

Me asking (telling;-)) Jim to take my picture by the signage.

Hi from Accomack airport! 

Nice interior. I like the royal blue color & woods!

Nice porch and planes view.

Looking to the left. There's our ride!

Look who's playing peekAboo!

Pre-photo opps checklist: Fixing the ponytail before photo engagement commences.... Check!

Cheese! By the way, that cockpit is compact looking! 

This guy flew in before we left. I like his plane with the red, white and blue!

 On the way back

So beautiful. I love the look of ocean and land meeting with the gorgeous ocean blue/green shades.

Yesterday was a Great flying day. I feel more ready for my soon to come cross country solo! 

Where did you fly recently? 

Been to Accomack before? If so, where is your favorite spot to eat there?

Happy and Safe Flying, Always!

First AOPA Air Safety Institute Seminar Accident Case Studies, Richmond, Virginia

I highly encourage fellow aviation enthusiasts and pilots to attend this Free AOPA Air Safety Institute seminar. This was the first one I've ever attended. I have been looking forward to checking it for some time, since receiving notification last month that it was going to be held in Richmond, Virginia, at the Virginia Aviation Museum. 

I received both something in the snail mail and an email about this event. Do keep an eye out for these invites and take advantage of them.

Entering into the venue, there was a sign in area and giveaways <-- Yeay!:-)

This seminar kicked off with some mention of local aviation related efforts. Civil Air Patrol, Angel Flight, Pilot and Paws, and the Ninety-Nines were a few local initiatives mentioned. 

3 cases were reviewed. Discussion about each accident, possible contributing factors, witness recounts and interviews. I defininetly picked up a few food for thought pieces.

Again, I highly recommend anyone in aviation attend these free seminars. Not only did I gain insights through the case studies, I also made new pilot connections. Always enjoy that aspect of meeting other pilots and hearing their passion about where to go and where to fly in and eat. Just never a dull moment and I dig it!!

Happy and Safe Flying, Always!

Here are a few action shots I snapped that evening.

Welcome table. I particularly liked the Sectional Map & the Virginia is for Flying Lovers bag!

Just arrived. I really enjoy this museum. Magnificent aircrafts high & low!

Nice!!

Seminar kicks off!

Freebies!:-)

Talk about Festival of Flight. Sounds like Flying Fun! The big talk is that there will be drones at this event. Check it out!

I likie!!!:-)

Ever attend AOPAs ASI seminars? 

Also, I saw this and it's a good follow up to that ASI seminar I went. Two of the three accidents covered dealt with wx 

Some good info in this post: www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/got_weather 

A few links to a few aviation groups mentioned:

PilotsNPaws http://pilotsnpaws.org/about/

Angel Flight http://www.angelflightsoars.org

Civil Air Patrol http://www.govirginiawingcap.com

Ninety-Nines http://m.ninety-nines.org