A "Challenging" Flight to/from Erie Airpark
Story submitted
by Tom Grimm -- A/K/A "Gadget"
It’s Halloween night and we are waiting for the kids to start coming to the door.
I’ve been thinking about the summer flying I have not done. I got a late start this last spring because I took my trike home in March to repair and refit my trashed fairing. I missed it and will be glad it’s back on this winter.
I was so anxious to take a trip that I flew to Erie AirPark for their Challenger gathering. It did say “and friends”. It was really a poor morning to go but I was hipped. I had been planning for weeks.
The weather was stormy, no thunderstorms mind you, but visibility was now barely 1 mile and as I took off the ceiling was not more than 700 ft. Winds were bearable at around 10-12 mph. I figured if it did not improve I would turn around and come home to Cushing. When I passed Mendota I said to myself, “if doesn’t change in the next couple of miles, I’ll turn back.” Finally the ceiling started to lift and the visibility was now over 3 miles, well maybe just 3 miles. I had a tail wind so I just floated along at about 800 ft. trying to stay on heading as the wind seemed to take over where the visibility left off. 65 minutes and I could see my destination thru the haze. I flew over the top and entered a left downwind and landed easily. I followed the air boss and parked in the line up with the other planes at the north end off the field.
It was Saturday and I had new camping gear to try out. I had a mini tent and a light weight sleeping bag from a mail order house. My bag was good for 50 degrees.
Jim and Sue Robinson had made sure we all had plenty to eat. A local vendor was there all day with complete meals for around $5-7. The clubhouse was well stocked too. I had no need to go off into town for a good meal.
Flying and talking was the agenda for the day. Challenger had their new SP plane on display and welcomed comments on it. It was a fine plane but no one seemed to like the shape of the vertical stabilizer. It was kind of boxy and flat on top. It looks like they plan to change it to match the older models.
I watched demo rides and an Airraile did a barrel rolls. I did not go up but had people were looking with interest at the only “Trike” at the fly-in. We had a raffle based on sign-up tickets. Everyone got something just for being there. Later I won a nice polo that actually fit me!
It was 5 pm and the sky was looking bad with cumulus building. The forecast, “scattered thunderstorms”. The first cell passed to the south. I decided with everyone else to secure my wing with my tie-downs. I wrapped my engine in blue tarp and the same around my instrument panel. I put bungies everywhere. I took my GPS and radios into the clubhouse. It looked like I would be camping in the clubhouse. That tent and bag would have to wait for another time. We barely got the fireworks off in the rain. It did not end all night. I did not sleep well in the recliner. I kept looking out the window to see my trike swaying in the wind.
Next morning we had egg, meat, cheese, & more wrapped in soft taco shells. They were Good, Made by Sue at 6am. I wanted to leave before the weather got worse because I would be stuck there for at least 2 days otherwise! I unwrapped my trike and put the tie-downs away. I saw another group leaving as I went back for my radios and pack. The radar showed an east west line of rain north of I-88 slowly moving south and east. If I was going to leave, it would have to be NOW! I could see the visibility dropping as I prepared to take-off. My intercom had somehow gotten wet and I had no audio. My engine on the other hand had stayed dry. Everything preflighted I pressed the start button. Hurray my 582 started almost instantly! One last look at the dark sky. Should I pack it up or go? I could turn back. What if the fog comes in? I did not really see any fog on the ground. Did I want to leave my trike out in the rain for 2 days? No!! All this was running though my mind as I taxied to the end of the runway. My sectional was on my leg, my GPS was set for 0C8. I had topped off the fuel tank on Saturday.
I lifted off the runway. Was I crazy? I was committed now. I pointed the nose up at full throttle. Wow, I couldn’t even make 500 ft, the ceiling was 500 ft! Try 400 ft. I let off the throttle and decended to 400 ft and set course. I was flying inside of a ball. It was moving along with me. This is weird, I thought. I had a crosswind from the left. The ground was clear but I had to watch for towers. I had plenty of time to spot them and I knew their were 2 in my path. If I drifted south with the wind I should stay away from the rain. I watched for darker clouds and rain and did not want to venture into it. I ran thru some light rain and my groves got damp. At one point I saw a pickup stop and watch me pass over at barely 300 ft. I reset my GPS several times as I drifted off course. The turbulence was picking up now as the scud disappeared. The ceiling was up to 1000 ft. The wind was changing around to the east and getting stronger. It was at least 15 mph now. As I neared Mendota the wind was at 100 degrees at 20+ mph. I had to fly directly into it. The turbulence was outrageous. It was hard to stay on heading. I tried flying higher but the wind was stronger. I tried flying lower but the turbs were worst. Should I land at Mendota? I turned up the throttle and bored a hole in the sky. How much fuel did I need to get home? I checked my ETA and my fuel computer. I should make it. After 1 ½ hours I finally landed in a 15 mph cross-wind. An hour later the sky opened up and soaked the field. I felt like I could fly in anything except a thunderstorm but it was anything but FUN. I realized later that I had flown through a front from the rear.
Note: Those that left before me were going north and some were going northwest. They had to turn back and were still at Erie on Tuesday evening.
Should I have flown? Probably not. Do I want to do it again? No.
Where To Now?
A "Challenging" Flight to Erie
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