Downright Scary...

"Rosspilot" wrote in message
...
remember one time; I was out playing some formation acro with a
buddy
of mine out over the boonies. Both of us were flying Mustangs.



Dudley . . . what a great story! Very glad it turned out as it did,
and to
have you tell the story on this group.

www.Rosspilot.com

Old French proverb; "Some days you eat the bear, some days he eats you"
On that particular afternoon, the bear was just a bit slow.
I learned a lot about bears that day!!! :-)))
D

Wonder if he was one of those ten-day-wonder pilots.

-c

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:JSmGc.14184$JR4.8572@attbi_s54...
Whilst supping a cold one with friends at our hangar not long ago, a
short-lived yet intense summer storm blew through. High winds, heavy
rain,
and impressive lightning caused us to lower the door a tad, but didn't
deter
us from our appointed beers.

Right as the storm passed, we watched in amazement as a Skyhawk entered
downwind for Rwy 12. We all commented how we were glad not to have been in
that poor shmuck's shoes, and then returned to our conversation.

A few minutes later our hotel courtesy van went zipping past, obviously on
the way to pick up our wayward pilot. We toasted my night manager as he
went roaring by, and did it again as he drove back with our new guests, en
route back to the hotel...

The next morning I sought out our brave and stalwart guests, and was
surprised to meet a newly minted Private Pilot, off on his first long
cross
country trip in a rented 172 with his wife. He nonchalantly mentioned the
"rough ride" into Iowa City, but soon the conversation drifted to local
attractions and our theme suites.

I then turned my attention to his wife, and asked her how she had enjoyed
the flight. She confessed that it had been pretty scary, so we started
giving her the usual pep-talk about how the bumps really aren't anything
to
worry about, and how turbulence can be bothersome but not really
dangerous.
We were pretty well along into our speechifying about how safe flying is,
when she stopped all conversation by saying "Things got pretty spooky when
we couldn't see anything....I just covered my eyes and couldn't look out!"

We kind of looked at each other, stunned, and asked her what she meant.

She went on to say that about 15 miles out, just past the nearby town (and
airport) of Tipton, IA, their windshield had gone completely white -- and
then almost immediately totally black. It was at this point where she
covered her eyes in fright, and couldn't look.

She then mentioned how her husband had called Cedar Rapids approach, and
how
they had "given them directions to Iowa City."

Uncomfortable silence followed this revelation, as we realized how close
to
dying this poor woman had come. Not wanting to scare her any more than
necessary, I asked what Cedar Rapids had done. She replied that the
controller had asked what their intentions were, since conditions were
rock-solid IFR with thunderstorms from their present position all the way
into Iowa City. She said her husband had announced his intention to land
in
Iowa City, and that the controller then gave them a vector towards the
airport.

At this point our hapless pilot piped up about how he had "flown
instruments" down the heading until they popped into the clear, pretty
much
right over the airport. This must have been when we spotted him on
downwind.

I told them both how lucky they were, and left it at that. After all,
they
were here for a good time, and it wasn't my position as innkeeper to be
lecturing my guests. In fact, I didn't even mention the "Tipton
Towers" --
twin TV transmission towers that reach some 1700 feet into the sky right
near Tipton.

However, this man's complacence in the face of stormy IFR conditions is
exactly what we all read about in the NTSB reports each month. The guy
over-flew a perfectly good airport (Tipton) in order to fly head-long into
the clouds, a thunderstorm, potential death, and (almost coincidentally)
Iowa City. He had risked his life (and his wife's life) in order to
penetrate a fast-moving, short-lived storm, just so he could get here in
time for...dinner?

God was on his side that day. Downright scary, I tell you.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I have new respect for your thunderstorms in Iowa - I was driving back from
Michigan to Colorado yesterday (jammed a throttle cable in Michigan , on
the ground during run-up ), and mid way through Iowa I hit a storm that
made me stop and pull over while I was driving. Visibility was 0 in an
absolute blackout downpour, punctuated by phenomenal lightning bursts.
Brought a whole new meaning to the "I'd rather be on the ground wishing I
was in the air..." comment.

By the way, stayed at your Inn during the trip East - once again excellent
service, great room. Thanks.

Michael

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:JSmGc.14184$JR4.8572@attbi_s54...
Whilst supping a cold one with friends at our hangar not long ago, a
short-lived yet intense summer storm blew through. High winds, heavy
rain,
and impressive lightning caused us to lower the door a tad, but didn't
deter
us from our appointed beers.

Right as the storm passed, we watched in amazement as a Skyhawk entered
downwind for Rwy 12. We all commented how we were glad not to have been in
that poor shmuck's shoes, and then returned to our conversation.

A few minutes later our hotel courtesy van went zipping past, obviously on
the way to pick up our wayward pilot. We toasted my night manager as he
went roaring by, and did it again as he drove back with our new guests, en
route back to the hotel...

The next morning I sought out our brave and stalwart guests, and was
surprised to meet a newly minted Private Pilot, off on his first long
cross
country trip in a rented 172 with his wife. He nonchalantly mentioned the
"rough ride" into Iowa City, but soon the conversation drifted to local
attractions and our theme suites.

I then turned my attention to his wife, and asked her how she had enjoyed
the flight. She confessed that it had been pretty scary, so we started
giving her the usual pep-talk about how the bumps really aren't anything
to
worry about, and how turbulence can be bothersome but not really
dangerous.
We were pretty well along into our speechifying about how safe flying is,
when she stopped all conversation by saying "Things got pretty spooky when
we couldn't see anything....I just covered my eyes and couldn't look out!"

