Flight Log 22-Sep-02

Gryphon's Aeire

Flight Log for 22-Sep-02

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Flight Times
Solo:	0.0	PIC:	1.1	High Perf:		Complex:	0.0
SEL:	1.1	Day:	1.1	Night:	0.0	Cross Country:	0.0

Instruction
Pre / Post:	0.0	Flt Training:	0.0	Instructor:

Instrument
Simulated:	0.0	Actual:	0.0	Inst Appr:	0

Weather

Clear and cool with a strong wind from the North

Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers

Third Passenger Flight with Derek - Scenic flight around Edwardsville Area and StL Riverfront

Third Passenger Flight with Derek - Scenic flight around Edwardsville area and StL Riverfront

Observations

Holiday Shores, Edwardsville/Glen Carbon, Downtown St Louis (Dome and Arch), Belleville, and Collinsville

Description of Flight

Today I was going to take Derek for a scenic flight. I was rained out on Friday (09-20-02) so it had been more than 2 weeks since I had flown.

Derek and I stopped and had lunch on the way to the airport. We got to Langa at about 13:40.

I checked and had been switched to another plane that wasn't back yet. Ryan told me it was still in the pattern practicing take offs and landings. I remembered seeing it as we had walked inside.

We went back outside to drink our sodas and watch the planes.

Derek said all the planes looked small, almost tiny. I told him compared to the other planes he had flown in, they were. There were 4 or 5 Cessna 172s, a small twin and a large twin airplane.

While we were watching, the plane we would be flying taxied in and we watched as the other pilot tied down the plane and headed inside.

She stopped and talked with her instructor who had been watching so she must have been on a supervised solo.

She came in and Derek and I walked back inside just as she got to the office.

Ryan took the book and handed it right to me and Derek and I walked out to the plane.

The first thing I did upon reaching the plane was to check the fuel level. It was a little over half full so I walked over to two lineman towing a plane out of the hanger and asked if they could fuel 361SA when they got a chance. One of them stepped off the tug, said sure, and headed to the fuel truck.

While he was fueling the plane, I did the rest of my preflight checks. He finished before I did.

When I was done and talking to Derek, I noticed the yoke was rocking back and forth. I looked to see if Derek was doing it. He wasn't.

I turned around and Kirk was there, rocking the aelerons up and down. He laughed and said he wondered how long it was going to take me to notice.

He asked what I was up to and I told him we were going to do a scenic flight.

He asked if I had checked NOTAMs. He said there had been one around the Arch for 9/11 but he didn't know if it had been cleared.

I told him I would check with Flight Service.

He told us to have a good flight and headed back to the hanger.

I called WXBrief and talked to St. Louis Flight Service and asked about any NOTAMs for a VFR flight from ALN to CPS and the surrounding area.

The briefer said she didn't see anything listed but said to be carefull around the St. Louis Stadium if there was a game in progress. She said I had to stay more than 3 miles from away. I thanked her and got in the plane.

Derek had wanted to fly over Justin's house at Holiday Shores so he called to tell him to be outside in about 10 minutes but he wasn't home.

I got the current ATIS information, Wind from 340 at 10 knots, plan on using runway 29 or 35. I figured 35 since I would be departing to the East.

Derek had problems getting his seatbelt on and comfortable. He said it kept tightening up and was uncomfortable. He finally got it.

I finished my preflight checks, started the engine, and pulled out and headed towards the taxiway.

I called Ground and told him I was at Langa with Quebec, ready to taxi for departure to the East. Ground cleared me to runway 35 and I started rolling.

When I got to the runup area, I did my final checks and pulled up to the hold short line.

I called Tower and was cleared for 35 and turn to my heading.

I acknowledged, applied power and rolled onto the runway. When I was centered, I asked Derek if he was ready to fly. He said he wasn't flying.

I told him he was now but he said he wasn't because he wasn't the one controlling the plane.

At 1,000 feet I turned mostly North and headed towards Holiday Shores and Justin's house.

I pointed out the Lake when I spotted it and adjusted so Derek could see better as I flew past Justin's.

Derek took this picture. He just missed Justin's. It would be just below the edge of the picture.

I continued East until I saw Carpenter and turned down Quercus Grove Road and followed it back to Highway 157.

I pointed out were Fruit Road turned off and pointed towards our house.

As we approached Edwardsville, I pointed out the green roofs of the Court House and Administration Building. Derek said he couldn't see them. He was looking to far out, towards St. Louis. I pointed and he looked closer and spotted them.

Here are some pictures he took of Downtown Edwardsville.

I turned and flew along Highway 159.

Here is a picture of the Esic Subdivision.

and of the Cottonwood Area.

I turned East and flew around the new Edwardsville Middle School that is under construction.

Turning back West, I pointed out Jennifer's House. Derek wasn't interested.

I pointed to the Edwardsville High school and he thought that was neat so he took a picture.

I continued West past Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and headed to the Mississippi River.

As we were flying over Highway 255, another plane passed overhead, clearing us by about 500 feet.

