The Oshkosh Adventure Begins...

July 20th 2012, dark-o'clock... I'm woken from a light sleep as the alarm goes off. Time to get up. The Bonanza is already packed, all that is required is coffee, a snack and the presence of mind to pre-flight and take off.

Well, that is the first step anyway. I'm taking it one step at a time!

You need to read my post on Preparing for Oshkosh to really understand why this morning seems so easy and organized. (Actually, that post is yet to be published.)
It has been a journey, even to this point. And a steep (but healthy) learning curve for me.

Our flight today is 2 legs. Longmont (KLMO) to Tekamah (KTQE) NE for a fuel stop, then on to Rockford (KRFD) IL for the night.

As I was saying... Coffee drunk, snacks and drinks packed into cooler, last chance to pee... Then we were on our way.

Wheels were up about 6:20am. I was PIC but being that this was an IFR flight plan and I still had much to learn, Mark was responsible for most of the communications after take off.

LMO to TQE was smooth at 9,000 feet and we had a slight tail wind. Ground speed? Oh, about 180mph., Our flight plan was cleared as requested and we seemed to be alone up there for the most part.

Did I mention we had our friends GoPro and Spot, along for the ride too?

It was easy flying and the weather was cooperative - if not darn hot. We dined on candied apricot scones and Vitamin Water, then found ourselves landing uneventfully at Tekamah, approximately 3 hours later.

It was a short stop. Just enough time for closing a flight plan, getting a weather briefing for the next flight, to Rockford and refueling. Then we were off again.

Heading to Rockford, we flew at 7,000 feet. The airspace was a tad busier and we overhead several interesting communications. This is my favorite:

Controller to another airplane in the area: "NXXX, you have VFR traffic at 5 miles, 1 o'clock, heading your way, altitude unknown."
Pilot: "Roger, will keep an eye out for the traffic"
A minute or two later...
Controller to Pilot: "NXXX, that traffic is no longer observable"
Pilot: "Roger. Traffic no factor."

My thought? Yikes!!! Not observable is NOT the same is no factor!

Not far from Rockford we were cleared to descend from 7,000 to 2,700 feet. We were now apparently following another Bonanza in for landing on Runway 7. I couldn't see the other airplane. The scattered clouds, more pronounced here than along the rest of the route, caused some mild turbulence and the humidity of the area reduced the visibility. We were definitely not in Colorado anymore!

It was easy to see we had come to the the right place. Taxiing to the ramp for tie down, we found ourselves parked among a swarm of V-tail Bonanzas. In fact, parking was a well orchestrated event, whereby the ramp staff identified our tail number and put us exactly where we needed to be for our 3-element departure and formation flight to Oshkosh, tomorrow. Nice!

After tie down, getting our overnight bags out and covering up N303B, we headed to Emery Air for registration and "meet and greet". It was nice to see familiar Pagosa Springs formation flying clinic, faces again. :-)

Yes, I was exhausted. I had flown 5.5 hours today. The journey from Colorado, via Nebraska and Iowa, into Illinois took just under 6.5 hours total. I had just enough energy left in me, to gobble down the tasty feast that Bonanzas to Oshkoh (B2OSH.org) provided for dinner, and check into the hotel, before I crashed.

I'm not entirely sure when the last time I had 9 hours unbroken sleep was. Or when last I was asleep by 8:30pm. It felt good though!

Where in the World is the Flying Realtor?

Normally this is where you would expect to find an update on my flying life.  And you will again.  But today, I'm somewhere between Colorado and Wisconsin.

On Friday the 20th, I leave Longmont.  I am anticipating we will fly straight and level across Nebraska and Iowa and arrive safely in Rockford Illinois.  Rockford Airport (KRFD) is the meeting place for the Bonanzas To Oshkosh group.  The place from which 120 or so Bonanzas will depart, in formation on the 21st.

We will arrive at Oshkosh, landing 3 abreast, 15 seconds apart and proceed to set up camp together.

Im not entirely sure what the wifi situation will be like at Oshkosh, WI.  All I can say is, it is unlikely I will be spending gobs of time blogging when I'm sleeping under an airplane wing, walking and talking aviation with a million flying-enthusiast peeps and taking in the sights and sound of the biggest airshow in the U.S.  Priorities!

However, it is pretty much guaranteed I will have plenty of stories and photos to share very soon and you are at the right place to see them first.  :-)

In the meantime, check this out...
I am honored to say that www.b2osh.org has linked to my blog posts about the formation flying clinic that Mark and I completed in June, in preparation for this event!  Scroll down to Photo Albums, in the blue box on the left side of the home page and select 2012 to click through.

Formation Flying Clinic - SUNDAY @ DURANGO

The 9 airplane formation flight plan:

The runway at Pagosa Springs airport was wide enough for a 2 ship element takeoff, so 4 pairs took off, 15 seconds apart.  They flew a loose formation to Durango... about 20 minutes away.

In the 9th aircraft, a very speedy Glasair, was me!  We were "the tail".
Giving the others a 1 minute head-start, we took of and caught up.  Staying about a half mile left of the formation we maneuvered so I could take photos and we could critique the formation.   ;-)

In summary:
I do fine with G-force, but don't have the arm strength to lift the camera to my eye or the window during such intense maneuvers!  I loved the thrill of the fast and maneuverable Glasair.  We got a fabulous view of the flight, often able to see all 8, but the day was hazy - no thanks to that wildfire which was still burning.

