Weather luck

[Jay Honeck]

It has not been VFR a single day that my son has been available to fly
since he got his ticket (and took me for my first ride) back on
November 26th. He's getting really, really frustrated -- but all I
can think is that it's a darned good thing he took that check-ride
when he did.

Heck, Mary and I have only flown once in December -- it's been just
awful weather. Our only fly-in guest this month has been this group's
own NWPilot, flying a brand, new $600K Cirrus. He departed yesterday
into a driving snowstorm that kept everyone else grounded... (Nothing
like TKS and a nearly fully-automated aircraft!)

This is really starting to look like a brutal winter around these
parts...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Bertie the Bunyip[_19_]]

Jay Honeck > wrote in news:86500556-0ce3-4edd-b010-
:

> It has not been VFR a single day that my son has been available to fly
> since he got his ticket (and took me for my first ride) back on
> November 26th. He's getting really, really frustrated -- but all I
> can think is that it's a darned good thing he took that check-ride
> when he did.
>
> Heck, Mary and I have only flown once in December --


Oh heck. Heck heck heck.

Too bad you'e not Ethiopian, they got sunshine coming out the ying yang in
Darfur.



Bertie

[Kyle Boatright]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
...
> It has not been VFR a single day that my son has been available to fly
> since he got his ticket (and took me for my first ride) back on
> November 26th. He's getting really, really frustrated -- but all I
> can think is that it's a darned good thing he took that check-ride
> when he did.
>
> Heck, Mary and I have only flown once in December -- it's been just
> awful weather. Our only fly-in guest this month has been this group's
> own NWPilot, flying a brand, new $600K Cirrus. He departed yesterday
> into a driving snowstorm that kept everyone else grounded... (Nothing
> like TKS and a nearly fully-automated aircraft!)
>
> This is really starting to look like a brutal winter around these
> parts...
> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"


Here in Atlanta, we're still having October. Other than this weekend (rainy
yesterday, cool and breezy today), the flying weather has been very good. I
was out playing golf in shorts and a T-shirt on Friday. Next week is
supposed to be 50's and 60's with one day of showers...

That said, I'd trade a few days of nice VFR weather for some serious rain.
The lakes around here are way down and we need a wet winter to have water
for outside use next summer.

KB

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
Jay Honeck > wrote:

> This is really starting to look like a brutal winter around these
> parts...

I just finished clearing >8" of a predicted 2"-4" inches. :-(

I haven't flown since October, making me even more p.... GRUMPY!

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

[Mike Noel]

I thought the southeast got clobbered yesterday with stormy weather?

Here in southern Arizona, it's rare to have a weekend that's not VFR
friendly.

On the other hand, if the Colorado River ever dries up, there may not be
much air traffic except for cross-country airliner over-flights.

--
Best Regards,
Mike

http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel


"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message
. ..
>
> Here in Atlanta, we're still having October. Other than this weekend
> (rainy yesterday, cool and breezy today), the flying weather has been very
> good. I was out playing golf in shorts and a T-shirt on Friday. Next
> week is supposed to be 50's and 60's with one day of showers...
>
> That said, I'd trade a few days of nice VFR weather for some serious rain.
> The lakes around here are way down and we need a wet winter to have water
> for outside use next summer.
>
> KB

[M[_1_]]

On Dec 16, 5:49 pm, "Mike Noel" > wrote:

> On the other hand, if the Colorado River ever dries up, there may not be
> much air traffic except for cross-country airliner over-flights.
>

Who needs water? I don't think my plane ever ran on a steam engine.

[Jay Honeck]

> I just finished clearing >8" of a predicted 2"-4" inches. :-(

We've had snow on the ground since Thanksgiving -- something I've
never seen in our decade in Iowa.

This is what we would call a "real winter" in Wisconsin. Back in the
'70s and '80s, we always had solid snow cover from Turkey Day to
Easter, and it made for great cross-country skiing. I haven't seen
any winters like that in a VERY long time -- maybe the sun spot cycle
has come back 'round?

> I haven't flown since October, making me even more p.... GRUMPY!

OCTOBER? Damn, man, what're you doing? You've got a full-fueled
aircraft sitting in the hangar with the keys in it!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Kyle Boatright]

"Mike Noel" > wrote in message
...
>I thought the southeast got clobbered yesterday with stormy weather?

