Sorry about that!

I did get to go camping at Critter’s Lodge. It was a great weekend and there were around 75 airplanes there. Lots of classics and homebuilts. The food was good and I met a lot of great people. I parked my airplane in a cleared area just off the runway and set up my tent. I did not have to do any cooking this time around as all of the meals were provided. Just over my right wing you can see the wings of another Kitfox. The only other one in attendance flown in Pete.

Here is a better picture of Pete’s plane. This is on Sunday and he is just getting ready to leave. The aircraft next to his is a two seat biplane. Also a homebuilt. What is unusual about it is that the two seats are side by side and the cockpit is open.

The weather was pretty awful right up until Friday morning. The event was almost canceled. Since the weather cleared later in the day further east, some people arrived pretty late. The runway has lights and this Cessna 150 landed at dusk. That night some more storms formed and it poured. I was high and dry in my tent and I was able to accurately determine where my airplane will leak when parked in the rain. Good to know.

Here I am just before leaving on Sunday morning. Everything is packed and ready to go. All of my camping gear functioned well and I was able to carry all of it easily. Most of it fit in the baggage compartment and a few items, along with my clothes and personal item fit in a medium sized pack that I belted into the passenger seat beside me. When I head off later in the summer to camp I will probably attach the cargo pod and use it for the camping equipment. That will give me space for food and water and more than a weekend worth of clothes and I might even need some warmer clothes up north.

The next weekend I flew to Scot’s ranch for his fish fry and by the end of the next week I almost had my 40 hours complete. For the last few flights I loaded lead shot back into a backpack strapped into the passenger seat and increased the weight up to the maximum in increments. After each increase I flew the airplane to determine takeoff, landing and stall characteristics. There were no issues but she really is more fun to fly at lighter weights. After all of that was done I had flown 42 hours and I signed her out of “Phase I” testing.

I could now carry passengers and leave the 50 mile radius test area. I could also fly into Class Delta airspace so my first flight was over to CLL to show her off to one of the air traffic controllers who works the tower there. He was on duty alone so he could not come down to take a close look but I went up and talked to him. The it was back to Coulter where I gave my first ride. I took Dave up which I think was really appropriate as he and Stephen gave me so much help in the final push to get Niner-Zero complete. Stephen has already informed me that he’ll consider a ride after I have about 200 hours on her!

The next weekend I flew up to Denton, TX to have my transponder certified and I also had my prop and engine dynamically balanced. Much smoother running now. I spent the night with my younger daughter and the next day I flew her back to Coulter with me. The two hour flight was much more fun than the five hour drive on the interstate. We both really enjoyed the trip together. I have been working on N90HS since she was in second grade (I think that’s right). Now she is a grade school teacher!

So, now I’m ready. Tomorrow is the day. I am heading out on my first big trip. I am heading to the east coast, a distance of about 1200 miles, to visit family. Yesterday I changed the oil, completed a few minor maintenance items and then took a short post maintenance test flight. Then I gave her a well deserved bath, she is going home to meet the family after all. I filled the fuel tanks and put her away. All ready to go!

The weather looks perfect and I hope to get airborne before the sun rises. I should have a slight tailwind and cool smooth air at five to seven thousand feet. It doesn’t get much better than that. I am planning on taking two days to complete the trip. Finally, after all these years! Stay tuned!