Today was supposed to be clear, sunny and in the 40s. Instead it was overcast, gray, windy and cold. Fortunately it wasn't a low overcast, so when a few parts came in and got put on the 340, Steve and I were able to take up the plane VFR on a maintenance test flight and make sure all looked good. It did, so I landed, loaded up my stuff, picked up my guy, and off we went to St. Louis. Once we broke through the clouds, it was clear and beautiful above, and so warm with the sun shining in the windows that we had to turn the cool air on.
The flight was uneventful. It's been awhile since I had a trip where I could actually say that, so I thought it was worth repeating. ;) In fact, the weather was so nice and the airplane was behaving itself so well, I actually had the time and mental energy to mess with a few other things. I plugged my iPod into the system, you know, just to make sure it worked. It did. It still cuts out when ATC talks, which still drives me bonkers, but at least I can pause the song and resume where I left off instead of just losing out on the rest of the song like I do on the XM. Can you believe it took me 30 hours of flight time to get to try out my iPod? That tells you how busy I've been. ;) While I had the iPod playing and resting on the seat next to me, I next tried out the oxygen. Plugged in the mask, donned it, turned on the oxygen and breathed out of it for a minute or so. All the parts of the system worked great. I knocked it a little out of place when I went to take a picture, but ignore that. Being an appropriate mask, it covers my entire nose and mouth with a very tight and firm seal, which frankly makes me claustrophobic. But it works. I timed myself getting it on. If I actually go high enough to need or potentially need it in an emergency, I'll pre-plug the mask in and have it in a handier grab location which will knock that time down...
As I got back to Kokomo, the clouds rolled in back under me. It was beautiful above. The below photo is as I'm approaching the cloud deck to come down and land at Kokomo. Clear and blue and warm and sunny.
And THIS is what it was like underneath. Welcome back to gray, cold and depressing. I do enjoy being able to get on top and get a little jolt of sunshine. Makes the rest of the day, in the gray, somehow go easier. :)
The flight was uneventful. It's been awhile since I had a trip where I could actually say that, so I thought it was worth repeating. ;) In fact, the weather was so nice and the airplane was behaving itself so well, I actually had the time and mental energy to mess with a few other things. I plugged my iPod into the system, you know, just to make sure it worked. It did. It still cuts out when ATC talks, which still drives me bonkers, but at least I can pause the song and resume where I left off instead of just losing out on the rest of the song like I do on the XM. Can you believe it took me 30 hours of flight time to get to try out my iPod? That tells you how busy I've been. ;) While I had the iPod playing and resting on the seat next to me, I next tried out the oxygen. Plugged in the mask, donned it, turned on the oxygen and breathed out of it for a minute or so. All the parts of the system worked great. I knocked it a little out of place when I went to take a picture, but ignore that. Being an appropriate mask, it covers my entire nose and mouth with a very tight and firm seal, which frankly makes me claustrophobic. But it works. I timed myself getting it on. If I actually go high enough to need or potentially need it in an emergency, I'll pre-plug the mask in and have it in a handier grab location which will knock that time down...
As I got back to Kokomo, the clouds rolled in back under me. It was beautiful above. The below photo is as I'm approaching the cloud deck to come down and land at Kokomo. Clear and blue and warm and sunny.
And THIS is what it was like underneath. Welcome back to gray, cold and depressing. I do enjoy being able to get on top and get a little jolt of sunshine. Makes the rest of the day, in the gray, somehow go easier. :)
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