Not my part of the SE... We got some rain and a little wind, but if there
was any clobbering going on, it wasn't here.

KB

>
> Here in southern Arizona, it's rare to have a weekend that's not VFR
> friendly.
>
> On the other hand, if the Colorado River ever dries up, there may not be
> much air traffic except for cross-country airliner over-flights.
>
> --
> Best Regards,
> Mike
>
> http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel
>
>
> "Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message
> . ..
>>
>> Here in Atlanta, we're still having October. Other than this weekend
>> (rainy yesterday, cool and breezy today), the flying weather has been
>> very good. I was out playing golf in shorts and a T-shirt on Friday.
>> Next week is supposed to be 50's and 60's with one day of showers...
>>
>> That said, I'd trade a few days of nice VFR weather for some serious
>> rain. The lakes around here are way down and we need a wet winter to have
>> water for outside use next summer.
>>
>> KB
>
>

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote
>
> Not my part of the SE... We got some rain and a little wind, but if there
> was any clobbering going on, it wasn't here.

Nor here. Less than 1/4" total for the week. :-(
--
Jim in NC

[Bob Noel]

In article >,
Jay Honeck > wrote:

> > I haven't flown since October, making me even more p.... GRUMPY!
>
> OCTOBER? Damn, man, what're you doing? You've got a full-fueled
> aircraft sitting in the hangar with the keys in it!

Hangar? at $606/month and climbing, my 140 isn't in a hangar. It's
sitting on a tie-down at $50/month.

--
Bob Noel
(goodness, please trim replies!!!)

[Jay Honeck]

> Hangar? at $606/month and climbing, my 140 isn't in a hangar. It's
> sitting on a tie-down at $50/month.

I was just reading over on the Cherokee Chat that the downturn in GA
flying is finally starting to drive hangar rents down in some parts of
the country. (Hasn't happened here, yet. We've still got a short
waiting list for hangars in Iowa City.)

So, if there is ANY "silver lining" to the downturn (collapse?) of GA,
it might be that those of us left will be able to slide into those
big, heated hangars that all the Cessna 414s and Aerostars used to
occupy, at bargain-basement prices...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jay Honeck]

> Nor here. Less than 1/4" total for the week. :-(

We've got 14 degrees in dense fog this morning -- very unusual. I've
rarely seen fog and a deep freeze like this.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[RL Anderson]

Hi Jay,

Jay Honeck wrote:

[Snip]

> Heck, Mary and I have only flown once in December -- it's been just
> awful weather. Our only fly-in guest this month has been this group's
> own NWPilot, flying a brand, new $600K Cirrus. He departed yesterday
> into a driving snowstorm that kept everyone else grounded... (Nothing
> like TKS and a nearly fully-automated aircraft!)

Got a couple of questions for you.

1. Where was Steve going with that sweet Cirrus? Wish him godspeed on
his travels.

2. After giving the Cirrus a good look, how much drool did you leave on
the ground after your tour <Grin>?

Hope your WX will let up a bit so you, Mary and Joe can commit aviation.
You all will feel better for doing it <BG>.

Rick

[Robert M. Gary]

On Dec 16, 12:12 pm, Jay Honeck > wrote:
> It has not been VFR a single day that my son has been available to fly
> since he got his ticket (and took me for my first ride) back on
> November 26th. He's getting really, really frustrated -- but all I
> can think is that it's a darned good thing he took that check-ride
> when he did.
>
> Heck, Mary and I have only flown once in December -- it's been just
> awful weather. Our only fly-in guest this month has been this group's
> own NWPilot, flying a brand, new $600K Cirrus. He departed yesterday
> into a driving snowstorm that kept everyone else grounded... (Nothing
> like TKS and a nearly fully-automated aircraft!)
>
> This is really starting to look like a brutal winter around these
> parts...

Maybe a good time to start working on the instrument rating! :) I've
convinced myself that the next plane I buy will have TKS. I've look at
a few but I'm still stuck in the "I have to justify this purchase
mode". :) The Cirrus is probably not the best TKS platform. It leaves
a large section of the wing uncovered as well as the giant wheel
pants. A couple Cirrus's have gone down in ice and the suspection is
that they couldn't carry the weght in these areas (even though the
flying surfaces were kept clear). The Mooney is possibly the ideal TKS
platform with nearly the entire facing of the aircraft protected. To
my knowledge there has never been a case of a TKS Mooney going down in
ice.

