DAB-ISM-DAB

Today was my first IFR XC, we flew from Daytona to Kissimmee, FL.
It was all well planned, the flight plan, the weather, all by the book. All the calculations, everything was there - until I heard the expected IFR clearance "You are cleared direct to KISM, expect radar vectors". Damn it! After meticulously filling the flight plan form, spending more than 1 hour using the E6-B 1000 times, thinking about headings and wind corrections.... all to the waste bin :))

The flight itself was gorgeous, not IFR all the way, but there were some clouds and some pretty bad haze on the way back. Flying the glass is such a joy.... autopilot ON, and the camera starts looking for good shots. We flew over Disney World, but I couldn't really identify any roller coaster :)
Next XC is going to be looooong, I am going to Tallahassee - that's almost 5 hours both ways!!

Enjoy the pics...

A view from Lake Louise "at 4 o'clock".

On the way to Kissimmee at 4000 ft, under a high ceiling.

Part 141, stage 3 IFR

After some basic instrument skills on stage 1, complicated clearances and approaches on stage 2, here comes stage 3! The nice and long cross-countries, hearing music on the G1000 :))
I can't wait!!

Many jets are coming to Daytona these days, it's the beginning of the NASCAR season. It seems like in the end of the month, all the jets are going to expel us from our ramp!


Well, so far we have some space at the Sheltair Ramp, our home base @ KDAB.

Landing with Wind Gust

Since my Private License, I never really landed with more than 15 knots head or 12 knots crosswind and of course never with strong gusts. This week though, was a very strange week in Daytona: sudden cold front, with very high pressures and even snowed in Central Florida! I don't think it ever snowed in Florida, not at least in the last good 10 years... My altimeter setting today was 30.65 and the temperature at 4pm was around 3C ! But the most interesting thing was the wind gust: we took off with 16G27, 45degrees from the runway centerline. That was certainly a great and challenging flight experience!

I don't have to tell the whole flight was turbulent and messy, now imagine yourself flying the G1000 at night and trying really hard to read the numbers on the airspeed and altitude tapes because the airplane at 2500 ft MSL only wouldn't stop shaking! I think it felt like being in a constant earthquake. Tiring, but very good instrument experience!

Here are some pics... enjoy and have a nice week everyone.