Abby Likes Loops

There's not been much time for flying lately.  I just got back from India, and work seems to double-down on the return.   The weather is not really cooperating either, but that didn't stop me from heading out to the airport with Abby yesterday.   It was a gusty and rainy, but I could always hope for an opening.

When I got to the airport, I was surprised to see that EAA690 was doing the Young Eagles thing.  Once per month, the chapter will line up a bunch of pilots to take kids to the air as part of the Young Eagle program sponsored at the national EAA level.  It's completely free.  The chapter recruits schools, scouts, and anyone with a kid between 8 and 18 to come out, see the planes, and go for a nice ride with an experienced pilot.   It's a wonderful program with a goal to introduce kids and parents alike to the fun side of aviation.

Abby was so excited to go flying today that I jumped on the chance for her to experience her first RV flight in Jamie Painter's nice RV-7A.    Jamie's been flying Young Eagles for a while, so I knew he'd give Abby a great flight.  The clouds were starting to show a few breaks here and there, and I knew Jamie and his 7A would handle the gusts well.   I gave a parental thumbs up for inverted flight if Abby consented.   That's not typical for Young Eagles, but I've flown with Jamie, and I knew he'd insure that priority one was a good flight for Abby.   Thirty minutes later, Abby was back at the hangar with a big grin on her face.   As it turned out, Jamie was able to get up above the clouds, giving Abby a nice Sunny Day experience on a day that was anything but sunny.  Abby was a little apprehensive about inverted flight, so Jamie kept things upright.  

The first flight 

only convinced Abby that she wanted another flight with me all the more.  I was harassed to no end that I had to take her flying.  Twist my arm, sweetheart.  After lunch, I granted her wish.

Our first mission was a bombing run at the Ashway Drive intelligence post.   We laid down many lines of fine smoke as Mom, Allie, and the grandparents scattered for cover, waving haplessly at our assault.  Thereafter, we climbed for the clouds, up into the sunshine above a layer of cotton.  From there, with Abby helping at the controls, we exercised my vast repertoire of aerobatic maneuvers, which can be summed up in two words: loops, rolls.  Oh, and maybe a cuban or two.    I pulled the stick back, and the RV quickly climbed through vertical and then the world starts to go upside down, followed soon after by a window full of green as the G's come in at the end of the loop.   Somewhere in the departure from straight and level,  Abby decides that a 5-point harness is not enough, and she is hugging my arm.  Ironically, the very person who is causing her world to be topsy-turvy is also able to give her comfort and security.   I realize that my decision to build a plane with side-by-side seating was just completely validated.   We eventually lose count of the loops and rolls, and it's time to descend.    We swirl downward through the layers of clouds, and as Lake Lanier rotates around, I'm picking out the shoreline that will lead me to Gainesville.  It's a windy day, and a touch-n-go landing at Gainesville will give me a good test of the cross-winds before heading back to Lawrenceville.    

The crosswinds at Lawrenceville had settled down, but it was still a nice test of my taildragger skills.  I score the landing an 8.   I score the experience a 10.   I have so much still to look forward to now that I can bring the RV flying experience to my family and friends.  Will my kids loving flying?  Will they get a bug for aerobatics?   Only the future will tell.  But today, I can tell you that Abby likes loops.

Allie gives a thumbs up

Today was a day to take the leash off. What leash? Well, when you first get your airplane flying, it's confined to a "phase 1" flight area for up to 40 flying hours. The idea is that the FAA expects you to conduct flight testing, and they want you fairly close to your home airport. They also don't want you taking passengers up. You're flying, but with some shackles. As mentioned in the previous post, I had already marked the end of my Phase 1 by taking up my dad. We did a nice and short evening cruise over the lake, doing some sightseeing in the north metro Atlanta area. I did not, as it happens, leave my phase 1 flight area.

What better way to break out of the penalty box than to take one of my girls to an actual RV flyin! There seems to be a fly-in about every weekend somewhere within easy flying distance. But up till now, I could only read the emails going back and forth between all the flying guys enjoying all the burgers and comraderie, whilst the rest of the still-building guys ramble on about the latest puzzle-du-jour from a multitude of lonely basement projects. Today was to mark the first time I can crossover into that other flying-guy world, where having a plane is now a ticket to a burger.

