BK1 Sun-N-Fun 2006 – One Way in One Day

Departure morning was perfect, checked the weather and it looked good to go for the entire approximately 1100 mile trip from Lakeland to San Antonio. Was eager to get started. Packed up the BK Fliers condo and shoehorned all the stuff back into the backpack. Took home two things that I didn’t bring. One a set of spark plugs, just in case. The other thing is a new ELT. Would have to make a good landing and activate it manually, but knowing it is back there is like having my security blanket along.

Started up and set the destination to Tri-County airport the first of two planned stops to get home today. The easy part, taxi up to the runway intersection and let the red shirts wave me off, or at least it should have worked that way. No one was ahead of me this early, so stopped, looked at the red shirt, pointed at the runway. He waved me forward then pointed across at the taxi way on the other side. This seemed strange, but maybe they were using the runway across the field more into the wind. So eager to go taxied by the red shirt and proceeded along expecting to see another red shirt to guide us along. A long way later we were on the main ramp on the other side of the field looking at the commuter jets parked around main terminal with the tower on top of it. No red shirts in site. Looked around and felt really out of place. Called the Sun-N-Fun frequency, but there was no answer or anyone else talking. Took out the map, tuned in Linder ground control frequency, and got nothing there either. The antenna on my panel mounted Icom hand held is on the bottom where it works great in the air, but not always so good on the ground. Changed to the whip antenna, but still no communication with anyone. Bet the guys in the tower were looking at me and talking about how glad they would be when all these amateurs go away and let them have their airport back. Getting into this homebuilt aviation thing in my 50s has put me to so many new and different experiences, now lost at Linder, but we needed to get on the road. Looked left, looked right, turned around and taxied back. Saw the red shirt up ahead waving a line of planed on to the runway. Still trying to figure out just how I ended up over here, approaching the red shirts from behind, and hoping they would hear my little VW over the roar of the line of planes over on the other side. Stopped, gunned to get their attention, then pointed up. It worked, he waved me off and we were finally on our way after getting the 50 cent tour of the other side of the airport.

Departing on a cross country is so exciting, all the planning and anticipation are over, you grab a handful of throttle and go. This time the GPS is set, we fly runway heading for a couple of miles then turn onto course. The morning was so clear and the air so smooth, so decided to get a nice air shot of the field after making the turn. Got the camera ready, made the turn and took the shot. The picture is on the web site, great shot, no one has noticed that was taken from east of the airport looking over the right wing. Take a minute to think about that, before I tell you. Give up, well, the only way to get that picture is to be heading south, not exactly how you get back to Texas from Florida. Won’t admit exactly how long it took to figure it out, but the GPS got a couple of thumps because the course arrow was pointing backwards and the miles to the destination were counting up. Ok, let’s go home now, make a 180 and stop heading for the Keys.

The air was so smooth, the GPS working so perfectly, the IFR path through the swamp all figured out, it doesn’t get better than this, at least for the first hour and a half. The wind began to pick up from the northeast and it started to get turbulent, not that hot day bumpy stuff, no it was the runaway roller coaster stuff. Nearing Tri-County, about 11:30, the roller coaster started to get really going. About 50 miles out we encountered the mother of all air pockets and discovered a disadvantage of having three more inches of headroom under the new canopy. The extra distance allows your head to achieve a higher vertical velocity before contacting the plexiglass. Ouch, that hurts. Maybe was helping it a bit too much by flying in the rough turbulence at max cruise, so for now we are going to slow down about 10 mph and save the noggin. Tightened the belts a bit, but they are designed to stop you from going forward better that up. Stopped at Tri-County just long enough to get gas and a handful of trail mix. Looking west saw nothing but clear skies, great for VFR, not so great for getting a smooth ride on a rapidly warming day.

Next leg was to Allen Parish, Louisiana and it looked like a bumpy ride ahead. About an hour and a half later approaching Wiggins, Mississippi, it was hot, rough, and the thought of another trail mix lunch became real unappetizing. Wanted to do the two stop trip but, isn’t this supposed to be fun? Landed just a group of helicopter paramedics were about to go get some burgers. How about that? Waiting for them to come back took a look around and found the Cherokee 140 seen on the 2003 trip that had been sitting there for 17 years. Katrina took care of it along with most of the T-Hangers. Not a pretty site, wish I could have done something to save it. After getting burgered up, felt ready to finish the middle leg to Allen Parish. Stopped there only long enough for fuel and a bottle of water. Its amazing how being in range of home fuels ones enthusiasm to get going.

There was time for just one move little adventure in this trip. Over the vast pine forest near Livingston was using the lake and the GPS to refine my finger position on the sectional chart. A little message popped up on the GPS screen “Battery Low”. What? Have been running on cigarette lighter cord the whole trip, so what gives? Punched up the power status screen and saw an empty indicator. Wiggled the cord and saw the external power indicator flicker but not stay on unless held just right. So hold the wire with one hand, the stick with the other, and punch the buttons with my nose. Being a good ex-Boy Scout, you know, “Be prepared”, had the old Magellan GPS in reach and some extra batteries. In a couple of minutes the new batteries were installed. Must be some sort of time warp when a GPS is trying to find itself while flying over a vast ocean of tall trees. Seemed to take forever, especially since I had to take my finger off the map to change the batteries about 5 minutes ago. Just as the first stages of panic started to set in, the most beautiful two words in the English language appeared, “Position acquired!” Would of given it a long juicy kiss, but the moisture might have messed it up. Getting way, way,way too dependent on that little plastic box.

The last hour of the trip was a dream with the afternoon air smooth and the visibility outstanding. Could see fields of bluebonnets everywhere, Wisconsin has nothing on this. For some reason the engine now develops an RPM instability problem. Every time I look it has crept up 200-300 RPM, magically. Know that its caused by get home-itis, no matter how much fun the trip is, its always great to get home again. That is until its time to leave for another fly-in.

Sun-N-Fun 2006 was great, think that this is my favorite fly-in, big enough to have all the major features, small enough to feel like home.

Thank, Bruce King

www.bkfliers.com

bruce@bkfliers.com