In January, if you have a chance to fly, you take it. It was a nice day to do a little local flying along the shoreline of SW Lake Michigan. This picture is above Tiscornia Beach off of Ridgeway Drive in Saint Joseph, MI. I always wonder how many of these home owners wish they might not have built their mansions so close to the high water mark.
January 1, 2017. Seemed like a nice day to fly – until you were up in the air. It was very hazy with multiple smog layers. There were a good number of fair weather VFR fliers up today, and even saw an ultralight. Air temperature was in the mid 30’s (on the ground) with only a 7 knot SW wind. Checked all the local lakes and noted most had some degree of ice coverage but one of the sister lakes had no visible ice accumulation.
September 13 – Tuesday: Finally got the new battery for the Clown plane, and just had to get some engine time. Flew to the Michigan City airport (MGC), who happened to have cheaper gas than anywhere local, so I filled up there, and since I was there I went ahead and checked out the day’s jumping. Met a couple of newly certified jumpers, and had to get some air time myself.
Once you’re off the step, there is NO going back.
At 4000ft, it’ time to throw out your pilot chute.
CHECK: Is it there, is it square, and is it controllable?
Since the weather was gorgeous and the wind just right for flying or jumping, flew up to the airport in Michigan City Indiana (KMGC) to see what was going on. DId a two way with Joy and then headed back to Benton Harbor. Left just in time … the weather closed in at MGC and here’s a picture of a micro burst rain storm I skirted on the way home.
A nice day for a quick flight north toward South Haven. As the pictures show it was a great summer day with lots of water activity and not much parking space left for beach goers.
August 18, 2016: Major fun activity today was to change out the Clown Plane engine oil so took her up for about 15 minutes to get things circulated and warm then landed and changed out the oil. After the change out verified everything was squared away and tight, went backup for another 15 minute flight and a few touch an go’s.
August 10, 2016: This cross country flight from my airport in Benton Harbor (KBEH) Michigan, was a little different than normal. I flew over to Philips Field (KMGC) in Michigan City Indiana to rendezvous with my flight buddy who was flying to Rochelle Municipal airport (KRPJ) in Illinois to attend a luncheon. This was our first time flying a long distance together, him in his Piper J-3 Cub and me in the Clown plane which is a Cessna 150c. Generally he is flying a Piper Warrior and the one having to fly slower to stay with me. Today though “We” were “cruising” at 80 mph ALL THE WAY THERE and BACK…. It was exhausting but fun, sort of, and I did save a lot of avigas because of it. Flying that slow enabled me to take some nice shots of Thornton Quarry as we passed over it on the way home.
Mr. Dave in his J-3 Cub over Illinois
July 25, 2016: Had a great visit to the “2016 AirVenture Air Show and Expo”held at the Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Just a couple of photos to get the feel of the trip.
EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)
Water drop demonstration
