Mom's Airline

I departed KOSU/Don Scott Field at 12 Noon and arrived at
KGAD/Gadsden-NE Alabama Regional at 3 PM. Cruising altitude was 8,500
MSL. There was a rough patch between Crossville and Chattanooga TN.
Moderate turbulence from up- and down-drafts. This coincided with the
top of the haze and a widely scattered layer. And then, just as quickly
as it began, it stopped just west of Chattanooga, just north of the
ridge line.

We flew home from SNF roughly through that area, and it was quite
interesting. The winds aloft charts on the 496 were predicting a
strong southerly flow at the surface, but with winds above 6000 feet
-- out of the NORTH. Quite a wind shear was happening right at the
haze layer.

We hoped to take advantage of that southerly flow, but it wasn't to
be. Down low the winds *were* out of the south, but it was bumpy as
hell, so we climbed above the haze layer into the smooth, cool air at
8500 feet.

Unfortunately we had a 15 knot headwind up there, but -- when you're
flying all day -- "smooth" is more important than "fast".
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"