The pictures are never quite as good with haze, distance and speed working against me... but you get the idea, right?

The flight to Durango ended with formation taxi to the ramp...

We debriefed the flight on the ground, and in short order, were lined up on the wide Durango Airport runway (KDRO) for the much anticipated, 3-ship element take-off.  I took up co-pilot position in the Lead aircraft.  A Beech 36.


Instead of all returning to Pagosa Springs, individual pilots were cleared to leave the formation one at a time.  As they peeled away, we said silent goodbyes to our new friends, wishing them a safe and pleasant homeward bound flight.

Once back at Pagosa Springs, it was time for me to help load up the N303B and for Mark and I to make haste to Longmont.  It was already hot and we knew a turbulent flight across the mountains lay ahead...
We were not wrong!

Yep... It was an exhausted PIC that landed at Longmont just 1.8 hours later.  I was done!

Formation Flying Clinic - SATURDAY FLIGHT 3

The last flight of the day. 

Already the sun was beating down and the thermals working themselves up.

I flew right seat in N303B in order to take Mooney pics.  :-)

Every pilot here deserved photos of this fab weekend... but I'm just one girl with a camera and I was starting to hear my back complain.  Two days of twisting and turning for the perfect angle and best shot, often with turbulence, was taking its toll.

 The day had started so early and I was tired!  Thank goodness another one our delicious Pagosa Formation Flying Clinic lunches was pretty much the only thing left on this afternoons agenda.

(I was not the only one who perked up at the sound of the word "nap".)

The group debriefed the mornings flights, each sharing what they had learned.  We discussed the plan for dinner and tomorrows plan for a 9 ship formation flight to Durango.  Then we convened for that much deserved afternoon rest.

Yes... as the sun set later that evening, I watched the sky change color and the stars appear, once again from the Hot Springs!

Formation Flying Clinic - SATURDAY FLIGHT 2

Upon entering the FBO conference room after Flight #1, I was met by David and Bret, who had just flown together.  David asked if I would consider taking pics of the aircraft he was flying and I told him if his wingman (Bret) would take me up, I would be honored.

About 10 minutes later, I was right seat in Bret's Mooney!

Bret and David had done some flying together already this weekend and they were very comfortable, very close.  We flew the briefed maneuvers then they coordinated flight to best angle the light and get David into a good position for photos.

Can you believe I actually had to ask David to fly further out from Bret?  The problem with the aircraft being so close, is that I was having trouble capturing him, without also including the wing or elevator of the Mooney.

I am still amazed at the level of skill all the pilots at this Formation Clinic have shown.  The rate they developed formation skills and comfort over the course of just a few days, is enviable.  Never at any time did I feel that Bret or David broke concentration from the task at hand or endangered anyone... And I was pleased at the pictures I was able to take.

Actually I have a very cool set of pics from a high speed continuous shoot that occurred as Bret dropped from one side of David (now the lead) and popped up the other side.  I'm no expert, but believe the maneuver was completed near textbook perfect.

We landed as a two ship element and taxied back.

There was time for one more flight today before the heat and wind made it impossible.  I promised Bret that the next flight, I would photograph the Mooney.

Formation Flying Clinic SATURDAY FLIGHT 1

Oh my!  Day 2 of getting up early!

We arrived at the Pagosa Springs Airport at 5:30am.  While I sat in the warm car, looking like I had dragged  my sleep deprived self out of bed too early, Mark pre-flighted 303B for the first of three flights today.

As it turned out, our briefing time had been moved out to 7am and because of a "message mix up" at the hotel, we were an hour early.  Yay, us!  There was now time to nip into town and find coffee and breakfast.

At 7am, we met with Tom.  He was flying his Comanche and was paired with the Bonanza for formation practice.  Tom graciously allowed me to fly with him, affording me the opportunity to take photos of Mark, flying N303B.

Bonanza & Comanche element takeoff

It was a beautiful, calm flight.  The temperature was very pleasant indeed and already I had a better idea of how formation flying should look.  The airplanes were a good match and the still air allowed for closer flying.

Underneath us, Pagosa Springs was catching the morning light and the colors were intense.

We headed toward the designated practice area and Tom gave the command to change to our discreet frequency, from the Pagosa Springs unicom.

Mark flew as #2 in the formation, putting him just behind our right wing.

This is the look of concentration!

Off the Comanche's wing, the valley is filled with low lying smoke from a wildfire just north of Pagosa Springs.  Incidentally, this airplane has been in Tom's family since 1963!  I love that!

Yes, he is close.  It has taken me two flights yesterday and one today, to become ok with this!

The rapidly rising sun glints off Mark's window.

Through the left rear window, Mark emerges after passing under us... From our right side, he dropped back a little and moved down, over and up on the other side.

Our practice area was near Lake Navajo.

Landing gear down and inbound for a two ship element landing.  A two mile final to runway 19, then taxiing back for another element takeoff.

Then it was time to debrief the flight and discuss bits and pieces to practice during flight #2...