Gryphon's Aeire

It is only 9 miles from Branson West to Point Look Out. When I took off from Branson West, I couldn't see the next airport. With the hills and trees, I was only about 6 miles from the airprot before I spotted it.

I did another s-turn to enter a left downwind for runway 11.

I did 3 nice touch and gos before departing for the Branson Airport.

It is only 6 miles away and has a control tower.

I called Tower when I was about 5 miles out and said I was "airborne off Point Look Out, inbound for touch and go, with Delta."

Tower told me to make straight in for 14, report 2 miles. I acknowledged and adjusted my heading.

I was more on a left base so I had to adjust to I could turn final and get set up to land.

2 miles out, I reported "2 miles, final for 14".

Tower cleared me for the option, left turn on the go. I acknowledged and did my first touch and go.

Down and back up and I turned left and went around the pattern again. Tower cleared me for the option and and I did it again.

After my second, I told Tower after this one, I would like to depart to the southeast towards Harrison. Tower cleared me for the option and I touched down nicely once again.

Down and back up and I turned to a heading of 171 degrees.

Harrison is only 16 miles away so I only climbed up to 2,500 feet.

Harrison's runway is 6,1,61 feet long and black. The taxiway is concrete. It makes it interesting to spot. You see what you think is the runway but it's not. It is the taxiway.

I checked the weather. It was reporting variable at 6.

Since I was approaching from the northwest, I was lined up to enter left downwind for runway 36.

I reported "10 miles to the northwest, inbound for touch and go, runway 36".

I got set up for landing and did a nice touch and go.

As I was taking off again, another plane reported taxiing for departure on runway 18. Both Jenny and I were suprised since I had just landed on 36 and was staying in the pattern.

I figured he chose 18 since it was a closer taxi.

I reported on downwind, thinking I would watch out and make sure we didn't both try to use the runway at the same time.

When I was almost to the end of the runway, still on downwind, the other plane reported "rolling for takeoff on 18". Jenny looked back and said "no he isn't, he isn't even to the runway yet."

I wasn't going to argue with him and reported that I would do a right 360 and re-enter my left downwind for 36.

As I turned about, I spotted the plane, it was just starting its roll. He pre-reported his takeoff.

He was up and gone before I was back to base.

I did 2 more touch and gos before reporting airborne off 36, departing the area to the northeast.

The clouds had come back and I wasn't sure if I wanted to stay below them or go high. I flew a few miles away from Harrison and the clouds were fairly scattered so I thought I would try climbing.

We were at 3,500 feet and I figure I would go up to 7,500. I turned right, pulled back on the yoke to start my climb. I turned a few times to stay clear of clouds and by the time I was 7,000 feet knew I wouldn't clear the clouds by 7,500 feet so continued on up to 9,500.

By 8,500 to 9,000 feet, I realized we weren't going to clear the clouds even at 9,500 feet so I started back down.

I had to go back to 3,500 feet to be clear of the clouds. The extended much higher than Jenny or I thought.

As we continued east, the clouds cleared. We talked about should we climb up for the last 70 miles or just stay low. I decided to stay down.

We were approaching Spirit from the southwest. In talking with ATC, they said to plan on 26Left. I was going to request 26Right when Jenny said we could handle that with Tower.

15 miles out ATC told us to contact Tower on 124.74. I acknowledged and switched frequencies.

I called Tower and said I was inbound for landing, with Zulu.

Tower told me to make left base for 26Left. I asked if we could get 26Right.

Expecting to get a right downwind for 26Right, I was surprised when Tower told me to make left base for 26Right.

This would take me along the side of runway 8Right then turn left over the end of 26Left before turning final for runway 26Right, a little different.

I descended down to 1,700 feet and flew along. Tower cleared me to land, 25Right and I acknowledged. I turned left before I reached the end of 8Right.

I turned final and touched down. I was a little fast and landed a bit long so I wasn't able to stop before the first turnoff into Air Associates. I might have been able to do it if I had locked up the brakes, but I didn't want to do that and skid the plane. I rolled down to the next exit.

Tower cleared me off "when able, taxi to the ramp, via Echo". I acknowledged and taxied back to the ramp.

I parked the plane in the same spot we left from.

We cleared out the plane and headed inside.

While Will worked on my invoice, Jenny filled out my logbook and signed off on my Flight Review.

Now I am legal to fly by myself again. Yeah.

My last solo flight was 28 Jun 09, just before my medical expired last time.

I had been legal from 31 Oct 09 till 30 Jun 09.

My diabetes and the FAA are lots of fun.

I'm legal again till 30 May 11.