No, we didn't land the Bonanza on the rather short runway shown at right, but we did have the opporunity to walk around the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). The occasion was the newly-built ship's "homeporting" ceremony in Coronado, California, attended by Michael & Colleen Reagan, Nancy Reagan, and several other dignitaries (below). Described as "4-1/2 acres of sovereign US territory wherever she goes," the Reagan is the US Navy's largest and most advanced nuclear-powered carrier. The visit to San Diego was also a chance to visit with old friends in the area. From San Diego we departed IFR through the morning overcast for toasty and humid Arizona, for a visit with the kids. Click here for slideshow.
I checked the forecasts for another trip to Arizona, our eighth trip to the southwest U.S. this year. The winds aloft at our usual cruising altitude of 11,500 were forecast to be excellent, but even better if we were to go higher. So it was time to make use of the Bonanza's oxygen bottle. Taking the shortest route, through eastern Nevada and southwest Utah, at 15,500 feet, groundspeeds were up to 185 knots (213 mph), and provided spectacular vistas of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks (right) and the Grand Canyon. On descent into the Phoenix area the groundspeed exceeded 200 knots (230 mph). Tach time for the southbound trip, including the fuel stop at Elko, was 5.9 hours.
The "official" reason for the trip was a niece's wedding in Kansas City, but it was an adequate excuse for a 22-hour, fifteen-state aerial exploration of the western US over an extended Labor Day weekend.
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At the end of September 2005, my dad suffered a ruptured thoracic aneurysm, and was given little chance of surviving the night. But with his characteristic strength, determination and good humor, he did pull through, though complications cost him his lower left leg. It was with tremendous gratitude we flew to Grants Pass to visit him and Delia, and to see him walk out to the airplane to greet us! Our sister-in-law Cathy Murphy (left) joined us on this trip.
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North Plains Gliderport, OR
16 Aug 2007 / N4208M / Piper PA-12 / Pearson
Maybe it's mid-life crisis, but this summer I wanted to try different kinds of flying. I took a ride in the sleek Lark sailplane at the Willamette Valley Soaring Club, then a few weeks later got some tailwheel time courtesy of Andrew Cleveland in his classic PA-12. Hmm -- this could be habit-forming!
On my way to business appointments in the central California coast area I seized the opportunity to make a side trip to San Diego. There I visited with George S. Alfieris, a dear friend and my mentor in the legal profession. George has been very ill in recent years. The legal profession, especially the personal injury bar, have come under criticism by politicians, news media and the public at large. Some criticism of the profession has been justifiable; most of it, though, has not. But in his 30+ years of practice George exemplified how one lawyer, in a small office in the suburbs, can single-handedly make the world a better place. Had more people known his story, public perception of lawyers might have been different. Click here for slideshow.
Rising fuel costs and less frequent use of our Arizona condominium prompted us to consider a change in our flying habits. At this stage in our lives the notion of a simpler, low-and-slow type of aircraft had appeal, and we began to investigate purchasing a light sport airplane. We flew the Bonanza to Yakima for the Fall Open House held by Cub Crafters, manufacturer of the new Sport Cub light sport aircraft. Cub Crafters personnel drove us out to a private grass airstrip outside of Yakima where the Open House was being held. There we had the chance to take a test flight in a new Sport Cub (upper right) and meet several current Sport Cub owners. On return to Yakima we were given a tour of the factory, and quickly the decision was made: we put down a deposit on our own new Sport Cub. At that moment the Bonanza was on the market for sale. Click here for slideshow.
Our new Sport Cub was nearing completion, and I'd had no formal tailwheel training since the Nixon Administration. So I went to Yakima to fly with instructor Brian Thompson in Sport Cub s/n 1 for my baptism by tailwheel. We landed on icy paved runways, grass airstrips and Greg Babcock's hillside ranch runway (lower right). Greg and his wife wheeled out their Super Cub and flew in loose formation with Brian and me to Prosser, Washington, for lunch (lower left). This was fun, confidence- building flying. Click here for slideshow.
While in Yakima we completed the paperwork for the purchase of our new Sport Cub. The sun broke through over the snowy Yakima Airport just long enough for me to take N121PS up for the first time.
New Year's Eve symbolizes transition, and this December 31 marked a major change in our flying lives. The day was forecast to be clear, but instead thick fog stubbornly refused to dissipate. CubCrafters' Clay Hammond flew N121PS from Yakima on its delivery flight to Pearson, but had to land at Goheen's Airport 15 miles away to wait for Pearson to go VFR. A short-lived break in the fog finally appeared, and Clay brought N121PS to its new home. A few minutes later our lovely Bonanza took off from Pearson with its new owner at the controls. Click here for slideshow.
It was a cold, wet winter and spring. With a new airplane in the hangar we were anxious for good weather. We finally had a chance to get out and exercise the Sport Cub on Saturday, April 12. We fired up the Cub and headed north. Enroute we saw the gray volcanic ash still lining the Toutle River from the eruption of Mt. St. Helens 28 years ago. We landed for lunch at Elma, Washington. The cafe doesn't look like much on the outside, but the food is good and it's worth a stop. From Elma we headed west for fuel at Hoquiam WA, then proceeded south along the coast, over cranberry bogs, resorts and palatial beach homes. We passed at 1,000 AGL over a few kites flying on the beach at Long Beach WA, where kites of all description will fill the sky when summer comes. We turned the corner at the North Head Lighthouse at the mouth of the Columbia River, and followed the river back home to KVUO. It was Cheryl's first "long" trip in the Cub. It was slow, noisy and drafty, but when we got back to Pearson she told me it was the single most fun flight she's had in 35 years of flying with me. Click here for slideshow.