We kind of looked at each other, stunned, and asked her what she meant.

She went on to say that about 15 miles out, just past the nearby town (and
airport) of Tipton, IA, their windshield had gone completely white -- and
then almost immediately totally black. It was at this point where she
covered her eyes in fright, and couldn't look.

She then mentioned how her husband had called Cedar Rapids approach, and
how
they had "given them directions to Iowa City."

Uncomfortable silence followed this revelation, as we realized how close
to
dying this poor woman had come. Not wanting to scare her any more than
necessary, I asked what Cedar Rapids had done. She replied that the
controller had asked what their intentions were, since conditions were
rock-solid IFR with thunderstorms from their present position all the way
into Iowa City. She said her husband had announced his intention to land
in
Iowa City, and that the controller then gave them a vector towards the
airport.

At this point our hapless pilot piped up about how he had "flown
instruments" down the heading until they popped into the clear, pretty
much
right over the airport. This must have been when we spotted him on
downwind.

I told them both how lucky they were, and left it at that. After all,
they
were here for a good time, and it wasn't my position as innkeeper to be
lecturing my guests. In fact, I didn't even mention the "Tipton
Towers" --
twin TV transmission towers that reach some 1700 feet into the sky right
near Tipton.

However, this man's complacence in the face of stormy IFR conditions is
exactly what we all read about in the NTSB reports each month. The guy
over-flew a perfectly good airport (Tipton) in order to fly head-long into
the clouds, a thunderstorm, potential death, and (almost coincidentally)
Iowa City. He had risked his life (and his wife's life) in order to
penetrate a fast-moving, short-lived storm, just so he could get here in
time for...dinner?

God was on his side that day. Downright scary, I tell you.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Nah....I'd be buying a new pair. Easier that way.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

Ah, I like your improved version better Dudley. Thanks for sharing a great
story for illustrative purposes. Do I get brownie points for bringing up
stuff like this from your deep dark past? :-)

I hope you make it back to OSH some year and have a chance to hang out with
folks from the group.

--
Jack Allison
PP-ASEL, IA Student

"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth
with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there
you will always long to return"
- Leonardo Da Vinci

(Remove the obvious from address to reply via e-mail)

"G.R. Patterson III" wrote in message
...


Dan Luke wrote:

Neither of my primary instructors ever said anything to me about
t'storms.

I've always felt that I was lucky enough to find a great primary
instructor. She told
me to always stay at least 5 miles away from one and that 20 miles away
would be
better.

George Patterson

FWIW...

The Cessna Pilot Course (CPC) which John and Martha King produce reccomends
20+ miles as an "away from/get around" figure and 40+ miles between cells if
you plan to go between (but the suggetion is pretty obvious that they do not
think this would be a good idea.)

IMO, they make it quite clear that if you mess with thunderstorms, very,
very bad things will happen. At least that's the interpretation I'm going
to take to heart.

Having now seen seven years of Arizona "Monsoons" from the ground, I don't
EVER want to see one up close and personal.

Regards,

Jay Beckman
Student Pilot - KCHD
30.7 Hrs ... Nowhere to go but up!

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
ink.net...


I've always "altered" this saying a bit to read, "There are old pilots,
and there are bold pilots. It's ok to be bold, but not without being
smart. In flying , there are moments when you HAVE to be bold. The trick
is in being smart enough to know the exact instant in time when being
bold is called for!" :-))

Consider the following from my deep dark past :-)


Dudley,

I think you win the T-Shirt in the "Been There - Done That" catagory!

WOW!!

And to think, I'm sitting here on an adreniline buzz from a simple local
dual night hop (my first...btw.)

Please Lord, don't ever let me meet "The Bear."

Kindest Regards,

Jay Beckman
Student Pilot - KCHD
30.7 Hrs ... Nowhere to go but up!

Hope you guys enjoy Oshkosh. Wish I could go with you.

Well, Dudley, I'd be willing to bet that someone here has an empty seat?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I have new respect for your thunderstorms in Iowa - I was driving back
from
Michigan to Colorado yesterday (jammed a throttle cable in Michigan ,
on
the ground during run-up ), and mid way through Iowa I hit a storm
that
made me stop and pull over while I was driving. Visibility was 0 in an
absolute blackout downpour, punctuated by phenomenal lightning bursts.

And this has been a surprisingly quiet spring and summer, weather-wise.
We've had lots of rain, but little convective activity.

We haven't had a tornado warning yet -- which is very unusual.

By the way, stayed at your Inn during the trip East - once again excellent
service, great room. Thanks.

Cool -- great to hear!

Hopefully it wasn't while the pool was closed? (Some dolt let their kid
swim wearing a full diaper! Needless to say, we had to shut the pool
immediately, the chemistry went crazy, the water turned a beautiful emerald
green, and there wasn't enough chlorine and clarifier in the world to fix
it. It took us three days -- right in the middle of the holiday weekend --
to get it right again...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:ubTGc.40844$Oq2.29771@attbi_s52...
Hope you guys enjoy Oshkosh. Wish I could go with you.

Well, Dudley, I'd be willing to bet that someone here has an empty
seat?

I deeply appreciate that, but I'm afraid I'm stuck on the ground this
summer. It seems my "retirement" activities are becoming another full
time job! :-))

Have a great time, and try not to bump your head on a high wing as you
wander through the "isles" out there!! :-))
Dudley