Of Interest

Asheville North Carolina and Smokey Mountain Area

2007-07-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Last year for the fourth of July holiday I flew to southwest North Carolina with a friend for an extended weekend. This area of North Carolina is very scenic and there is a lot to enjoy. The trip was primarily to get away from work for a few days, satisfy my craving to spend time outdoors, get some exercise, and enjoy the regions activities.

The trip down was relatively uneventful. We started out flying low to enjoy the countryside on such a nice summer day and to take a scenic tour through the Hudson River flight corridor. This controlled airspace exclusion, intended to allow transition through the busy and extensive New York airspace, allows a scenic flight by Manhattan at an altitude below building tops. When reaching the Appalachian Mountains in Western Maryland and Virginia higher altitudes were necessary to find smother air and to climb above the cumulus clouds that were building to become afternoon thundershowers.

An attraction along the way, and definitely worth a visit, is Luray Caverns in Luray Virginia. We did not stop during this trip but I have on other occasions. It is a convenient destination for pilots because the Caverns are within walking distance (a couple of miles) of the Luray airport. Airport personnel will also drive visitors to the Caverns and return later for pick-up.

The Biltmore Estate is a significant tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina. This was the summer home of George Washington Vanderbilt. It sits in the heart of the Smokey Mountains and at 175,000 square feet is the largest privately owned home in the United States. The home is open to the public and quite impressive, as are the grounds including hiking/biking trails, horseback riding, an Inn and a winery that produces remarkably good wines. A tour of the home includes the winery tour and wine tasting. Leave a good day to explore the home and grounds if you plan to visit. There is plenty of space for picnicking as well as a restaurant at the winery.

Another interesting sight not far from Asheville is Chimney Rock Park. Chimney Rock is a 315 foot monolith above Hickory Nut Gorge, soaring to an elevation of 2,280 feet. The park includes hiking trails, caves, and waterfalls. The most scenic and famous is Hickory Nut Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in North Carolina plunging 404 feet from a granite cliff. This waterfall has appeared in several motion pictures the most famous being “The Last of the Mohicans”. Of course this area is loaded with scenic hiking trails, waterfalls, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smokey Mountain National Park.

A number of photos from the trip follow. Additional photos chronicling other excursions I've enjoyed with my aircraft are viewable in my previous posts and the archives.

Downtown Manhattan as seen flying through the Hudson River Visual Flight Rules Corridor

Lady Liberty reminds us of the freedom we enjoy which makes this trip possible

Aerial view of Ellis Island

Entering the Appalacian Mountains in Western Virginia/Maryland

Clouds formed a carpet of white in some places

Stalactites inside Luray Caverns

These stalactites are reflected in a pool of water making it look like stalagmites are growing upward to meet them

Stalagmite

This organ uses the stalactites as "pipes". Tiny electronically triggered hamers tap on various formations in respsonse to key presses to generate the tones.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, home of George Washington Vanderbilt

A portion of the Biltmore's formal gardens

Several views from the Blue Ridge Parkway

A hiking trail atop the Smokey Mountains

Waterfall at the end of the trail

The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through many tunnels like this one near the peaks of the Appalacians

This sign marks the peak of Mt. Mitchell but the leg is optional

Chimney Rock and Chimney Rock Park

Looking down on Lake Lure from the top of Chimney Rock

A view of the Smokey Mountains from one of the parks hiking trails

The Chimney

A hiking trail in the park that ends at the waterfall in the next picture

Hickory Nut Falls, North Carolina's tallest waterfall, at 404 feet, and seen in the movie "The Last of the Mohicans"

Almost home, cathing a return trip view of Manhattan this time at night

2006 Geneseo Air Show

2007-01-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

I decided to attend the Geneseo Air Show last summer, on a beautiful weekend in early July. Considering my love of airplanes, and that it's a simple two hour flight to Geneseo from my home in central Connecticut, the decision was easy to reach. I invited a friend and co-worker, Bob, along since he too loves airplanes and is working toward earning his pilots license. Because Bob lives a considerable distance from me, in the Northwest hills of Connecticut, the plan was to him meet him at the Great Barrington airport in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts.

