Saturday Fly Day - Taking A Friend Up For His Birthday

So my friend Charlie had never been in a small plane before, and since today is his birthday, it was a most opportune time to remedy that.

The weather forecast was pretty favorable, and it turned out even better than forecast.  I did the official online weather brief and  packed the gear and was ready to go.

So we met up and I showed him how I pre-flight the plane, then we got on board, started her up and taxi'd out.

After the run-up, we headed to Runway 27R and then took off to the southwest.

He didn't even feel us liftoff the runway, and he enjoyed the flight immensely. It was smooth air all the way at 4,500 feet.

I let him fly the pane for a bit once we were past Brighton and he enjoyed that too.

Then we got the ATIS and contacted Jackson tower and got a straight in approach to Runway 25, and since we were on heading 250, that was rather perfect.

We then landed at Jackson with a nice soft landing, and I taxi'd the plane to what was becoming a rather busy ramp that has some construction going on, stopping only to allow a helicopter to take off, which was cool,  and we were marshaled to a parking spot.

An excellent lunch at the newly renovated The Apron Restaurant with really excellent food but slow service as they were slammed.  Worth it though.  Got to see a couple Extra 300s come in as well as an amphib and a Cirrus, some Cessnas and other airplanes as well. The parking area behind our plane filled in quick.

Then back to Pontiac.  We got flight following which was suggested by Jackson tower and was a good idea as the way back was busy.  Great Lakes Approach had me do an imediate turn to 360 degrees to clear for some traffic, then we returned to PTK at 5,500.

Great Lakes Approach handed me off to Detroit approach and I was told to immediately descend to 3,500 feet as there was a Gulfstream in my vicinity going the same way above me.  I did so most quicly and we then stayed at 3,500 the rest of the way in.  The only downside was it was a bit bumpy at 3,500 feet, and Charlie wasn't quite used to that.  I told him it was fine as it really wasn't that bad at all but if you've never felt those bumps before in a small plane it can be a bit disconcerting. 

Lots of traffic was out and about.  Detroit Approach was keeping pretty busy and I heard them use the word "expedite" to quite a few pilots. We also had got a traffic alert form them and was later told it was not a factor.  Having flight following can be pretty useful and its nice to know someone is watching the traffic around you that you can't see yourself.

Then we were handed off to Pontiac Tower and we were first instructed to setup to enter the downwind for 27L. But, as we entered the downwind, he had us do an immediate crosswind turn and then join the right downwind for 27R, so Charlie got to experience his first pattern.

I entered the right downwind at a perfect altitude and airspeed, then setup and turned base and then to final and landed again in a really smooth manner just kissing the ground with the wheels.  Always good to keep your passengers happy and good landings ensure that.

1.7, 2 landings, and a beaming birthday passenger.