Marc's Public Blog - Flying


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This is a collection of my blog entries and experiences with flying, and learning to fly. Something I had been wanting to do for quite a while.
You can find all the pictures I've taken here, and read below for my experience.
Specifically, I have a page for my Trips to Oshkosh, the mecca for pilots

Table of Content for flying:

More pages: November 2023 October 2023 April 2023 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 May 2021 November 2020 August 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 June 2018 May 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 April 2017 January 2017 December 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 June 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 January 2012 November 2011 August 2011 July 2011 April 2011 March 2011 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 May 2010 March 2010 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 March 2009 November 2008 August 2008 July 2008 May 2008 April 2008 December 2007 October 2007 September 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 December 2004 September 2004 August 2004 May 2004 March 1999



2017/08/20 Madras Erickson Aircraft Collection
π 2017-08-20 01:01 in Flying, Nflying
While at Madras for the eclipse, it was a good excuse to go visit the museum on the field, so I did, and here are a few pictures:














interesting wing design
interesting wing design


That evening, a few more planes showed up just after sunset. Made for nice pictures:






2017/08/20 Flight from Palo Alto to Madras via Shasta, Klamath Falls, and Lassen
π 2017-08-20 01:01 in Flying, Nflying
ILike many other people, Jennifer and I went to Madras to go see the total solar eclipse, but thankfully we didn't have to drive. It was a slightly less than 4H flight thanks to a tailwind (I was afraid it would be more in a slow C172, the best plane I could get for that day since most planes were of course booked for that time.
I had planned to take off before 07:00, but my fuel order the previous day, was not filled, and I was forced to wait until the competing fuel company opened up and could fuel us up. We eventually took off a bit after 07:20. Better than nothing.



plane was pretty packed with 2 bikes and all our hiking and camping stuff
plane was pretty packed with 2 bikes and all our hiking and camping stuff

I flew by Mt Shasta on the way up:





Sadly California had multiple fires, which made visibility often bad, especially by noon or so. On the way up, it wasn't too bad though and we got to see Crater Lake which was totally smoked in later on, on most days. We had actually planned to go to crater lake, but I cancelled that part of our trip once I saw how bad the visibility was on most days:




I think that's the hike down to the ferry that goes around the lake
I think that's the hike down to the ferry that goes around the lake

We eventually got to Madras, which had nice scenery:




After watching the eclipse, we flew to Klamath Falls, with its big lakes:



once on the ground, we drove to that bridge to see the lake from both sides, you can see the falls aren't that big afterall :)
once on the ground, we drove to that bridge to see the lake from both sides, you can see the falls aren't that big afterall :)

big runway, hard to miss (I was asked to land long)
big runway, hard to miss (I was asked to land long)

there is an air force training base onsite
there is an air force training base onsite


We first landed in Klamath Falls to see Lava Beds National Park, and then on the way back, we had a look at the town.

We were supposed to fly out the day after, but when we arrived, there was a line of thunderstorms around the airport and another one around Lassen where we were going, so I opted for us to stay the night in Klamath and fly down to Lassen early the next morning just after sunrise:



got lots of pictures from Lassen on the way
got lots of pictures from Lassen on the way




and finally landed at Chester/Rogers airport, from where we had a rental car waiting, and we drove back up (1h) to Lassen
and finally landed at Chester/Rogers airport, from where we had a rental car waiting, and we drove back up (1h) to Lassen

After a full day in Lassen, we flew back at sunset (20:00) and got home in Palo Alto just before 22:00, tired, but happy from all the nice sightseeing

2017/08/20 Total Solar Eclipse at Madras, Oregon
π 2017-08-20 01:01 in Flying, Nflying, Ntrips, Trips
After a longish flight from Palo Alto in a slow C172, we arrived at Madras Airport, smack in the middle of the path of totality for the eclipse, the first total eclipse in the US since the 1970's. Needless to say that everything on the path of the eclipse, was packed, and so was the airport, as well as camping sites nearby.

Solartown, north of the airport
Solartown, north of the airport

the rest of the year, Madras has a small racetrack and drag racing strip
the rest of the year, Madras has a small racetrack and drag racing strip

when we landed on sunday morning, a few planes were there already, but many more arrived
when we landed on sunday morning, a few planes were there already, but many more arrived

I was able to negotiate a parking spot closer to the exit for the next morning, and we setup our camp
I was able to negotiate a parking spot closer to the exit for the next morning, and we setup our camp

some amount of vendors at the airport
some amount of vendors at the airport


We then took our foldable bikes and biked to Solarfest, a few miles south:

Madras was ready for visitors
Madras was ready for visitors

and their money :)
and their money :)



Nasa had a display room, but hard to get into due to crowds
Nasa had a display room, but hard to get into due to crowds





lots of vendors
lots of vendors

I then went to Solartown to meet Arturo and Louis at their RV:




It was then time to get back to the airport for sunset pictures:










We then tried to sleep in our tent, and I very much appreciated the jet that landed at 05:02 and stayed idling close to our tent for a good 5mn :)

people getting ready early
people getting ready early

I packed up our camp and turned the plane around in the direction of 'get the f out of here' :)
I packed up our camp and turned the plane around in the direction of 'get the f out of here' :)

