Coe Schlicher
New Member
I recently flew from Austin (88R) to Brunswick Maine via Nashville. I have 2002 A1B-180 equipped with a capable STEC autopilot. The way out was glorious as I huge tail winds and I was able to stay ahead of the weather the whole way with limited deviations. I did have to pop up to 13,000 to clear a few cells but other then that smooth sailing. I stopped in Smyrna (KMQY) just south of Nashville and they were setting up for an air show. I got to park near but not too near to the Thunderbirds. I also got take off after them in the morning and the noise from their takeoff roll was enough to blur my vision.
My father is a former naval aviator and has retired to Brunswick where he was previously stationed. He was a P3 pilot there and decided when he retired that Maine was for him. While I was there we managed to land at a few grass strips and some former based he use to fly in to. The strangest grass strip was Lubec Muni (65B). It is a grass strip with somewhere around 2,000 feet of runway if they got aggressive on mowing and cut down the trees so 1,500 feet usable is more accurate for planning. Plus there are a couple gentlemen living next to the airport that seem to be keeping there expenses down by throwing the trash away simply in the back yard. We also landed at Bangor airport between training C135 pilots. Tower loved the red Husky coming into the pattern and was helpful with creating a spacing for our slow arrival.
On the way back to Austin I had a business meeting in Boston and since the meeting was right next to Logan field I decided it was a good idea to land at Logan. I learned to fly at Austin Bergstrom therefore I am comfortable flying in controlled airspace. Logan is a different animal but the same rules apply. Seconds before touching down I received this new clearance to land, “6HY land 33 left past 27, short of 33 right exit Foxtrot clear 33R Ground point … Foxtrot Mike hold 22 right Quebec Lima Alpha”. With no less than 14 planes lined up on either side of the runway I repeated back, “Husky 6HY land past 27 short of 33 exit Foxtrot.” Completed a good looking wheel landing in a 7 knot cross wind. This made for a touch one wheel showmanship and rolled to a stop and still needed to hustle up to foxtrot to exit. Tower responded,”6HY go to ground for taxi instructions.” Being a Boston accent and being Boston I can’t tell if she wanted to punch me or was welcoming me to town with her tone. In the FBO a Gulfstream pilot said he heard my approach calls and told me that the Tower forgets that the person landing the plane is the same guy writing down the paragraph of instructions they were giving.
It took the same number of radio calls to get in an out of Boston as flight following all the way to Austin. All and all a great trip. Peak ground speed going out was 167 knots and slowest in the way back was 45 knots out of Nashville. The most important thing was that my father who had never flown with me said, “It is no longer debatable that you are an Aviator.” Mission accomplished and coming from him as a former naval flight instructor that is high praise and the real reason I flew a canvas plane across the country. Pictures to follow.
My father is a former naval aviator and has retired to Brunswick where he was previously stationed. He was a P3 pilot there and decided when he retired that Maine was for him. While I was there we managed to land at a few grass strips and some former based he use to fly in to. The strangest grass strip was Lubec Muni (65B). It is a grass strip with somewhere around 2,000 feet of runway if they got aggressive on mowing and cut down the trees so 1,500 feet usable is more accurate for planning. Plus there are a couple gentlemen living next to the airport that seem to be keeping there expenses down by throwing the trash away simply in the back yard. We also landed at Bangor airport between training C135 pilots. Tower loved the red Husky coming into the pattern and was helpful with creating a spacing for our slow arrival.
On the way back to Austin I had a business meeting in Boston and since the meeting was right next to Logan field I decided it was a good idea to land at Logan. I learned to fly at Austin Bergstrom therefore I am comfortable flying in controlled airspace. Logan is a different animal but the same rules apply. Seconds before touching down I received this new clearance to land, “6HY land 33 left past 27, short of 33 right exit Foxtrot clear 33R Ground point … Foxtrot Mike hold 22 right Quebec Lima Alpha”. With no less than 14 planes lined up on either side of the runway I repeated back, “Husky 6HY land past 27 short of 33 exit Foxtrot.” Completed a good looking wheel landing in a 7 knot cross wind. This made for a touch one wheel showmanship and rolled to a stop and still needed to hustle up to foxtrot to exit. Tower responded,”6HY go to ground for taxi instructions.” Being a Boston accent and being Boston I can’t tell if she wanted to punch me or was welcoming me to town with her tone. In the FBO a Gulfstream pilot said he heard my approach calls and told me that the Tower forgets that the person landing the plane is the same guy writing down the paragraph of instructions they were giving.
It took the same number of radio calls to get in an out of Boston as flight following all the way to Austin. All and all a great trip. Peak ground speed going out was 167 knots and slowest in the way back was 45 knots out of Nashville. The most important thing was that my father who had never flown with me said, “It is no longer debatable that you are an Aviator.” Mission accomplished and coming from him as a former naval flight instructor that is high praise and the real reason I flew a canvas plane across the country. Pictures to follow.
