Monday, March 18, 2024

Time For 3rd Winter

All that wind on Saturday was from a cold front blowing right on in.  

It has brought much lower temperatures and some snow with it.

Yep, we have snow in the air and enough to accumulate on the ground both yesterday and today.  

Yes right now it is below freezing and snowing here right now.  Not a lot, but enough to remind us it is still winter in Michigan even with the respite of the lovely t-shirt weather the last couple weeks.

That's weather in Michigan for you.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Saturday Flyday - Operation Archer Retrieval

Unfortunately we're going to be waiting even longer for the Archer's autopilot to be done, as the avionics shop can't get to it right now for reasons, namely they are swamped and don;t have the techs available to get it done right now. Argh.

So, the plan was to pick it up this morning at 9am at KADG and bring it back for now.

So I got up early to meet with James and make it happen by flying the Dakota there and he would fly the Archer back. We got to the airport at 7:30, and James had brought his son along, nice kid.

Plan was to get over there and get back quick as the winds were going to really pickup today.

We then ran into a key problem:

Namely, our keys didn't work in the Dakota.

The Dakota has just come out of annual, and as part of that, the lock cylinder was changed as it had deteriorated to the point where you could remove your key in an other than the off setting, which could be potentially bad.  Bad because you could leave the magnetos hot that way and someone turning the propeller could find the engine starting up on them.  Not good so it got changed,

Problem was, they didn't leave the new key behind.

So we had to wait a bit and finally we managed to get in contact with who had the new key as their phone was apparently on Do Not Disturb, and James drove off to get it. We lost a bit over an hour of time with that issue.

I had already done the preflight so we got in and got going.

Called Ground, got flight following, did our run up and I took us off for Adrian and after clearing Pontiac's airspace was directed to contact Detroit Approach.

Used the autopilot and it both connected and disconnected just fine.

Wind had already picked up a bit and we would be having a 22 knot headwind on the way there.


It was a smooth flight there, and since I had another pilot with me I put the foggles on and did the RNAV 23 approach. Detroit Approach was very cool and had us fly direct to a middle fix on the approach, and cleared us into the Bravo to do so, which saved us time.

I then did a great approach and a nice landing as the wind, while gusting was straight down the runway at 230.

We then met with the avionics shop and got the Archer.

We then flew back to Pontiac, James and his kid in the Archer, and I was in the Dakota, and things started getting a tad interesting.


After passing the Ann Arbor  airport, we both hit some decent wind shear and turbulence to bounce us around a fair bit. The turbulence continued towards Pontiac.

Even with the turbulence, I managed to snag a nice shot of The Big House from 3,500 feet.


I had to slow down to remain in safe maneuvering speed, but I was still moving pretty good. A ground speed of151 knots or 174 mph is rather nice.

Got to Pontiac, and first they had me do a left downwind for Runway 27L.

They then had me turn a tight base and moved me over to 27R which got a bit challenging in what was a gusty crosswind of 10-18 knots from 220 degrees.

I almost had to go around as the wind was pushing me past the run way rather nicely,  but I managed to salvage the approach in good order. I was then lined up on short final, started to land, and then one heckuva gust made it not super pretty.

The wind, just as my wheel started to touch decided to kick up to 25 knots.

Not my best landing, but the aircraft was and is fully usable, so it still counts as an excellent landing, doesn't it?  Had we been back as planned the winds would have been far better.

James arrived awhile after, and also had a fun crosswind landing too in the rather gusty conditions, but they sent him right to 27R and didn't do a last minute switch.

We then put the planes away and that was a rather challenging 19 knot crosswind factor, but I did it, so I'm rather happy about that.

Winds are currently16-30 knots and really whipping around, so glad we got back when we did.

That's 1.7 with 2 excellent landings and one approach in the books.

Speaking of books, I've now filled up my first logbook completely, and these two entries were the first ones in my new logbook.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Proud Parent Moment

So last night was Senior Honors Night at the high school.

Leah will be graduating Summa Cum Laude and was awarded for doing so. She's also going to be honored for leading the Mock Trial Team and multiple other activities that she has done.

Not bad for a kid that went through High School under Covid protocols and all the issues with learning and stupidities and anxieties that it entailed. 

Such stupidities included  having doors and windows in the classrooms open to the outside in winter for "ventilation" when they finally got back to in class teaching, and it was one of the many particularly stupid things that were done.

To celebrate after the awards, we went out for ice cream to celebrate her great achievement.

25 days are left this school year for her, then her exams, and her High School days will come to an end. Still waiting on some university decisions at this point so we don;t know where she'll be going yet.

For some dumb reason the administration has decided not to allow departing senior quotes in the yearbook, even after they had previously been ok'd.  Apparently some were spicy so the boneheads decided to yank them all.

Leah's had been "So long high school, and thanks for all the ulcers."

The kid did real well for all of that. I'm quite proud of her efforts and outstanding results.

Monday, March 11, 2024

The Kids Are More Than All Right - Indian American Students Association Show Edition

Saturday night I went to see the International Academy's Indian Students Association's annual show.

Leah was a part of the Senior Fusion dance act, proving that while you don't have to be Indian to be in the performance.   A lot of her friends are Indian and wanted her in the performance so she took part and had a great time.

There was a lot of talent on display. 

The show began with the singing of the National Anthem followed by the National Anthem of India.

There were then a variety of dances from Bangra to Bollywood, and even some K-pop.


Some dances were impressively athletic displays of skill:


The show included a solo playing a violin Indian style.

