A Great Blogger Fly In

A great day today flying to meet a great bunch of people.

 I flew from Pontiac to KFPK, Charlotte airport, with Mr. B of In The Middle of The Right blog flying in as well.

I had Tosh as a passenger, his first time in a small plane.

Winds were pretty light at 6 knots out of 300 which wasn't bad. The cloud layer was low and MVFR earlier in the day and bu the time we left at 11 am it was scattered at around 3,500-4,000 feet.  It was spaced apart in solid lines of clouds followed by completely blue lines of clear sky like waves and you could climb above the cloud wave,  and then drop down behind it through a ton of clear sky and surf up again staying out of the clouds the whole time.  We did that for a bit and then stayed low so Tosh could sight see.  I could see the ground the whole time so it wasn't VFR on top, it was still VFR but with lines of clouds every now and then.

Besides there were some great fall colors to see.

At Charlotte, the clouds were lower at around 3,000 and the wind kept shifting.  Still about 6 knots, but one moment it favored Runway 21, the next Runway 3.   I decided to land on Runway 3 and the wind stayed there long enough to make it a nice easy landing.

Awaiting us on the tarmac was Scott of Providentia, Scott's dad the Sargent, and Joe of Eaton Rapids Joe.

Mr. B landed ion short order right behind us.

Then we headed off to lunch all together and talked for a few hours, catching up, and on the important matters of the day.  

An excellent time with a really great bunch of conversationalists.  A very smart and experienced bunch and the time just flew by.

Mr. B. generously picked up the tab, so we all chipped in the equivalent of our meals as tips for the waitress, hopefully making her day, as the restaurant was pretty quiet.  I'm getting the next one.

Then we headed back to the airport and preflighted and did our run-ups and got ready to head out.  The Clouds were still pretty low.

As I left the parking area, the AWOS report the wind was favoring Runway 21 as did the wind sock, so I started to taxi to 21.  Of course then wind shifted in completely the opposite direction, so I had to taxi back to Runway 3.  Not a big deal, but a good decision that didn't take too much time to carry out.

So with low clouds were flew back at around 2,500 feet.  There was a bit of light chop and bouncing around, but Tosh took it with aplomb and enjoyed himself flying, and at 118 knots we made good time back.

Pontiac tower first set me up for Runway 27L but then knowing I park on the north side, had me cross the departure corridor and then enter the right downwind for 27R. I did a normal downwind leg.

Then, we had to do a quick tight base due to traffic, so I came in a bit higher and faster speed than usual as it wasn't the usual downwind to start the descent so there was a bit of float and I landed a bit longer than usual,  but it was a sweet, soft touchdown.  I do like to keep my passengers happy with my landings.

Then taxi back to the hangar and put the plane away.

A great time was had with some absolutely great people.

1.8 and two excellent landings and another happy first time small airplane passenger.