Anyone been to ZER (Joe Zerby)

[Richard Russell]

I'm a low time pilot (77 hours). In the interest of expanding my
comfort zone and accumulating the cross-country hours required for an
instrument rating, I decided that instead of boring holes in the same
sky every flight that I woud try to go at least 50 miles away when
possible.

Yesterday, I decided to fly to Joe Zerby (ZER) in Schuykill County,
PA. I have been flying a 172N since my checkride in July but I
decided to take 152 and save some bucks. Started out from N10 in
winds that were about 12 knots. After passing RDG I flew over two
ridge lines and encountered a lot of turbulence, well at least a lot
of turbulence for a 152. After passing the second ridge, the
landscape looked like a huge bowl with a plateau in the middle with an
airport on it. This created two situations for an experienced fellow
like myself.

First, was the strange sense that I was too high even though I wasn't.
The valley around the airport was lower than the airport and it took
more concentration than I expected it would to focus on the airstrip
and not the surrounding terrain. Secondly, I encountered winds like I
have never seen before in my long ten month flying career. While
trying to land on this aircraft carrier looking runway I encountered
wind shear, updrafts, downdrafts and a major crosswind blowing at
about 25 knots. Fortunately, the runway is long (over 4k). After an
ugly and scary approach the landing was actually very smooth. No
bounce, no perceptible side forces on the gear, no injuries.

After landing, I had to taxi a considerable distance to the ramp which
proved to be even more difficult than the landing. At least my
instructor drilled the proper control inputs for taxiing under these
conditions into my head.

After changing my underwear, I watched a few other idiots come in and
their landings looked a lot like mine. My big question is this: is
this airport always like this because of the interesting topography
around it or was this simply a tough, windy day? I would like to go
back sometime with the wife but I think a landing like that would
scare her away from flying forever.

Rich Russell
P.S. The take-off was just as adventurous. Once beyond the runway
and the cliff, all hell broke loose and it felt like I was in a
hurricane until I gained some altitude. Oh well, I wanted to expand
my horizons and I did.

[dave]

I haven't been there, but I'll add it to my list. I'm flying out of 9n1
right now. I'm be moving my plane down to wings in a week or so.
Dave

"Richard Russell" > wrote in message
...
> I'm a low time pilot (77 hours). In the interest of expanding my
> comfort zone and accumulating the cross-country hours required for an
> instrument rating, I decided that instead of boring holes in the same
> sky every flight that I woud try to go at least 50 miles away when
> possible.
>
> Yesterday, I decided to fly to Joe Zerby (ZER) in Schuykill County,
> PA. I have been flying a 172N since my checkride in July but I
> decided to take 152 and save some bucks. Started out from N10 in
> winds that were about 12 knots. After passing RDG I flew over two
> ridge lines and encountered a lot of turbulence, well at least a lot
> of turbulence for a 152. After passing the second ridge, the
> landscape looked like a huge bowl with a plateau in the middle with an
> airport on it. This created two situations for an experienced fellow
> like myself.
>
> First, was the strange sense that I was too high even though I wasn't.
> The valley around the airport was lower than the airport and it took
> more concentration than I expected it would to focus on the airstrip
> and not the surrounding terrain. Secondly, I encountered winds like I
> have never seen before in my long ten month flying career. While
> trying to land on this aircraft carrier looking runway I encountered
> wind shear, updrafts, downdrafts and a major crosswind blowing at
> about 25 knots. Fortunately, the runway is long (over 4k). After an
> ugly and scary approach the landing was actually very smooth. No
> bounce, no perceptible side forces on the gear, no injuries.
>
> After landing, I had to taxi a considerable distance to the ramp which
> proved to be even more difficult than the landing. At least my
> instructor drilled the proper control inputs for taxiing under these
> conditions into my head.
>
> After changing my underwear, I watched a few other idiots come in and
> their landings looked a lot like mine. My big question is this: is
> this airport always like this because of the interesting topography
> around it or was this simply a tough, windy day? I would like to go
> back sometime with the wife but I think a landing like that would
> scare her away from flying forever.
>
> Rich Russell
> P.S. The take-off was just as adventurous. Once beyond the runway
> and the cliff, all hell broke loose and it felt like I was in a
> hurricane until I gained some altitude. Oh well, I wanted to expand
> my horizons and I did.

[Ronald Gardner]

Speaking of Idiots, I was one of them yesterday. Did you happen to see
all of the CAP aircraft that were flying cadets in and out. One of them
was me.

Yesterday was one of the rare ones at ZER. We us it allot because of the
light traffic and we have a glider based there to us. Normally the fog is
the biggest issue in the morning, but the wind were weird yesterday. I
came in from Lock Haven in a 172, we came out of LHV direct to ZER. from
3500 to 5500 we had a 40kt tailwind. We indicated 120kts (180 HP 172) with
a ground of 160 at 3500. Then climbing to 5500 we indicated 100kts with a
ground speed of 135 to 140. Pretty fast for a 172 and this wind was
heading straight to ZER.

