Williamson-Sodus and Oswego

It is late April and the first Sunday fly-in pancake breakfast is still weeks away. Looking for somewhere interesting to fly with my father I decide to head northwest to Williamson-Sodus, an active airport about 25 miles east of Rochester, NY along the shore of Lake Ontario. From there we could follow the shoreline east to Oswego before turning back south toward home.

Even with sunny skies, a northwest flow of Canadian air is keeping mid-day temperatures from rising past the upper 40s. This cool breeze also brought some bumps with good thermal activity south of the lake and a bit of a headwind to keep our groundspeed down on the outbound leg.

Apple's most recent update to iOS for my iPad carried with it a bug that prevents navigational software such as Garmin Pilot (which I use), Foreflight and others from using the GPS information from external sources. Since my new iPad mini 2 does not have a built-in GPS I have had to use my Android phone that contains a GPS and can also communicate with my Dual XGPS150. The plus side to this is that my phone stayed charged, I could see my panel around the smaller phone and weather radar and winds were visible on the map screen of Garmin Pilot through my data plan.

Garmin Pilot on a Samsung S4. Viewing the Navigation page. 

 One of the great things about flying along at only a couple thousand feet are all the interesting things that you come across. Look close, better yet, click on the image for a larger size.

From a distance the lake seemed to have a foggy look to it, as I got closer I realized it was a reflection of the cloud layer above rather than some low level atmospheric condition over the water. Departing Williamson a little later I found the atmosphere was clear enough to see the Canadian coastline across the lake.

As we returned to the plane after a cup of coffee, a gentleman pulled up in his car with a big smile and saying he has a 1964 Cessna 150. Ours is a '65. Both have 360 windows and a straight tail (the way God intended a 150 tail to be...) 

We talked about our planes and he took our picture.

Williamson-Sodus (SDC)

Chimney Bluffs just a few miles to the east.

Living on the edge!

Fair Haven Bay and the State Park on the left 

Looking east over Oswego

Fulton

Me and my Dad 

(And yes, I am aware I need to work on a better face for the camera!)

Harris Hill

Saturday in a Iroquois Soaring Assoc. email someone asked if members wanted to assemble the club gliders on Sunday. That didn't happen but it was enough to put thoughts of gliders in my head. Our schedules lined up for a change and my partner in the Cessna, Kate, would be be out for her first flight of the year. She is a glider fan as well so a trip to a glider port would be a fun day for both of us.

Though nothing going on at Hamilton with ISA we still had a few options. Saratoga Springs, Dansville and Harris Hill in Elmira. I decided on Elmira. It has a very active club and there is always something going on there.

Sunday was forecast to be beautiful, with sunny skies, mild temperatures and light winds. By Sunday night things would be changing. The forecast has us heading into a week of clouds, rain and even a bit of snow here in Central New York. In Upstate NY, when the weather is good you have to go. No excuses.

Climbing out of Marcellus under a few cirrus visibility was more than 50 miles. My GPS showed virtually no winds as we climbed to 4,500 for the 59 nm 39 min cruise SW over the Finger Lakes. With the plane trimmed for level flight we settled into an easy cruise and enjoyed the scenery.

Kate and me

Between watching for other aircraft and enjoying the view it was a while until I realized I hadn't touched the controls in quite a long time. Smooth as glass up here. Only a gentle touch on the rudder pedals was needed to keep us on track.

The land is beginning to change from the brown and grey of winter to the green of spring. In protected spots in and along forests or gullies snow remains as a reminder that only a few weeks ago all was white here.

The Cessna is headed to the radio shop for static when transmitting that makes me difficult to understand, so I'm using a handheld. Approaching Elmira I am over their Class D airspace but within the ARSA. Participation in a ARSA is voluntary, but I'm flying directly over the airfield and want to descend into Harris Hill which is within the Class D. From 18 miles out I call only to find the handheld, using its small antenna, is fine for pattern work but doesn't work too well over any distance. With quite a bit of effort the tower instructs me to continue as requested and no other traffic.

Descending over Harris Hill we spot a couple gliders in the air. A Discus circling 1,000' feet above us in lift and an ASK-21 below setting up for the landing pattern. We wait for him, then land.

Harris Hill from the south. 

Elmira Regional visible in the valley beyond.

The smooth ride down, while nice for airplanes, means not much lift for gliders.

The airport was pretty quiet. Several rides were given and eventually the Discus pilot landed.

Pawnee towing the ASK-21

ASK landing. Our Cessna parked on the right

Discus on roll-out. He kept his wings level as he came to a stop where he was met out on the runway by ground crew that caught his wing and gently lowered it to the ground.

Harris Hill Club House

Taugannock Falls

South end of Owasco Lake

Frozen Ocean Raceway and Murphy's Airport

 Back home to Marcellus Airport

Recent Photos

As 2014 winds down we have been blessed with mild temperatures and very little snow here in Central New York. Unlike our neighbors to the north in the snow belt to the east of Lake Ontario and also west of Buffalo as of Jan 5th we are still mostly snow free enabling me to get up for some end of season flying in the Cessna.

High pressure on Dec 26th brought us sunny skies though there was some haze in the air.

Syracuse, NY from the south at 5,500'

Looking west across 5 of the 11 Finger Lakes.

A flock of Snow Geese were disturbed as I passed Skaneateles Lake. 

As I moved away they settled back down onto the water.

Skaneateles Airport and Skaneateles Lake beyond.

On Dec 30th we had a couple inches of snow. Temperatures were in the low 20's with light NW winds at the surface.

I flew west past Skaneateles towards the next area of clouds and snow moving in from the west.

Auburn, NY with sunlight reflecting off Cayuga Lake and snow showers beyond.

Sun rays reflecting of Owasco Lake south of Auburn.

Looking south over Otisco and Skaneateles Lakes.

Otisco Lake 

 Marcellus Airport with my airplanes' tracks from the hangar to the sky...

Flight to Cortland and Hamilton

I flew the Cessna down to Cortland in the morning. There were a few things I wanted to bring to my son David and I also wanted to see for myself the body work he has been doing on his BMW. He is only a mile and a half from the airport so although a car was offered for me to use, I really felt like walking. It was already getting warm, but it turned out to be an easy 30 minute walk.

Cortland Airport (N03)

Leaving Cortland I was feeling a little warm, so with the window open I climbed in a 800 fpm thermal then made a cruise climb to 6,000' putting me over most of the clouds. Here the air was smooth and cool for the ride over to Hamilton.

It was great to visit with everyone and to see all the gliders being flown.

As always if anyone wants the full resolution of any of these images just let me know and I'll send them to you.

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.