The early morning departure was enjoyable with morning ground fog typical of early summer, but surprisingly the Connecticut River valley was clear around my home airport in Hartford. The mountain valleys in the Berkshires were completely enshrouded in fog though and I was beginning to think our plans wouldn't work out. The Geneseo airport closes at 10:00 a.m. to allow the airshow to begin. Late arrivals are out of luck. A diversion and delay, due to fog, would prevent us from arriving on time. It must have been our destiny that day to reach Geneseo because, as I approached Great Barrington, the fog was cleared in a five-mile circle around the airport. Departure, and continuation of the flight, was un-eventful. The entire trip was smooth and scenic allowing a relaxed discussion with Bob about the benefits and operation of some newly installed avionics equipment. Occasional patches of valley fog throughout the Catskill Mountains with mountaintops protruding through the haze provided new experiences and lasting memories for Bob.

The Geneseo airport is nicely maintained airport with a 4,700' turf runway in the Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York. Located just West of Canesus Lake, adjacent the town of Geneseo and about 20 miles Southwest of Rochester the airport is situated in a picturesque setting and is a nice place to relax for a day. The town of Geneseo is close enough to the airport that a short walk will get you into town. It’s even easier if you take folding bicycles with you in your plane.

For those who might like to attend a future show but wonder about airport conditions: The runway and taxiways are smooth enough for most planes to operate without difficulty, or special technique, and there were certainly planes of almost every kind in attendance. For me though, I prefer a smoother surface for continual operations. My plane is designed for smooth field operation and has very stiff landing gear legs. Also, as anyone familiar with retractable landing gear Cessnas knows, it has smaller tires than most comparable aircraft and inflation pressures are much higher than normal. The result was some rather jarring periods while taxiing especially since aircraft get parked in normally unused areas during the airshow.

All together it was a great day that I feel privileged to have shared with a good friend and aspiring pilot. The weather was ideal with nearly perfect flight conditions and we got to spend an entire day in fresh air and sunshine with the sound and smell of radial engines everywhere to be found. The Geneseo Airshow, billed as "The Greatest Show on Turf", is hosted by the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum located at the airport. Information can be found by visiting their website: http://www.1941hag.org/index.html

Following are just a few of the great sights experienced that day:

This is my Cardinal RG used for travel to the show, not one of the airshow planes

Valley fog is a typical start to the day in mountainous areas

Hot air balloons observed enroute

This beautiful Beach Staggerwing arrived from Canada

A beautifully re-finished Waco

A pristine North American P-51 Mustang having a little maintenance done in the parking area

A section of show plane parking

A North American AT-6 "Texan" parking area

A Douglas DC-3 providing shade for airshow attendees

The Junkers JU-52 also served as shade

A Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

B-17 taxiing for takeoff

Boeing B-25 "Mitchell Bomber" taxiing for takeoff

Boeing B-25 "Mitchell Bomber"

B-25 "Mitchell Bomber" about to lift-off

Cessna T-50 Bobcat aka "Bamboo Bomber"

The flight portion began with demonstrations by ultralights

P-51 beginning demonstration flight

A beautiful sight in flight

The P-51 is one of my favorite fighter aircraft of all times

Another P-51 taking flight

Gear up and doors closing

Focke-Wulf 149D

Vought F4U Corsair

Hawker Hurricane

Curtis P-40 Warhawk (The Jacky C)

North American P-51 and Curtis P-40

North American AT-6 Texans performed an aerobatic demonstration

Fly-by demonstration was provided by the McDonnell Douglass (Boeing) F-15 Eagle

B-17 lift-off

B-25

Winter Visits to Warmer Places

2006-02-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

Winter in New England can wear on one. Each of us develops our own way to cope with it. Some folks even enjoy it. For me, periodic escape to somewhere warm and sunny is the answer. Being a pilot, and fortunate enough to own an aircraft, that periodic escape combines a love for flying my Cessna Cardinal RG with the opportunity to thaw my bones, albeit only briefly. The return home is often to colder weather than when I left.