I made 3 landings there yesterday and while you needed to be on your toes
and use the proper gust and crosswind technique, it was not all that bad
for me. However it was interesting to see that on final I'd be at 90kts
indicated and 57 to 65 ground speed. Our first landing coming in we made
a short field and stopped at the first taxi way with only a very light tap
on the brakes.

This is a nice quit place but If you try it again just check there weather
report first for the fog and the winds. The grass strip is in good shape
if you need to us it, just be sure you are familiar with grass strip
landing especially if it is wet or has been very wet for a few days
earlier.

We also had a group of EAA show up for a picnic flying in with I think old
Stinsons. For the worst day I've seen there, it was one of the busiest
ever.

Ron Gardner

Richard Russell wrote:

> I'm a low time pilot (77 hours). In the interest of expanding my
> comfort zone and accumulating the cross-country hours required for an
> instrument rating, I decided that instead of boring holes in the same
> sky every flight that I woud try to go at least 50 miles away when
> possible.
>
> Yesterday, I decided to fly to Joe Zerby (ZER) in Schuykill County,
> PA. I have been flying a 172N since my checkride in July but I
> decided to take 152 and save some bucks. Started out from N10 in
> winds that were about 12 knots. After passing RDG I flew over two
> ridge lines and encountered a lot of turbulence, well at least a lot
> of turbulence for a 152. After passing the second ridge, the
> landscape looked like a huge bowl with a plateau in the middle with an
> airport on it. This created two situations for an experienced fellow
> like myself.
>
> First, was the strange sense that I was too high even though I wasn't.
> The valley around the airport was lower than the airport and it took
> more concentration than I expected it would to focus on the airstrip
> and not the surrounding terrain. Secondly, I encountered winds like I
> have never seen before in my long ten month flying career. While
> trying to land on this aircraft carrier looking runway I encountered
> wind shear, updrafts, downdrafts and a major crosswind blowing at
> about 25 knots. Fortunately, the runway is long (over 4k). After an
> ugly and scary approach the landing was actually very smooth. No
> bounce, no perceptible side forces on the gear, no injuries.
>
> After landing, I had to taxi a considerable distance to the ramp which
> proved to be even more difficult than the landing. At least my
> instructor drilled the proper control inputs for taxiing under these
> conditions into my head.
>
> After changing my underwear, I watched a few other idiots come in and
> their landings looked a lot like mine. My big question is this: is
> this airport always like this because of the interesting topography
> around it or was this simply a tough, windy day? I would like to go
> back sometime with the wife but I think a landing like that would
> scare her away from flying forever.
>
> Rich Russell
> P.S. The take-off was just as adventurous. Once beyond the runway
> and the cliff, all hell broke loose and it felt like I was in a
> hurricane until I gained some altitude. Oh well, I wanted to expand
> my horizons and I did.

[Richard Russell]

Thanks for the heads-up on the fog. I do plan to go back. I did see
a lot of CAP activity but I didn't get out the plane to talk to
anyone.

I would like to know what my GS was. I had a yoke mounted GPS but I
was way too busy to think about looking at GS. There is something
about landing in those conditions that keeps a low timer pretty busy
with the really important stuff.

I'm very fortunate to have had a CFI that exposed me to a lot of
interesting things, including landing on grass runways. Never done it
solo, though. I would like to take a dual flight at the six month
anniversary of my checkride to make sure that I'm not developing any
bad habits. Maybe I can talk her into going to ZER and landing on the
turf (winds permitting). Thanks.

Rich Russell

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 20:38:59 -0400, Ronald Gardner
> wrote:

