Father's Day 2014

The Central New York weather cooperated with us for our annual Father's Day Pancake Breakfast. There were a few clouds in the morning and from time to time through the day, but otherwise it was an absolutely beautiful day with comfortable temperatures. 

The airport was quite busy. If this wasn't a record attendance day then it had to be close!

I wandered around with my camera snapping pictures here and there. I made a few flights in the Challenger some to take aerial photos of the event and other times to give rides.

Out of about 200 pictures I picked 29 that show a variety of the activity around the days' event.

Full resolution images are available. Email me george.m.hernandez@gmail.com

(click on images for larger size)

One of our first arrivals!

There was a raffle for a ride in this beautiful plane.

Bill Volcko gives the thumbs up that we are ready to go.

Jack Burns skillfully flipping blueberry pancakes.

The radio control club comes each year to show off their sport.

So much has changed since I flew a radio control glider in 1990.

The CAP was here to help keep things organized.

Kirk is the new owner of Marcellus Airport, here with part of his family.

Trike on take-off

Helicopter rides were available all morning. 

Very affordable prices kept it flying non-stop

All day the tables were packed with people

Some things are worth their weight in gold!

Everything you need for your quad-copter flying in one handy case!

A table full of electric ducted fan jets

A few of the members of EAA1017

The reflections off the windscreen caught my attention.

The next generation...

RV headed home

Mercy Flight crew members talked and gave us a close up look at their operation and equipment.

This was taken mid-morning with a long line and lot full of cars.

Finally! Spring flying weather has arrived...

Time for a little cross-country flight.

Winter started early last fall and the cold wet weather hung on until the end of April. I've been waiting for some free time to get out on an afternoon flight somewhere.

On this day it I had to find a balance between waiting for the thermometer to show a comfortable cushion above freezing and an afternoon front with showers scheduled to arrive late in the day. As it worked out by the time I had made a fuel run to RaceTrac for premium no ethanol, and prepared for the flight the air was on its way to warming up nicely. This allowed me to remove the doors for an unrestricted view and nothing to degrade the image quality between the camera and scenery below.

Challenger ready to go

The panel as the engine warms

Course entered on my Android Google Nexus 7 running Garmin Pilot. My initial plan was to head west to Canandaigua (D38), north to Lake Ontario, east along the shoreline with a likely stop at Williamson-Sodus on the way to Fair Haven, then back to Marcellus (NK71) 

Winds aloft were forecast to be NNW@15, but once in the air I found that it was more out of the ENE in the lower atmosphere.

Less than 10 minutes into the flight I pass the town of Elbridge, NY with Cross Lake beyond. Along the horizon is the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

Looking south over Cayuga Lake. A high thin overcast is sometimes good for aerial photography particularly for zoomed in shots. A layer of cirrus or thin also-strattus diffuses the sunlight and lowers the contrast but still leaves it bright enough for a fast shutter speed. The sky reflects off the lake and the bright sunlight of brings out the colors in the lake much better as shown in the second photo from the day before when I brought my Cessna over to Finger Lakes Airport.

Cayuga Lake on a sunny afternoon

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge

Waterloo outlet stores along I90 in Waterloo, NY

Hopewell Airstrip just a few miles to the east of Canandaigua Airport

Base leg for Rwy 13 at Canandaigua.

I took a break here. A half cup of fresh brewed coffee and a little walk around to stretch my legs. This leg of the flight took about 45 minutes. I was cruising at 2,500 feet with 4,800 rpm yielding just under 60 mph.

I flew over the Canandaigua Pier and Boathouses before turning NE towards Williamson-Sodus.

Afternoon temperatures didn't warm up much more due to the thickening cloud cover. Cruising at 3,500 feet the air was over 10 degrees cooler than on the surface too. I was beginning to feel cold, so decided to head directly for Sodus.

Just a short break at Williamson-Sodus

In under 30 minutes I was on the ground at Sodus. A northeast wind is kind of unusual for our area. Landing on Rwy 10 the wind was rolling pretty good over an area of trees just to the north of the runway. The Challenger handled it quite well but next time I will plan my approach to land much further down this 3,800 foot runway to avoid this area when a north or northeast wind.

Looking east towards Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario.

Fighting a little bit of a headwind and feeling cold I opened the throttle a bit to 5,300 for a cruise speed in the upper 60's

Rose Airport. My EAA chapter 1017 has its annual fly-in here the second weekend in July. Everyone is welcome. Food, primitive camping and good times.

Back to Marcellus.

