BK1 Sun-N-Fun 2006 – Staying on the Plan
This is my fourth long cross country journey to a major fly in and the second in a little more than half a year. Have the tools to make a detailed plan and the experience to execute it flawlessly. Spent just about as many hours playing, that is working, with the software that came with the AirMap 500 GPS laying out the perfect route as it took to fly it. Laying out the initial route is easier in the computer, but it needs to be upload it to the GPS to adjust it to fit with the Jeppsen database. Then transfer it back to the computer again for finishing, then back to the GPS to use, easy, if you are a computer geek. Actually it’s more like a video game so should have let my kids help. Its fun to fly the route in GPS simulator mode at about 1000 mph, would be a great way to travel. Packing is old hat by now, 9 sets of clothes, In case it gets cold (it froze the first night in 2003), one pair of socks, one pair of long pants, one jogging suit bottom, and one light jacket. Sure that none of the cold weather gear was needed this time, just because I had it. Add the 4 towels, shoes, hats, air mattress, trail mix, maps, business cards and misc. stuff. One begins to wonder how all this will fit, but its not any more than we took to Oshkosh, so get the shoe horn. Was ready a couple of days early, really hate that last minute rushing around to find everything.
Departure day arrives with clouds and fog, just as expected. No hurry getting out to Zuehl, but it should burn off by noon. The plane’s ready, just load it up and top it off. Excitement began to build when the first bit of sun broke through, great, now just put in the gas and go. The plan came up about a gallon short so eager to go still had to drive about 4 miles to buy gas at the most expensive place around, that day $2.49 a gallon. Getting in a bad mood about that turned out to be completely silly because that may be the cheapest gas I may ever get again. Getting impatient to get started, decided to take the back road back to Zuehl to save a couple of minutes. Missed a turn and spent about a half hour going up various dead ends trying to find the way back to Zuehl. Getting lost trying to find the airport is not a big confidence builder for a takeoff in marginal VFR to find Florida.
Started the route on the GPS (See last Oshkosh post) and departed Zuehl about 11:30 in some acceptable, but gloomy looking weather. About 30 minutes into the flight started getting a few rain spots on the windshield, but still has a good clean horizon ahead, so we pressed on. Really don’t like this type of flying, not because its unsafe, but as a fly for fun type, we usually stay home when the weather is not looking fun. But that would not be realistic for one determined on staying on the plan for a cross country. Force myself to go out on weather challenged days especially to practice crosswind landings, you never know what is coming once far from home. It really paid of because this trip could set a record for gusty near the limit crosswind conditions.
Developed new navigation techniques using my first moving map GPS during last summer’s Oshkosh trip. Like Linus’ security blanket, feel naked without my old fashioned Sectional Chart, red ink course line, and my finger on my current position. What’s different is that now the GPS and its much more detailed map keeps my finger on the right spot on the map. If the GPS quits at a bad moment my finger is pointing, “You are here”. This also helps keep alive another near lost skill, re-folding and/or switching maps without doing unintentional aerobatics. At each stop the maps go inside to the planning table for review of what’s ahead and then we try to find the best way to pre-fold the maps for the next leg. This has become kind of a ritualistic behavior Sectional Origami along with the soda pop and a couple of hands full of trail mix.
Approaching the Livingston, Texas saw an opportunity to cut the corner on the dog leg and save a little time. It would take me over some thick forest, but now the Chicken Pilot had been replaced by an experienced aviator. The 1835 hasn’t missed a beat since the 50 hour inspection’s bad spark plug incident so we put in a new set just before leaving. We now fly unafraid. Off the pan we go a just a little for efficiency’s sake. A few minutes later saw a giant antenna sticking into the 1000’ ceiling we were flying under about 2 miles off my right wing. Was it on the Sectional Chart? Yes. Was it on the GPS screen? Barely on the edge because it was zoomed in too close. Might have seen it coming straight on if we were actually paying enough attention to the GPS, but instead first saw it as it was passing by the wing tip. The antenna was not noted during planning since it was 10 miles from the planned course, but right now were not on the plan. Promised myself to stay on the plan for the rest of the trip, but this would be a really hard promise to keep.
After about 4 hours in any airplane it feels real good to be approaching your destination. About 10 miles out got a response from St. Landry’s Unicom frequency, and they said that runway 18 was the active. It was mid afternoon and a gusty wind was going strong, but it was right down the runway. Along with the new canopy came a tendency to float at the previous landing speed. Since this was only the fourth landing since the upgrade it was a little awkward. In those last seconds of float I have been assigned a random gust to upset the landing attitude. Fortunately the BK1 tail dragger likes to roll straight once all the wheels are finally all on the ground at the same time. As we rolled out Unicom called, “8BK, we do not have any fuel on the field at this time”. My first though was, “Why in the heck didn’t you mention this insignificant little fact before my beautiful landing?” That promise about sticking to the plan just got blown away. Well, my bladder was not going to allow for any immediate departure, so we pulled up to the terminal and shut down. They quickly come to check look at the plane, BK builders, get used to it. My intense desire to read them the riot act melted away as they look over the plane with those wide eyes and start asking the questions. The plan is that there is about an hour’s fuel left in the plane at each planned gas stop. Ask where the next stop going east is and they said False River about 40 miles down the road. Peeked into the tank, just to be sure, set the GPS to False River, and then departed. False River has a nice airport, so pulled up to the pump, and put in 13.25 gallons. Proudly began to think, “Not bad for 416 miles with no tailwind help”, but then I saw the total on the pump, $48, and had to steady myself. Staggered inside to get a soft drink and fold the maps. Nice people there, they gave me the choice of a hat or koozie. Know they don’t set the price, but for $3.68 a gallon its nice to have something to show for it.
Now things are really looking good. Tri-County airport just 346 miles down the road, the weather is steadily improving as we go east, got lots of gas, and lots of daylight. About half way through the leg we were approaching the big swamp north of Mobile, Alabama. Looked at the GPS and saw about 150 miles left to go, the air was getting smoother well past the heat of the day. Remember thinking, “This is such a nice relaxing way to travel, just listen to that engine purr”.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMduhMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMduhMMMMMMduhDUHmmmmmmDUHDUHDUHDUHDUHDUH……
Thank, Bruce King