My RV7 only has two seats, so I'm guaranteed that each trip will be a nice one on one date with my wife or one of my girls. Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Mo, Allie is the first to go. Now recall that I started building my plane almost 4 years ago now. Allie was only 18 months old at the time, so to her, having an airplane project in the basement was just something that was always there. Since our playroom and outdoor play area are both next to the shop, she's spent all her life playing within 20 feet of dad and the airplane factory. Allie is a fearless athletic ball of kinetic energy, and she has always shown an unreserved interest in going flying with dad. As soon as she woke up this morning, she was demanding that we get ready and over to the airport first thing. "Dad, close the computer, and let's go!" Such problems.

The weather today did not look good, but the reports were ok. Good enough for safe local VFR flight. There were low clouds, but they would be picking up as the day goes on. I expected some thundershowers, but they would hopefully be avoidable pop-ups in the afternoon. It's a typical summer pattern for the Southeast. I admit I'm a bit more nervous as I taxi for the first time with the responsibility for the safety of my precious 5 year old daughter, but she is absolutely ready to go. Wow. Most passengers are a little apprehensive going up in a small airplane, but Allie is ready to mash the launch button without any hesitation.

Finally, the tower clears me, "experimental-five-one-seven-delta-golf is clear for take-off two-five left turn out". I roll onto the runway and mash the launch button. Within seconds, I push the stick forward and the tail comes up. A few seconds later, we're airborne a few inches above the runway, and my headset is filled with the exclamations of a five year old yelling, "Boy this is so much fun!" Then I quickly climb up to 2000 feet, which is all the clouds are going to give me today. Allie wants to go upside-down, but I disappoint her as I'd rather save that for higher altitudes. We tour Lake Lanier and Allie cannot stop talking. "Look at the boats! Can you take me swimming? Can we fly over our house? Look at the clouds. This is so cool. Daddy, I love you." All that riveting just paid for itself. Again.

Our destination was Peachtree City's Falcon Field where the Falcon RV squadron is hosting a fly-in. The weather and Atlanta class B airspace dictate an approach from the south. Each of the 3 GPS map displays in my cockpit is doing it's thing, keeping me safe from traffic, weather, and airspace. As we weave under and around all these obstacles, we find ourselves staring down at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Nice. Wonder when the next Nascar event is? Minutes later, we're pulling into the hangar area where the Falcon squadron is hanging out. No sooner has my prop stopped turning when a couple people are pushing my plane into a parking space on RV row. It takes me 20 minutes to walk 20 feet to the food display because I have a lot of questions to answer about my plane before I can eat.

Lesson: don't show up at a fly-in at 12:30 expecting any burgers to be left. Oh well, the side items will hold us over. I met a few guys still doing their builds, and I can say that my plane was given a thorough inspection by them. Allie quickly finds a scooter and some kids her age to play with, and she is not missing the hamburgers. Cupcakes are hot targets. She's off to play while daddy gets into pilot-speak. Each and every member of the Falcon squadron introduced themselves and demonstrated true Southern hospitality. One fly-in now under the belt. As Allie and I get back in and fire up the engine, every pilot secures every child and gives me the thumbs up sign to taxi.

Moments later, we're airborne; zooming back to Lawrenceville. A check of weather before departure revealed that I was in a horse race with the rain. It was a close race. My WX weather display shows fingers of an ugly weather system reaching down to Lawrenceville, but the current conditions are still good. As my RV quickly closes the distance on the airport, I can see we're headed straight for a nasty black rainstorm. If the rain wins the race, Allie and I may have dinner in Athens. Nope, thankfully the RV is fast and the nasty black rainstorm is still a few miles north of the airport. We're cleared for landing and I've won the race with the clouds. As I spin the plane around in front of my hangar, the dark clouds form over the airport, and a light rain crosses my finish line in second place. Allie poses for the RV grin shot. She's now logged just under two hours of RV time. Many more to come, Allie-bug.