Tangier Island

This is the 3rd attempt at a trip to Tangier Island. I cancelled previous attempts because of high winds. We're in a beautiful stretch of mild Fall weather. I went with a friend from work in a 172. We had unlimited visibility and very smooth air and hardly any wind. We landed, parked, walked around, had lunch, and returned to the airport. After one trip around the pattern to get an additional landing in, we headed back. We landed back at Fort Meade just a few minutes before sunset.

Impressions: Lots of cats, everyone's yard was flooded, people drive golf carts around and they erect platforms in their yards to park the carts on, there are lots of sunken boats in the channels on the island, and it was very quiet.

Cessna 172 Checkout (again)

I've wanted to go flying with friends for a while, but I need a 172 for that (because of weight and range) and the club's 172s have been tough to get on the weekends. I needed to get current in a 172, so I scheduled a lesson with my instructor. With ceilings at about 3000, stiff winds from the north, variable from the northeast, we took off. I asked to try grass strip landings, so we went to 3W3, Kentmorr. In spite of 6 inches of rain on Wednesday/Thursday, the field was dry enough. The grass wasn't the problem; the stiff crosswind and gusts were. The two landings were ugly and I was glad I had instructor help. A storm was brewing at Easton, nearby, so we headed back to Fort Meade. I did a couple of landings there, again struggling with the crosswind and gusts, but I managed much better landings.

Cross Country Flight

It's hot. And hazy.

I wanted to get some cross country time in and stay current, so I flew over to Easton, then to Georgetown/Sussex County (KGED). Visibility wasn't great, but it was no problem The winds were light and I didn't even feel any turbulence until the flight was almost over. Overall, it was a smooth, uneventful flight.

Did Not Go As Planned

I was hoping to fly KFME to KFDK to KMRB to KFME. When I checked the weather, even though it's a beautiful day, the forecast called for lots of haze and poor visibility west of KFME. I needed to get an hour of flying and 3 landings in to stay current, so I decided to instead go to KESN to KGED to KFME. Visibility on the way to the bay was hazy, but OK. But when I got near KESN, there was a scattered layer at 1100 and lots of haze. The tower told me that the weather was VFR, but it was tough even so. I was again glad for the GPS. I never lost sight of the ground, but I didn't pick the airport up until 3 miles away. I decided to land and cancel the rest of the trip. I landed, taxied back, and took off toward the bay. After reaching Kent Island, the conditions cleared up a lot and I was able to cross the bay at a comfortable altitude. I did 2 landings at KFME and called it a day.

I was really annoyed that traffic at KFME was using runway 10, even though the wind variably favored 28. The light tailwind, hot temperature, and high humidity made for an anemic climb rate.

1st Pleasure Flight

The weather has been very uncooperative, but finally I was able to go flying today. No instructor, no student limitations, I just went flying with a friend. We went to the Eastern Shore, landing at W29 and KESN before returning to FT Meade. It was a little windy and the GPS was balky, but otherwise it was an unchallenging, uneventful sightseeing flight.

Cessna 172 Checkout

Tried repeatedly to fly since passing my practical test, stuck on ground because of bad weather, including 2 big snowstorms. The club requires 2-month currency, so I had to go up with an instructor. I decided to use the opportunity to get a 172 checkout.

We went out to Deale, did slow flight, steep turns, stalls, unusual attitudes. Returned to KFME, did 4 landings, including the usual emergency, short field and soft field techniques.

The cabin is palacial in comparison with the 152. The engine has 160 horsepower and it climbs much better than I'm used to. I spent the whole flight chasing airspeed. And it just seemed heavier in every way, with more momentum and more muscle required on the controls. It didn't help that it was gusty and a little turbulent.

But now I'm cleared to fly the club's 152s and 172s.