>Speaking of Idiots, I was one of them yesterday. Did you happen to see
>all of the CAP aircraft that were flying cadets in and out. One of them
>was me.
>
>Yesterday was one of the rare ones at ZER. We us it allot because of the
>light traffic and we have a glider based there to us. Normally the fog is
>the biggest issue in the morning, but the wind were weird yesterday. I
>came in from Lock Haven in a 172, we came out of LHV direct to ZER. from
>3500 to 5500 we had a 40kt tailwind. We indicated 120kts (180 HP 172) with
>a ground of 160 at 3500. Then climbing to 5500 we indicated 100kts with a
>ground speed of 135 to 140. Pretty fast for a 172 and this wind was
>heading straight to ZER.
>
>I made 3 landings there yesterday and while you needed to be on your toes
>and use the proper gust and crosswind technique, it was not all that bad
>for me. However it was interesting to see that on final I'd be at 90kts
>indicated and 57 to 65 ground speed. Our first landing coming in we made
>a short field and stopped at the first taxi way with only a very light tap
>on the brakes.
>
>This is a nice quit place but If you try it again just check there weather
>report first for the fog and the winds. The grass strip is in good shape
>if you need to us it, just be sure you are familiar with grass strip
>landing especially if it is wet or has been very wet for a few days
>earlier.
>
>We also had a group of EAA show up for a picnic flying in with I think old
>Stinsons. For the worst day I've seen there, it was one of the busiest
>ever.
>
>Ron Gardner
>
>Richard Russell wrote:
>
>> I'm a low time pilot (77 hours). In the interest of expanding my
>> comfort zone and accumulating the cross-country hours required for an
>> instrument rating, I decided that instead of boring holes in the same
>> sky every flight that I woud try to go at least 50 miles away when
>> possible.
>>
>> Yesterday, I decided to fly to Joe Zerby (ZER) in Schuykill County,
>> PA. I have been flying a 172N since my checkride in July but I
>> decided to take 152 and save some bucks. Started out from N10 in
>> winds that were about 12 knots. After passing RDG I flew over two
>> ridge lines and encountered a lot of turbulence, well at least a lot
>> of turbulence for a 152. After passing the second ridge, the
>> landscape looked like a huge bowl with a plateau in the middle with an
>> airport on it. This created two situations for an experienced fellow
>> like myself.
>>
>> First, was the strange sense that I was too high even though I wasn't.
>> The valley around the airport was lower than the airport and it took
>> more concentration than I expected it would to focus on the airstrip
>> and not the surrounding terrain. Secondly, I encountered winds like I
>> have never seen before in my long ten month flying career. While
>> trying to land on this aircraft carrier looking runway I encountered
>> wind shear, updrafts, downdrafts and a major crosswind blowing at
>> about 25 knots. Fortunately, the runway is long (over 4k). After an
>> ugly and scary approach the landing was actually very smooth. No
>> bounce, no perceptible side forces on the gear, no injuries.
>>
>> After landing, I had to taxi a considerable distance to the ramp which
>> proved to be even more difficult than the landing. At least my
>> instructor drilled the proper control inputs for taxiing under these
>> conditions into my head.
>>
>> After changing my underwear, I watched a few other idiots come in and
>> their landings looked a lot like mine. My big question is this: is
>> this airport always like this because of the interesting topography
>> around it or was this simply a tough, windy day? I would like to go
>> back sometime with the wife but I think a landing like that would
>> scare her away from flying forever.
>>
>> Rich Russell
>> P.S. The take-off was just as adventurous. Once beyond the runway
>> and the cliff, all hell broke loose and it felt like I was in a
>> hurricane until I gained some altitude. Oh well, I wanted to expand
>> my horizons and I did.

[Richard Russell]

I've been to Van Sant several times, albeit in my motorcycle. Never
flew in there and I'm sure that I won't until I have quite a few more
hours in my logbook. One thing that I noticed about that airport is
that almost nobody uses the radio. I know that not all of the planes
there have them but even those that do don't seem to use them. That
makes me a lttle nervous.

I will undoubtedly see you at Wings, even if I don't know it. Over
the last 35 years I can guarantee you that there is absolutely nobody
that has spent more time at Wings (without being affiliated somehow)
than me. Summer evenings I sit there on my motorcycle and in the
colder weather I sit there in my truck. Boy, if I could only log
those hours.

What do you fly, Dave?

Rich Russell

On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:50:05 -0400, "dave" <davesjunkmail@comcast>
wrote:

>I haven't been there, but I'll add it to my list. I'm flying out of 9n1
>right now. I'm be moving my plane down to wings in a week or so.
>Dave
>
>"Richard Russell" > wrote in message
...
>> I'm a low time pilot (77 hours). In the interest of expanding my
>> comfort zone and accumulating the cross-country hours required for an
>> instrument rating, I decided that instead of boring holes in the same
>> sky every flight that I woud try to go at least 50 miles away when
>> possible.
>>
>> Yesterday, I decided to fly to Joe Zerby (ZER) in Schuykill County,
>> PA. I have been flying a 172N since my checkride in July but I
>> decided to take 152 and save some bucks. Started out from N10 in
>> winds that were about 12 knots. After passing RDG I flew over two
>> ridge lines and encountered a lot of turbulence, well at least a lot
>> of turbulence for a 152. After passing the second ridge, the
>> landscape looked like a huge bowl with a plateau in the middle with an
>> airport on it. This created two situations for an experienced fellow
>> like myself.
>>
>> First, was the strange sense that I was too high even though I wasn't.
>> The valley around the airport was lower than the airport and it took
>> more concentration than I expected it would to focus on the airstrip
>> and not the surrounding terrain. Secondly, I encountered winds like I
>> have never seen before in my long ten month flying career. While
>> trying to land on this aircraft carrier looking runway I encountered
>> wind shear, updrafts, downdrafts and a major crosswind blowing at
>> about 25 knots. Fortunately, the runway is long (over 4k). After an
>> ugly and scary approach the landing was actually very smooth. No
>> bounce, no perceptible side forces on the gear, no injuries.
>>
>> After landing, I had to taxi a considerable distance to the ramp which
>> proved to be even more difficult than the landing. At least my
>> instructor drilled the proper control inputs for taxiing under these
>> conditions into my head.
>>
>> After changing my underwear, I watched a few other idiots come in and
>> their landings looked a lot like mine. My big question is this: is
>> this airport always like this because of the interesting topography
>> around it or was this simply a tough, windy day? I would like to go
>> back sometime with the wife but I think a landing like that would
>> scare her away from flying forever.
>>
>> Rich Russell
>> P.S. The take-off was just as adventurous. Once beyond the runway
>> and the cliff, all hell broke loose and it felt like I was in a
>> hurricane until I gained some altitude. Oh well, I wanted to expand
>> my horizons and I did.
>

