Pennsylvania

Ethan and I flew to Pennsylvania this morning in his 340, and I took our new CFI with us, as planned, Shelbe. When we got there, I took the Cheyenne up on a maintenance test flight with one of the mechanics there, who sat in the back.  I got up to 33,000' and leveled off, and the popping started happening, thankfully.  It stopped so I went up to 34,000' and it did it again. He recorded what was happening.  Meanwhile I'm circling around Pittsburgh at a high rate of speed at 34,000'. It was one of the oddest flights I've ever done.  When it was time to come down, I powered back to idle and came down at over 4000 fpm, spiraling down like crazy. I had to leave the plane there so they can work on it for awhile here, and finally solve that problem.  On the way home, I put Shelbe up front since she wasn't going to get to ride home in the Cheyenne, and for the first time in ages, rode in the back of a plane.  I was uncomfortable on takeoff, because she's not experienced and he's not super fast on engine out stuff and there are hills right at the end of the runway. But once we were in the air, I relaxed more, ate my salad, drank my water, and listened to music with my feet up.  ;)

Back at Kokomo, I came home and took care of Ann, then went back out to the airport where Steve and I went up in the Aerostar to get him some more pattern work in.  

Me chilling in the back seat of the 340