The entire flight took 2.9 hours and I burned 7.6 gallons for an hourly rate of 2.6 GPH of premium auto fuel. The direct cost of spending an afternoon flying around was about 30 dollars, plus some two-stroke oil. Can't beat it!

I will be sad when the Challenger is gone. Unfortunately it is for sale. Unless the Cessna goes first...

Flight to New Hampshire's Ice Runway

A couple years back Phil and I attempted a flight to the ice runway in Alton Bay, NH. Approaching the airport we found the early arrival of spring like temperatures had created open water along the shoreline. A low pass was all we dared and then headed over to Laconia for lunch.

Monday, thanks to a warming Arctic, slowing of the polar jet and everyones' favorite "Polar Vortex" keeping us in the cold this season, we were assured of a solidly frozen lake Winnipesaukee.

On this morning the low was -8 in Syracuse and -12 in Hamilton. Even a couple hours later as we were pulling Phil's plane out, the temperature was around zero. While cold weather is great for ice runways, it isn't for airplane engines. Phil's propane pre-heat wasn't enough to overcome the cold. A couple electric heaters placed right in the engine compartment gave just enough warmth to allow a start.

(click on images for full resolution)

Started and taxiing over to the fuel pumps.

Settling into cruise at 5,500 we cross the Mohawk River and Thruway at St. Johnsville.

Lake George in the distance as we approach the Hudson Valley in smooth air. 

It is cold in the plane. We can see our breath. At one point Phil's breath landed on his GPS and the screen iced over! I'm glad I decided to wear a sweatshirt under my coat. Four layers on my upper half, long-johns under my pants below, double socks and yet my legs were starting to shake by the end of the flight. 

Checking the OAT, Phil said it was -10. Being a wise guy I responded, "and it's probably even colder outside..."

Mountains in VT

Originally, we had planned on making this flight on Sunday to coincide with the Ice Festival in Alton Bay but a storm system moving up the coast would have made crossing the mountains difficult or impossible with mountain tops obscured in clouds. Also, strong winds would have made for an uncomfortable ride as well as gusty difficult conditions on the surface.

Even a day later with this weather system moved off to the northeast there was still significant NNW winds aloft. Forecasts called for 40 kts @ 6,000'. These winds required a significant correction and made our 2.5 hour flight take 3 hours.

Looking out my side window I could see that we were moving towards a point to the right of the nose. It wasn't until we got over the mountains where the terrain gave some real depth to the view that I realized just how much the winds were pushing us. I've seen this before, but looking out the front and seeing the hills moving sideways across the nose was amazing.

Approaching downwind at Laconia, NH

We decided to stop for fuel at Laconia before heading on to Alton Bay. I was looking forward to a rest stop and warming up in inside rather than on a giant ice cube of a lake.

Phil's 140 in a heated hangar

It was a good decision to stop at Laconia first. The engine wouldn't even turn over so we could taxi to the fuel pumps. Fortunately the FBO Emerson Aviation was there to help. Their mechanic guided Phil's plane into a heated hangar, pulled the battery to charge and tested the electrical system while with the use of the airport courtesy car we went for lunch in town.

Phil and mechanic discussing electrical system

The mechanic said we should have turned off the master when we realized there was a problem with charging. This would have reset the alternator charging circuit. With a tester connected the system showed it was charging at near 14V when started.

Turning onto a wind blown runway 28

It was late afternoon as we taxied out. With gusty winds that would be a crosswind at Alton Bay and the sun already low in the sky, we agreed that we would try another time.

Looking north with Mt Washington in the distance

Departing Laconia and watching Mt Washington in the distance my camera can't capture the feeling of how imposing this 6,288' mountain looks, even 50 miles away. After completing my 46er here in New York I will have to climb this. Before then, maybe an airplane ride to explore and photograph.

Okemo Mountain Resort Ludlow, VT

(I used Google Earth to identify this ski area)

Hudson Falls, Glens Falls and Lake George

The sun is approaching the horizon for us, but for those on the ground it has already set. Colors from The Belt of Venus, the line separating sunlight and sunset, is visible sloping upwards to the east.

Phil in the setting sun

By evening the winds aloft over New York have subsided. We are now making good speed with our ground speed nearing our airspeed of 107 mph.

Looking west over Herkimer, Mohawk, Illion, Frankfort with Utica and Oneida Lake beyond.

Phil's panel as we descend into Hamilton

Final for runway 17 at Hamilton

Back at the hangar

I have a camera flash version of this image, but I prefer the much closer to real look of natural light.

Thanks again Phil for a great flight. Try again,

maybe the "third times' the charm..."