Air Travels

Today’s travels involved flying from Benton Harbor, MI (KBEH) to Michigan City Indiana (MGC) then switching planes before flying to Lansing Illinois (IGQ) to pick up a passenger. Then it was back to Michigan City to drop off the passenger and for me to gas up the Clown Plane before going back to Benton Harbor.

As you can see by the picture’s I was checking out the major beaches along the lake shore while on the way to Michigan City.

Once at MGC, I taxied over to Mr. Dave’s and parked in the grass lot across from his hanger. From there I walked over to the DZ (drop zone) to check on the status of the required repack of my reserve parachute, and captured cameo shots of the tandem jumpers having a blast of adrenaline at “Windy City Skydiving”. After that I checked in with my aircraft mechanic friend Gary about adding a bit of brake fluid to my starboard brake, and then went to find my pilot buddy Dave. I found him and a bunch of other people in the Fixed Base Operator building (FBO) hanger flying which means everyone there was talking about flying.

Dave was getting ready to take a friend from work on his first flight in a light aircraft. Dave’s friend was there with his kids who were participating in the Young Eagles program and waiting their turn to fly with a “Young Eagles” pilot. The Young Eagles program was created by the US Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and designed to give children between the ages of 8 to 17 an opportunity to experience flight in a general aviation airplane while educating them about aviation. The program is offered free of charge with costs covered by the volunteers. It’s generally a full house when these are offered.

When Dave completed his friend’s orientation flight, we refueled his plane an then we were off to Lansing, Il. Dave had just recently updated his avionic and we spent the flight testing out his new wings leveling system and auto pilot. I think I want an upgrade too!

As anyone who reads my posts know, it seems as if I do not go any place without my camera and true to form, I was snapping pictures along the way to and from Lansing.

After we returned to MGC we refueled the Clown Plane but instead of using standard 100LL Avgas I fueled up with Swift Fuels Unleaded UL-94 Avgas. It’s supposed to be better for the engine, keeps the spark plugs from fouling and is less expensive than the 100LL. Swift Fuels’ Unleaded UL94 Avgas is made of the same base hydrocarbon components as 100LL but without the addition of tetraethyl lead which the FAA, EPA and industry are partnering to remove from avgas.

It was Blue skies all day which was nice but the calm air in the morning gave way to being very bumpy and turbulent in the afternoon due to the sun heating up the surrounding area. When I initially flew to Michigan City the wind was calm but by the time, I left in the late afternoon going back to Benton Harbor it was gusting 16 knots and still very bumpy. Bumpy that is until I got away from the land by flying a half mile offshore over lake Michigan and following the shoreline home. No bumps over the lake.

All in all, a great day of flying and picture taking. Don’t you just love summer 😊