[dave]

Rich,
I recently purchased a 1968 citabria 7ECA. I've had it at Van Sant for my 5
hour of dual required by the insurance company. I'll be moving it down to
Wings in November.
Dave
"Richard Russell" > wrote in message
...
> I've been to Van Sant several times, albeit in my motorcycle. Never
> flew in there and I'm sure that I won't until I have quite a few more
> hours in my logbook. One thing that I noticed about that airport is
> that almost nobody uses the radio. I know that not all of the planes
> there have them but even those that do don't seem to use them. That
> makes me a lttle nervous.
>
> I will undoubtedly see you at Wings, even if I don't know it. Over
> the last 35 years I can guarantee you that there is absolutely nobody
> that has spent more time at Wings (without being affiliated somehow)
> than me. Summer evenings I sit there on my motorcycle and in the
> colder weather I sit there in my truck. Boy, if I could only log
> those hours.
>
> What do you fly, Dave?
>
> Rich Russell
>
> On Mon, 20 Oct 2003 15:50:05 -0400, "dave" <davesjunkmail@comcast>
> wrote:
>
> >I haven't been there, but I'll add it to my list. I'm flying out of 9n1
> >right now. I'm be moving my plane down to wings in a week or so.
> >Dave
> >
> >"Richard Russell" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> I'm a low time pilot (77 hours). In the interest of expanding my
> >> comfort zone and accumulating the cross-country hours required for an
> >> instrument rating, I decided that instead of boring holes in the same
> >> sky every flight that I woud try to go at least 50 miles away when
> >> possible.
> >>
> >> Yesterday, I decided to fly to Joe Zerby (ZER) in Schuykill County,
> >> PA. I have been flying a 172N since my checkride in July but I
> >> decided to take 152 and save some bucks. Started out from N10 in
> >> winds that were about 12 knots. After passing RDG I flew over two
> >> ridge lines and encountered a lot of turbulence, well at least a lot
> >> of turbulence for a 152. After passing the second ridge, the
> >> landscape looked like a huge bowl with a plateau in the middle with an
> >> airport on it. This created two situations for an experienced fellow
> >> like myself.
> >>
> >> First, was the strange sense that I was too high even though I wasn't.
> >> The valley around the airport was lower than the airport and it took
> >> more concentration than I expected it would to focus on the airstrip
> >> and not the surrounding terrain. Secondly, I encountered winds like I
> >> have never seen before in my long ten month flying career. While
> >> trying to land on this aircraft carrier looking runway I encountered
> >> wind shear, updrafts, downdrafts and a major crosswind blowing at
> >> about 25 knots. Fortunately, the runway is long (over 4k). After an
> >> ugly and scary approach the landing was actually very smooth. No
> >> bounce, no perceptible side forces on the gear, no injuries.
> >>
> >> After landing, I had to taxi a considerable distance to the ramp which
> >> proved to be even more difficult than the landing. At least my
> >> instructor drilled the proper control inputs for taxiing under these
> >> conditions into my head.
> >>
> >> After changing my underwear, I watched a few other idiots come in and
> >> their landings looked a lot like mine. My big question is this: is
> >> this airport always like this because of the interesting topography
> >> around it or was this simply a tough, windy day? I would like to go
> >> back sometime with the wife but I think a landing like that would
> >> scare her away from flying forever.
> >>
> >> Rich Russell
> >> P.S. The take-off was just as adventurous. Once beyond the runway
> >> and the cliff, all hell broke loose and it felt like I was in a
> >> hurricane until I gained some altitude. Oh well, I wanted to expand
> >> my horizons and I did.
> >
>