I've never seen a violin played like that, and it was rather amazing. Had a very Indian sound and reverberation that was quite different from classical violin or fiddling. and while quite different, it had a very beautiful sound.

The Senior Fusion Dance was a mix of six dances and all the graduating seniors taking part, so it was a full stage and a lot of fun.

Lots of effort and lots of time spent practicing went into putting on this show and it really showed.  This was a bunch of great and enjoyable performances. The show raises money for charity and takes place every year.

Great bunch of kids and a great performance.

Friday, March 08, 2024

Hamtramck Goes Full Hamas

 The Detroit Free Press: 'Palestine Ave' street sign unveiled in Hamtramck to cheers

Expect that the residents of Hamtramck will now blame Israel for the potholes on the newly named Palestine Ave.

Thursday, March 07, 2024

Because Wage And Price Controls Are Such Great Ideas

So, of course, Biden is going to push for them, of course starting them out to first to be imposed on the wealthy.

The Detroit News:  Biden: Ban deductions for firms paying executives more than $1 million

This would be on top of the already existing rule that bans the deduction for amounts over 1 Million.  Or, maybe, Biden et al don't even know what the current law even is right now.  Or, they decided to push for some class warfare knowing most people don't know about the current law either.

Look, if a company wishes to pay its execs over a million dollars, that's up to them.  The company believes that those execs are providing more than their salaries back to the company as value. If they're wrong then the company's owners can fire them or revisit such salary decisions.

This may also cause top execs to go to other countries like in Europe where they can be compensated more.  So, let's get a brain drain going 'cause that will sure help the economy.  Not.

We will also note that some non-profits have also paid their top execs over $1 million as well, and since they don't pay taxes at all, one would think that would be more offensive.

On top of proposing to pass an already existing law, there's going to be even more class warfare being pushed:

Biden is going further in his calls to tax the wealthy, endorsing a new minimum tax proposal on corporations and a new tax on corporate jet travel.

 Well, get ready for more unemployed jet pilots and aircraft companies if he punishes corporations for using corporate jets to get their people to places more efficiently.

Class warfare and damage to the economy the Democrat way - great for the progressive base, not so good for anyone else.

Wednesday, March 06, 2024

Begun The Water Wars Have!

High School Water Wars that is.

Expect to see lots of Seniors running around in public with water guns trying to soak each other to survive and win a cash prize and bragging rights.

The Water Wars have rules - while drive-bys are allowed, the driver may not handle a water gun while driving.

Impressively,  the rules prohibit using urine or acid as a substance in your water gun.   That this needs to be a rule indicates that some high school seniors are seriously damn stupid.

Leah being a senior is participating.

Being a chip off the old block she tooled up and went out and bought multiple water pistols - on the practical theory that while two is one, and one is none, twenty should suffice.  

The water pistols have now been hidden everywhere close at hand for her - in her car, school bag, purse, everywhere, place in ziploc bags to prevent leaks.

She also bought a super soaker for planned offensive actions.

Sadly, Leah suffered her first defeat and got eliminated in the present round yesterday - her boyfriend served her up to an enemy team by picking her up and carrying her to the ambush site.  Damn traitor.  

Seriously though, there is no way as a boyfriend I'd ever allow such a thing to befall my girlfriend. Verily, Abby's boyfriend during water wars in their senior year went out of his way to protect her, and she returned the favor by water gunning a competitor that was trying to get him - as one does.

That betrayal probably didn't do much for moving their relationship along, just saying.

So she lost this round, but revenge is being plotted for the next, and given it is Leah, revenge is going to be served ice cold.

Ice cold water, that is.

Confinement V - The Flight Home

We said our goodbyes and headed to the airport form the con on Sunday.

Mr. B had the plane fueled up, and was properly chagrined that the Lebanon Airport charged a parking fee in addition to the fuel, when most airports waive that fee if you buy fuel there.

So we filed for a return trip to Pontiac, untied the plane, and did the run up.

We then had to get the clearance by phone and once received we then took off.

We climbed right up into the soup, which caused a little vertigo on Mr B's part, but he quickly shook it off and it was smooth after that.  We got out of the layer and it was a smooth and sunny ride above the clouds. I got to handle changing the frequencies on the radios as we moved through various sectors.

The layer then broke up as we went farther north cruising along at 9,000 feet. We had ground speeds in excess of 200 knits with a decent tailwind so the return trip would be quicker than the way to Tennessee.

We passed by Toledo, Ohio's airport:


Then at Ann Arbor, we passed by their airport:

 


We also hit a bit of light to moderate chop, and as we flew past the city the Big House was still quite a landmark.

We then headed to Pontiac and I got the ATIS so we could tell Detroit Approach we had it before they even asked (they appreciate that) and we setup for the RNAV approach for 9L.

This was Mr. B's first time landing on the 9 side at Pontiac, and I spotted the airport first, being more familiar with the area. Conditions were solid VFR at this point. 

 

But, while the visibility was VFR, The winds were whipping along with a gusting crosswind, but Mr. B. flew the approach right on, and did a fine landing even with the extra fun of the additional bumps caused by the lake on the approach path to the 9 side.

We then taxi'd to the terminal and as we waited for fuel, we saw a luxury Saudi PrivatAir 737-800 land.

To say that it's luxurious inside is an understatement.  

After the refueling was complete, I got my stuff together and headed home and Mr. B. flew back to his home.

It had been a memorable and very fun weekend and the flying with Mr. B. made it even more fantastic. We'll need to do more trips together soon.