Saturday's Stuff...

I was up this morning before the sun. I could feel some cobwebs in the ole brain and I was still stuffed up, coughing and congested, but as I drove out to the airport with some music on, watching the sun rise, I could tell it was going to be a good day. I even took a photo of the sunrise just to prove I was out and about at that time of day. ;)

I got the T-6 preflighted, hooked up to the tug and pulled out. Jim arrived, and we taxied up to the terminal, got gas and went over the ground stuff inside there first. We flew two rounds of: short field takeoffs, emergencies, no flap landings, half flap landings, more simulated engine outs and engine fires, wheel landings, crosswind landings, touch and goes, etc. After round one we stopped and Chuck had brought out homemade vegetable beef soup that Judy had made. It had been simmering for 3 days, and it was Delicious and warming and just really hit the spot as far as my system was concerned. I was feeling a little puny by then, and that warm soup was really helpful. After round two of flying, when I climbed out and the adrenaline wore off, I felt pretty cruddy. I kind of melted onto the couch for awhile and actually half slept for a bit while Tre and Nathan cooked burgers and hot dogs on the grill. I was lying back on the couch when the Cheyenne taxied out, and the assault of Jet A fumes blowing into the hangar woke me up just in time to go eat. I was thinking that I might have to call off Round Three of flying for the day, because I just wasn't sure I'd be able to do a good job focusing, but after the food and being up and about for awhile, I decided to get the last lesson of the day in after all.

It was rather shorter than the other flights we did. I did a normal takeoff, and on downwind he told me I had an engine failure, so I did a power off landing. Did another takeoff to a normal landing. He asked how I was feeling physically, and I said I was doing fine again. I taxied back to take off again, when he dropped his checklist. I've done it-anything you drop goes into the belly of the plane way down there. So I held the brakes while he climbed around back there to get it. Then the checklist goes flying outside, he climbed out to go get it, and said while he was doing that I ought to just take the plane around for three takeoffs and landings by myself. So, that's just what I did. :) As I taxi out, I see a golf cart over there with a crew on it, sitting by the runway and watching, with at least one camera out and pointed. Steve, Nathan, Chuck, Jim, and Nathan's friend Roger. I did my first takeoff, and was a bit surprised at how heavy the nose was without someone in the back seat. Jim had thought ahead (I see now) and put two cases of oil in the baggage compartment in the back to help, and even with that I could feel the difference in CG (center of gravity). After the first, I opened the canopy up. I didn't have to worry about the noise or squelch in the intercom now, and I wanted the wind in my face on a beautiful Saturday evening with the sun getting low. It was...peaceful. I made my three full stop landings then taxied on in and parked it. Jim gave me my own red "tool" that you use to open the gas caps and oil door on the T-6 as a tradition he does for his soloing T-6 students, and a round of handshakes and hugs ensued. Oh, and the crew all approved of my three takeoffs and landings. ;)

We relaxed for a little while at the airport before retiring to Applebees. Everybody was really tired-it's been a busy couple of days-but they came out anyway. We made it a bit of a double celebration-"Tall" James (Nathan's son) also did his long cross-country flight today, by himself. An accomplished day. :)

I'm now home, Steve is asleep on the couch and I'm going to bed myself. Tomorrow is one more day of flying; hopefully my sinuses and attention span will let me do the fun stuff we've got planned, which includes a little trip to a fly-in and some aerobatics. We'll see. For now, I've got to get some sleep!