This winter I embarked on a couple of journeys south to Florida. The first, in early November, was to the panhandle and a visit with a friend and former northerner on Okaloosa Island. The second, in early February, was to South Beach and the Florida Keys for fun, food and relaxation. Marathon made a good base in the Keys, being about mid way between the upper end and Key West. Fortunately, the weather was excellent during both journeys and did a lot to relieve winter stress. Everywhere I ventured though, visible signs of past severe hurricane seasons was evident. In addition to physical damage the landscape still appears weathered and worn.

This is the weather that makes me want to leave home for warmer climes in the winter!

Wheels up (or at least going up) on my latest excursion to warmth and sunshine.

Example of hurricane damage on Santa Rosa Island. This house wasn't always in the water. Others, even away form the shore, were more severly damaged.

These fish on the Okalossa Island beach were fun to watch. There were litterally thousands of them and they were continually leaping from the water. I believe they are mullet and, if you look closely, hundreds can be seen in the crest of the nearest swell.

A closer view

Decided to make a flight with friends to Cedar Key during my stay on Okaloosa. This interesting view is of the coastal salt marshes in the "Big Bend" area.

Enjoying a Cedar Key lunch with friends on a restaurant patio. Had the best crab claws at this restaurant. They were Jonah crab, similar in appearance to Stone Crab but tastier in my opinion and prepared/served warm with drawn butter instead of cold. Perfect!

The sun setting over the coastal salt marshes on the return to Okaloosa Island.

This fellow decided to provide companionship on Marathon Key's Sombrero Beach.

This clear water is seen looking west from the old Seven Mile Bridge at Pidgeon Key. Notice the skin divers in the upper left corner.

This a closer view showing the skin divers.

A view of Pidgeon Key from the old Seven Mile Bridge. Notice the weathered look from last seasons hurricanes.

Pelican searching for food near a Key West beach.

Seagulls are becomming agressive about approaching people to grab food. They are frequently annoying. This fellow, on a Key West beach, is promoting that behavior by encouraging the birds to pursue food from humans.

An attractive vessel in the bay near Mallory Square in Key West.

A lot of ultralight aircraft on floats can be seen flying around Florida and the Keys. Jumping between bays, lakes and lagoons with one of these is a great way to enjoy a day.

While we have this activity seasonally in New England, Key West allows enjoyment year round.

The Key West home of Ernest Hemingway.

Key West Lighthouse and Museum.

Key West is known for its sunsets. Viewed from Mallory Square.

Vacations end, so here we are departing from Marathon airport's runway 7 for return to Connecticut.

Part of Marathon seen on climb out from the airport.

The Overseas Highway as seen from above.

Underwater channels and shallows are clearly visible.

This area is evidently a favorite anchoring spot for boaters. The shallow area allows walking from boat to boat as well as swimming. Notice the ultralight aircraft has landed to enjoy the activity.

That really is water below although you can sea clear to the bottom (pun intended).

Not sure which key, but this is probably Islamorada.

Visit to Alton Bay Iceport on Lake Winnipesaukee

2005-02-03T11:51:00.000-08:00

Visited Lake Winnipesaukee's Alton Bay iceport, on January 30, 2005, in my Cardinal RG. Lots of activity and a good way to spend an afternoon watching airplanes. Iceway 01-19 is plowed approximately 2500 feet with sizeable snowbanks. This can be a significant concern for preventing a propstrike since braking action is nil on the ice.

Approaching Lake Winnipesaukee

Circling a portion of the lake

Final approach to the iceport

Aerial view of iceway

Queen of the fleet

Safely grounded (iced?)

Taking in the activity

Skis are welcome too but stay on the snow

Another on approach

Parking area