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/

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!:-)

Next flight: Tangier KTGI here I come

Ever since I saw a picture in AOPA's Flight Training Magazine, I've wanted to fly to Tangier, Virginia. Booked my flight this coming week. Here we go!:-) 

Have you flown into KTGI? If so, any tips and where's the place to eat lunch in Nov 2014!

Where will you be flying this week & weekend? 

Wherever you soar.. Happy & Safe Flying, Always!

Emily

Living it UP! Love for Aviation.

That feeling I get before easing to  Full Throttle~ ADVENTURE.

Sooooo few things as lovely as those take off & landing moments. Priceless! I'm grateful I fould my love for flight! I L❤️VE the possibilities! 

#LivingitUP 👉✈️❤️🚁👍😍

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!!

Flying Adventures: FBO BBQ & first visit into Hummel W75

Fun flying this weekend. In addition, got to enjoy the BBQ at my FBO. I have a great FBO where I train. New Kent Aviation, here in Virginia, was recommended to me last year when I was deciding where to start my flight training. I'm so glad I picked NKA, a family owned/run business with a friendly staff. They do Customer Appreciation BBQs through the Fall. Yesterday was their last this season. Glad I went to enjoy some grilled food, pilot chatting & then a great flight to Hummel.

Talking aviation, on this beautiful blue skies Saturday, after a smooth take off of Runway 29 at W96  it was off towards the East Coast. My intent was to use pilotage, dead reckoning & VOR navigation to see some specific spots along my route. Climbed to 5,500. Spotted West Point, then Tappahanock bridge, then Hummel airfield.

The runway is 2270 x 75. I had Jim land this one so I could take in the view during landing. I handled the short field take off when we left. Fun! Good practice before we fly into Tangier soon!:-)

Here are a few pictures captured of a fun filled aviation Saturday. Ready for my next flight already!

Big smile with Cessna 152 at Hummel, W75! :-D

Jeff, New Kent Aviation's GM, handling the Customer Appreciation BBQ. 

Good time chatting with Chad. We connected through Instagram aviation posts. Check out his IG handle @biplaneflyer for his aviation pics. 

Cool picture my instructor Jim snapped. A lot of boating activity on the Rappahannock River. Gorgeous view!!

Hummel airfield approx 1030' MSL TPA

Love the Fall foliage view!

View on Final

Closer on Final

FBO trailer

Inside the FBO trailer to get our Aviation Ambassador stamps!!

Filling it up:-)

W75 specs on ForeFlight 

AOPA tribute to Dr. Nichols who used general aviation to help provide medical services to Tangier. 

Check out the article about it:

http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/All-News/2014/September/30/Dr-Copters-aviation-legacy-set-in-stone

I snapped a good shot of Jim and a plane taking off in the background!

Planes on the ground.

Plane flying above

Getting ready for some cheesing in front of the 152. Sunglasses adjustment, Check!:-)

Me & Cessna 49134

Back at W96, enjoying a great view & food. Had one more hot dog & 2 bowls of John's (NKA instructor & examiner) award winning chili. Delicious!

Another great flying day that left a lingering Cheshire Cat smile. The memories & my growing experience are priceless to me. Love it and excited for my next flight!

So, where were you up to? Work on anything in particular?

Happy & Safe Flying, Always!

Flying Virginia: W96 to KOFP

First time flying into Hanover, Ashland KOFP FBO on 10/5. It had been a month and a half since my last flight ~ Gasp! Too long. Despite the break, the flight was awesome. Did my usual flight game planning, good preflight debrief & off to preflight check the 152. Blue skies in Beautiful Virginia. Fasten your searbelt!

We took off, I did a landing, then off to KOFP. I did a visual spotting of MiddlePeninsula West Point KFYJ, then it was DME Arc VOR navigation flying to KOFP.

As usual took some pictures after we landed. Then it was back to New Kent W96.

Every moment the plane takes off under my hand, the wheels leave the earth and we ascend defying conventional limitations we as humans have being grounded by successfully taking flight is a moment of blissful zen for me. The experience is exciting, thrilling, all while being extremely focused and serious. Time stops for me in those moments of take off and my landings. Very few things have touched me in the same way, have challenged me to this level and I LOVE it!:-) 

Here are a few pics snapped on this flying adventure. In my flight posts, I like to share views of the airports I fly into so catch a glimpse of Hanover FBO!

Flying makes me smile BIG

FBO specs

Me & the 152!

Marinating on my next moves, Always! Oh the possibilities are endless.:-)

Nice pilots lounge

Pilots lounge

FBO lobby

Posing by one of my future rides.:-) 

3 words for you: Dream big, people!

Virginia Aviation Ambassador passport & iphone in the pocket, Check! I love my Pilot Talk clothing line (pullover seen here) & travel mugs!! Classy threads for the ladies & unisex travel mugs/hats. All for the jet setters! Snag one of my products & share a picture with me. Would LOVE seeing you model one of my products so I can share it with my audience! 

Check out my store: http://www.zazzle.com/WingsConnect?rf=238151310469888436

Drop me a line with you modeling my product design. Email me through my site! http://wingsconnect.com/

Where are you flying this weekend? What are you working on? I'll be planning to visit another new airport and working on centerline landings! Thinking maybe Tangiere, KCPK or Charlottesville. Oh the possibilities!:-)

Wherever you are UP to... Happy & Safe flying, Always!