When we were almost to the river, a plane called Downtown Tower and reported 10 miles to the North, inbound for Touch and Go landing. I told Derek that was probably the plane that had passed over us a few minutes ago.

We got to the river just north of the Canal. Turning South I followed the Canal towards Downtown.

I called Downtown Tower and told them I was 10 miles to the North and would like to transition their airspace along the river down to the JB Bridge.

Tower asked me my altitude and I told her about 1,650 feet.

Tower told me I was cleared but to stay 3 miles away from the Stadium as there was a game going on.

I acknowledged the clearance and the distance.

I told Derek we would fly along the Eastern shore because we had to stay more then 3 miles from the Stadium.

Here are some pictures Derek took approaching Downtown, of the Edwards Jones Dome, and the Gateway Arch.

We continued past Downtown, watching for the traffic coming and going at Downtown Parks Airport.

When I was past the airport and about 3 miles from the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, Tower called and told me there was another plane paralleling me at about 1,800 feet. The other plane reported me in sight, but I couldn't see it. It was probably blocked by my wing. I tried tipping it up to look but still didn't see anything.

When I reached the Bridge, I called Tower and told them I was 7 miles south and clear of their airspace and that I was going to turn East and follow Highway 255 around a little. Tower acknowledged and I turned left.

I flew over the 255 and continued East until I thought I was close to Highway 159. I turned North and headed towards Belleville.

Derek was getting tired and was slumping over trying to get comfortable to sleep.

I pointed out the square in Belleville and continued North along Highway 159.

Derek had asked if I would take him to Fairview Heights next weekend. I pointed out the store he wanted to go to as we reached Highway 64.

Since he was acting so tired, I asked if he wanted to continue and fly over my house or head back. He said to head back.

I continued up 159 and checked the ATIS for Alton. The winds had changed to 310 degrees at 8 knots. I figured coming from the South, Tower would have me do a straight in for 35. I adjusted to my left to be better lined up.

At 10 miles I called Tower and reported 10 miles to the South, inbound for landing with information Romeo.

Tower did what I expected and told me to plan on a straight in for 35, report at the refineries. I acknowledged and flew on.

When I was still a few miles from the refineries, another plane reported inbound. Tower called and asked my position. I told him over Highway 255, almost to the refineries.

Tower acknowledged and cleared me to land on 35. I acknowledged and started getting set up for landing.

The wind kept blowing me up and down, altitude wise, so I had to work to keep things lined up.

I reduced power, trimmed and put in some flaps.

When I was almost to the edge of the airport property, I was at 1,000 feet but a little off to the right.

I adjusted some more and get it lined up.

I did a squeaker landing just past the numbers. Very nice.

I started slowing down, planning on turning at Bravo 1.

Tower called and told me to exit at Bravo 1 and cleared me back to the ramp. I acknowledged and when I reached the turn-off, did.

I pulled past the hold short line and did my post flight checks and headed back to the ramp.

I told Derek I was going to do what I always tell him to do; put things away where you get them. I parked the plane back in the same spot we had left from.

I shutdown, got my times and we cleared out the plane.

As I started to walk away, I remembered I hadn't put the key in the book. I looked in my pockets and couldn't find the key.

We walked back to the plane and looked for it. It wasn't in the ignition, on the seat, under the seat, or in my flight bag.

I knew I had just had it, but couldn't find it.

Finally I saw where it had fallen on the side of the wheel, next to the brakes. I picked it up and put it in the book.

Derek and I walked inside and turned in the book and Tach sheet.

There were some other people there so I didn't stay and talk.

As we walked out to the car I asked Derek if the flight was ok, even if it did make him tired.

He said it was fine.

I asked if he would fly with me again. He said when I got a bigger plane.

I told him that would probably be awhile since to have a bigger plane, I would probably have to be certified in something and that could take some time.

He told me he was willing to wait.

We headed home.

Other than being bumpy and him being tired, I was glad I could take Derek flying.

Landing Info
Route of Flight:	ALN-ALN
Landings:	1 / 0 = 1
	Day/Night=Total

Times
To Plane:	13:58
Start:	14:20
Taxi:	14:22
Takeoff:	14:28
Open Flight Plan:	00:00

Land:	15:22
Shutdown:	15:24
Close Flight Plan:	00:00

Time Calculations
Running Time:	01:04
Start to shutdown
Flight Time:	01:02
Taxi to Shutdown
Air Time:	00:54
Takeoff to Landing

Hobbs Out:	2735.8
Hobbs In:	2736.9
Total Hobbs:	1.1

Tach Out:	1882.1
Tach In:	1882.9
Total Tach:	0.8

Weather
WX Time:	14:15
Rpt:	Q
Rpt Time:	18:57

Wind Direction:	340
Strength:	10 Knots
Gusts:	0 Knots

Visibility:	> 5 miles
Clouds:	> 5k

Temp:	21 C
Dew Point:	6 C

Altimeter:	3018

Advisories:

Runways:	35