Today was the day. Slept in, watched CBS Morning news, took a shower, checked the weather, then Steve and I drove out to Kokomo Airport. The pre-flight on the T-6 showed the upper cowl dzus fasteners weren't fastened and the grounding straps weren't secured, but that's why you preflight. Got it all together, dragged everything out of the hangar, fired it up, was pleased because there was only one of our airplanes on the schedule for the day to be out there, which helped because the winds were down 32, which is short for takeoffs and landings, and no taxiway, so you have to back taxi every time. It always takes a long time to do pattern work so I was hoping to have the place to myself. Unfortunately, I get out there, and the Cherokee 180 is doing giant patterns, the 172RG is in the pattern, the Citabria is in the pattern, a 172 is coming in from somewhere else, yadda yadda. It was hard to fit in, and I didn't want to do my first landing in 7 months in front of an audience. I flew around for awhile, wasted time, but the pattern didn't get any less full, so I went over to Marion. Did my first landing over there with a bit of a crosswind, but there was an audience over there, too. Came back to Kokomo, the Cherokee was gone, and there were just two of us in the pattern, but I'd have to land, pull off, wait for the other one, back taxi, etc. I wasn't enjoying myself, I wasn't doing that well, I wasn't in the groove. It was okay, but not great, not consistent, and I gave up after like 5. I was annoyed, hungry, unable to concentrate, etc. So I came in and parked it, and Steve, Morgan and I went to Wendy's for a late lunch, like 2 pm. I hadn't eaten yet and that was part of my problem. Afterwards, I told Steve I was done, I wasn't feeling it, I was going to put all the planes away and just be done for the day. Instead, we get to the airport, and I go to put the plane away, but the pattern is empty now. Nobody is around. It's a beautiful day. I have an event on Fri/Sat that I'm supposed to go to in it. So I hopped back in while Steve was looking at the RG, and fired up. He came around the corner in a golf cart and said "HEY! I thought you weren't going again!" I yelled "I lied!" Turned on some music in my headset this time, cranked it up, and went flying. Did a semi-low pass over the hangars, then came in and started hitting landings. Without anyone to interrupt me, I was able to hit a bunch of takeoffs and landings. Started with wheel landings until they were consistently good, then started in 3-points. I only did three of those, and I needed a little more weight in the back; with the trim all the way nose up I still have to yank the last little bit up in the flare in a 3-point if I don't have weight back there. So the three points weren't perfect, but they weren't bad, either, pretty good. I was pleased enough. That one felt good, and I landed much more satisfied than after the first time. Took awhile to get to that point, but it really had been 7 months and 2 days since I last flew the thing. That's a long time, folks. I'm still a little rusty, still have some things to do, but it's good to be back anyway.
We stayed out at the airport for awhile. Chuck drove out, we hung out, put everything away. Steve and I drove Nathan's 950 hp Corvette out to top it off with gas and brought it back, and then we came on home for the evening. Ate leftovers for dinner. I've got a trip to Colorado tomorrow in the Cheyenne. Weather should be all right. Onward
First T-6ing in 7 months
T-6 and Citabria
Off the nose...
In the Vette
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