-Robert

[Robert M. Gary]

On Dec 17, 6:52 am, Jay Honeck > wrote:
> > Nor here. Less than 1/4" total for the week. :-(
>
> We've got 14 degrees in dense fog this morning -- very unusual. I've
> rarely seen fog and a deep freeze like this.

The type of weather where you can get ice build up on your bicycle? A
friend of mine vistited Boise last winter and noticed that driving
through town the car started picking up ice, just like an airplane
does in flight. A non-pilot probably wouldn't care but it gave him a
moment to pause, just imagining the horror one would experience above
if he were stuck in such stuff unprotected.

-Robert

[Ash Wyllie]

Jay Honeck opined

>It has not been VFR a single day that my son has been available to fly
>since he got his ticket (and took me for my first ride) back on
>November 26th. He's getting really, really frustrated -- but all I
>can think is that it's a darned good thing he took that check-ride
>when he did.

>Heck, Mary and I have only flown once in December -- it's been just
>awful weather. Our only fly-in guest this month has been this group's
>own NWPilot, flying a brand, new $600K Cirrus. He departed yesterday
>into a driving snowstorm that kept everyone else grounded... (Nothing
>like TKS and a nearly fully-automated aircraft!)

>This is really starting to look like a brutal winter around these
>parts...
>

Clearly, the Bali conference on global warming has succeeded.
-ash
Cthulhu in 2007!
Why wait for nature?

[Jay Honeck]

> Got a couple of questions for you.
>
> 1. Where was Steve going with that sweet Cirrus? Wish him godspeed on
> his travels.

He was en route to Paris, France. Imagine crossing the North Atlantic
in December? Crazy, man.

Here are some pix from his visit:

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/2007_nwpilots_visit.htm

> 2. After giving the Cirrus a good look, how much drool did you leave on
> the ground after your tour <Grin>?

God almighty, what a panel in that thing! And the fit and finish are
just outstanding! The doors close with a satisfying hiss/thunk that
would make a Mercedes-owner proud.

Of course, for over half a million bucks, it should come with a buxom
blonde to open the doors for you...

;-)

> Hope your WX will let up a bit so you, Mary and Joe can commit aviation.
> You all will feel better for doing it <BG>.

Maybe later today. It's actually sunny here today, now that the fog
is gone!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Kyle Boatright]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
...
>> Hangar? at $606/month and climbing, my 140 isn't in a hangar. It's
>> sitting on a tie-down at $50/month.
>
> I was just reading over on the Cherokee Chat that the downturn in GA
> flying is finally starting to drive hangar rents down in some parts of
> the country. (Hasn't happened here, yet. We've still got a short
> waiting list for hangars in Iowa City.)
>
> So, if there is ANY "silver lining" to the downturn (collapse?) of GA,
> it might be that those of us left will be able to slide into those
> big, heated hangars that all the Cessna 414s and Aerostars used to
> occupy, at bargain-basement prices...

With the growth in and around Atlanta, the 5k' and longer fields near where
the money is in the city (there are 3, arguably 4 of 'em) are tearing out
T-hangars and building big box hangars for turboprops, Lears, etc. This is
forcing more and more light aircraft owners out of hangars and tie-downs
they have rented for 10, 20, 30, or 40 years. I have several friends who
had to go 50 miles N of Atlanta to find hangar space.

And rental fees for tie downs and hangars continue to rise...

I'm guessing it'll only get worse around here as Atlanta continues to grow
(unless the water shortage becomes a long term problem, which is a real
possibility given the small size of the watershed that feeds the city
combined with the growth).

> --
> Jay Honeck
> Iowa City, IA
> Pathfinder N56993
> www.AlexisParkInn.com
> "Your Aviation Destination"
>

[[email protected]]

On Dec 17, 10:58 am, RL Anderson > wrote:
[snip]
>
> 2. After giving the Cirrus a good look, how much drool did you leave on
> the ground after your tour <Grin>?
>
Well, if you saw the pictures he did say there was a solid 2" of ice
on the ramp...

John