I was one plane away from the last taxiway to the runway
I was one plane away from the last taxiway to the runway

Tim, one of my many coworkers who went to the event
Tim, one of my many coworkers who went to the event

In case the sun disappearance brought a big flood, some were ready :)
In case the sun disappearance brought a big flood, some were ready :)

And then, it started:



this lucky guy landed 1mn before the runway closed
this lucky guy landed 1mn before the runway closed

getting closer
getting closer

that little sun left, is still very bright
that little sun left, is still very bright

without a filter, it was still super bright
without a filter, it was still super bright

almost there, but still way too bright to look with naked eyes
almost there, but still way too bright to look with naked eyes

and finally!
and finally!

the corona of hot plasma around the sun, only visible during an eclipse
the corona of hot plasma around the sun, only visible during an eclipse

mercury became visible
mercury became visible

So, it's hard to explain, but it does get quite dark, and cold. The cold was really noticeable, which is surprising how quickly it changed in just a portion of a minute:



and then, after barely 2mn, it was over
and then, after barely 2mn, it was over

Just to give a feel for what it looked like, here are 4mn starting just before totality:

Those 2mn were as cool as they went by quickly. As soon as totality was over, we rushed to the plane, and went in line for the runway, got the first spot and I was the first person to take off when the runway re-opened. While waiting over 30mn, I took a few more pictures from inside the plane before finally being able to take off:



in the 40mn I waited before taking off, the roads were filled up already
in the 40mn I waited before taking off, the roads were filled up already





jets were the only ones allowed to take off for about 1h after I left
jets were the only ones allowed to take off for about 1h after I left

solarfest
solarfest

a long road home
a long road home

And one last shot of the partial eclipse still going on while we were flying to Klammath Falls:


We had a great time, definitely an at least once in a lifetime experience.

2017/08/15 London Science Museum's Airplane Section
π 2017-08-15 01:01 in Flying, Greatbritain2017, Nflying
Usually I would only feature an airplane museum in the flying section, but the London Science Museum's section of airplanes is big enough that it deserves its own mention. Later, I went to see a few more, to total:
  • London Science Museum's Airplane Section (this one)
  • RAF Museum North of London
  • RAF Museum in Cosford (30mn from Birmingham and Stafford)
  • Imperial War Museum in Duxford
  • There was a good history of early planes:


    a good reminder that the first aircraft that was heavier than air was French, even if it didn't fly far
    a good reminder that the first aircraft that was heavier than air was French, even if it didn't fly far

    very bird-like aircraft
    very bird-like aircraft

    of course the wright brothers are mentioned, along with their patents and thirst for money that caused the US to slip back decades while France quickly took over the world of flying machines
    of course the wright brothers are mentioned, along with their patents and thirst for money that caused the US to slip back decades while France quickly took over the world of flying machines

    one impressive thing on the wright brothers' airplane was the engine: light and efficient
    one impressive thing on the wright brothers' airplane was the engine: light and efficient


    lots of early french planes
    lots of early french planes

    While most people know about the French Mongolfier brothers and their hot air balloon, few know about all the dirigeables that many countries experimented with, including England:



    The section on VTOL aircraft was very nice. I didn't know about the pre-harrier prototypes:

    VTOL thrust vectoring prototype
    VTOL thrust vectoring prototype


    Short SC-1, first UK VTOL aircraft
    Short SC-1, first UK VTOL aircraft


    and harrier
    and harrier

    Other random planes:



    first german jet aircraft
    first german jet aircraft




    early airplane with inefficient propeller
    early airplane with inefficient propeller

    So again, while it was not an aviation museum, it sure had a worthwhile collection to check out.

    2017/08/10 Yorkshire Air Museum
    π 2017-08-10 01:01 in Flying, Greatbritain2017, Nflying
    York didn't require as much time to visit as originally planned, so I had 3.5H to spare, and figured I would visit the nearby Yorkshire Air Museum. There are only 2 busses a day that go there and I had already missed the 2nd one, but uber got me there.
    At the entrance, I was told that 3H would be barely enough, so I rushed a bit, but in the end, 2.5H ended up being enough to see the whole thing. Thankfully I got a ride back from a nice museum visitor. While it's not a huge museum, and not the best one in the UK, it has some interesting and a few rare planes:




    love the windshield wipers :)
    love the windshield wipers :)




    Mirage III
    Mirage III

    Mirage IV nuclear bomber, the only one outside of France
    Mirage IV nuclear bomber, the only one outside of France








    this one got me excited, the electric lightening, one of the highest flying jet planes outside of the US
    this one got me excited, the electric lightening, one of the highest flying jet planes outside of the US


    a 5000 ton bomb, to penetrate tunnels and caves
    a 5000 ton bomb, to penetrate tunnels and caves

    an early glider prototype
    an early glider prototype



    GB put effort into big airships too, but they prooved too problematic and dangerous in the end
    GB put effort into big airships too, but they prooved too problematic and dangerous in the end


    They had a control tower, and copy of the french pilots quarters




    While I kind of regret not having had the chance to see bigger aviation museums while in the UK, but this one at least gave me a taste :)

    See more images for Yorkshire Air Museum

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