pdx.rollingthunder
Mt Hood and town of Hood River
With short notice, today provided a short and unexpected window of opportunity where the chance elements of weather, my work schedule, my parenting schedule, and aircraft availability all magically lined up.
At the last minute, I texted a friend, who had the day off who had expressed interest in flying with me. She's new to Oregon, and didn't know if she'd seen the Columbia Gorge before.
And what a treat. Large areas that still fall under the shadow of the cascades had plenty of snow left.
After a right downwind departure from KTTD, I flew eastward into the Gorge. With the help of air traffic controllers, I avoided no less than three helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft also taking advantage of the temporary break in the weather.
Passing Vista House (aka Crown Point) where the turbulence is usually moderate to extreme, I found the winds calm. Where I'd normally climb to 3,000 ft to get into smoother air, it was just fine at 1,500 ft, which is far better for aerial photography.
Past Cascade Locks, over the town of Hood River and into the draw where the bulk of the town sits, then continuing east to the leeward side of the Cascades, the terrain goes from lush forest to desert as you approach the town of The Dalles.
I had planned to land at The Dalles (an uncontrollled airport) and grab some coffee, and I cut across a bend in the river to overfly the town as I cut the throttle and began a descent.
I self-announced "The Dalles traffic, Skyhawk Two Mike Romeo is 5 miles west, entering the 45 for a left downwind for runway three one. The Dalles."
No answer. Quiet day this far east.
Entering the pattern from 45 degrees into the downwind leg, now parallel to the runway off to my left, it looked like the runway was covered in ice. Hmm.
I keyed the mic, "The Dalles traffic, Skyhawk Two Mike Romeo on left downwind for runway three one. The Dalles." Nobody else on the radio.
I eyed the windsock. Nothing. Automated weather had broadcast winds at 4 knots, straight down the runway. Not remotely a concern, but I'm not liking what still looks like ice.
Abeam the end of approach end of runway 31, I drop down to 1500 RPM, roll back one full wheel of trim, and let my airspeed drop until I can put in 10 degrees of flaps, still eye-balling the runway, now behind my left shoulder.
I descend 200 ft, and make a 90 degree turn to my left, putting in 20 degrees or flaps, and again, self-announce "The Dalles, Two Mike Romeo on left base for three one."
Drop another 300 ft, make another 90 degree turn, and now 500 ft above the runway and nicely lined up, "The Dalles, Two Mike Romeo on final for three one...uhhh... this will be a low approach".
This means I'm not actually going to land. I can't tell if the runway is wet, or if it's a block of ice. I know the temperature is above freezing, but I don't really need that coffee.
I descend until I'm 50 ft above the runway, the fly down the centerline, close the carburetor heat, add power, and slowly raise my flaps until I'm past the runway and have plenty of speed, climbing up and away.
Aside from a few pockets of mild turbulence, we fly at a slow and leisurely 2000 ft all the way back until I'm 10 miles east of KTTD.
I contact air traffic control, and I'm advised to make a straight-in arrival and call them back when I'm 2 miles out.
No pattern this time. I pass Crown Point at 1000 ft, wave to the crowds of tourists that aren't there, and fly my approach down to a nice smooth landing just an hour before the overcast and visibility start to drop.
Not a bad day!
Mt Hood and town of Hood River
With short notice, today provided a short and unexpected window of opportunity where the chance elements of weather, my work schedule, my parenting schedule, and aircraft availability all magically lined up.
At the last minute, I texted a friend, who had the day off who had expressed interest in flying with me. She's new to Oregon, and didn't know if she'd seen the Columbia Gorge before.
And what a treat. Large areas that still fall under the shadow of the cascades had plenty of snow left.
After a right downwind departure from KTTD, I flew eastward into the Gorge. With the help of air traffic controllers, I avoided no less than three helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft also taking advantage of the temporary break in the weather.
Passing Vista House (aka Crown Point) where the turbulence is usually moderate to extreme, I found the winds calm. Where I'd normally climb to 3,000 ft to get into smoother air, it was just fine at 1,500 ft, which is far better for aerial photography.
Past Cascade Locks, over the town of Hood River and into the draw where the bulk of the town sits, then continuing east to the leeward side of the Cascades, the terrain goes from lush forest to desert as you approach the town of The Dalles.
I had planned to land at The Dalles (an uncontrollled airport) and grab some coffee, and I cut across a bend in the river to overfly the town as I cut the throttle and began a descent.
I self-announced "The Dalles traffic, Skyhawk Two Mike Romeo is 5 miles west, entering the 45 for a left downwind for runway three one. The Dalles."
No answer. Quiet day this far east.
Entering the pattern from 45 degrees into the downwind leg, now parallel to the runway off to my left, it looked like the runway was covered in ice. Hmm.
I keyed the mic, "The Dalles traffic, Skyhawk Two Mike Romeo on left downwind for runway three one. The Dalles." Nobody else on the radio.
I eyed the windsock. Nothing. Automated weather had broadcast winds at 4 knots, straight down the runway. Not remotely a concern, but I'm not liking what still looks like ice.
Abeam the end of approach end of runway 31, I drop down to 1500 RPM, roll back one full wheel of trim, and let my airspeed drop until I can put in 10 degrees of flaps, still eye-balling the runway, now behind my left shoulder.
I descend 200 ft, and make a 90 degree turn to my left, putting in 20 degrees or flaps, and again, self-announce "The Dalles, Two Mike Romeo on left base for three one."
Drop another 300 ft, make another 90 degree turn, and now 500 ft above the runway and nicely lined up, "The Dalles, Two Mike Romeo on final for three one...uhhh... this will be a low approach".
This means I'm not actually going to land. I can't tell if the runway is wet, or if it's a block of ice. I know the temperature is above freezing, but I don't really need that coffee.
I descend until I'm 50 ft above the runway, the fly down the centerline, close the carburetor heat, add power, and slowly raise my flaps until I'm past the runway and have plenty of speed, climbing up and away.
Aside from a few pockets of mild turbulence, we fly at a slow and leisurely 2000 ft all the way back until I'm 10 miles east of KTTD.
I contact air traffic control, and I'm advised to make a straight-in arrival and call them back when I'm 2 miles out.
No pattern this time. I pass Crown Point at 1000 ft, wave to the crowds of tourists that aren't there, and fly my approach down to a nice smooth landing just an hour before the overcast and visibility start to drop.
Not a bad day!