{"id":4815,"date":"2018-12-02T12:53:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-02T18:53:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/?p=4815"},"modified":"2023-11-21T12:55:33","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T18:55:33","slug":"lunch-at-brenham-airport_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/?p=4815","title":{"rendered":"Lunch at Brenham Airport_"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 2, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

Many years ago, the group I flew with out of Bailes airport would occasionally fly to the Brenham airport (11R) to have lunch.\u00a0 Inside the FBO building is a 50’s themed diner that had a typical 50’s type of menu:\u00a0 burgers and such.\u00a0 The three photos below are all from 2003.<\/p>\n

\"In <\/a>
In 2003, (brother) Jim’s Challenger in front of the FBO <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"2003, <\/a>
2003, my Aventura II <\/div> <\/div>
\"in <\/a>
in 2003: Jim, Jenna (Jon’s daughter) and Jon Riley <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

It’s been at least 12 years since I’ve been back to Southern Flyer Diner.\u00a0 Only a year or so ago, the diner closed down.\u00a0 Recently, though, I heard it had re-opened so we decided to go take a look and see if anything had changed… and have lunch!<\/p>\n

Amy and I both have been suffering for more than two weeks from a bad cold, and we have just come to the moment when we are feeling much better.\u00a0 On Saturday (December 1) the weather was beautiful and Sunday was supposed to be just as good.\u00a0 In the time since my last entry, I had only flown a couple of times and, then, just local flying with lots of stop-n-go’s.\u00a0 Today I filled up my gas tank with 21 gallons — not quite full — to handle the two (roughly) 90 minute legs, there and back, plus the usual extra.\u00a0 Air temperature on the ground was about 80\u00baF (26.7\u00baC).<\/p>\n

Wheels up was at 11:48 am and it didn’t take too long before I started my little game of spotting unusual things on the ground.<\/p>\n

\"Brand <\/a>
Brand new fences, apparently <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A giant reel in the middle of a field <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

To get to Brenham, we could go through “the corridor” or go around north of Intercontinental Airport.\u00a0 We chose the corridor because it is just a hair shorter and quicker, but the view of downtown Houston is always a bonus!<\/p>\n

\"Looking <\/a>
Looking south along I-69 toward downtown <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A bit of hazy\/pollution in the air <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>As usual when I fly the corridor, I stick to the extreme northern edge, avoiding the possible “stadium TFR” from Minute Maid Park.\u00a0 You can see my actual track (in cyan) and the red arrows point to the Class B and TFR lines I have to stay between.<\/p>\n

At this point I’m in the middle of the corridor, at around 1500 feet, and 10 miles from the runways at Intercontinental Airport… but with my decent telephoto lens, I can make them out!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

For this trip, as soon as I clear the tightest portion of the corridor, I jig to the northwest and generally follow Highway 290.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At one point I have to deal with Weiser Airpark as it is directly on my track.\u00a0 My ceiling — the maximum altitude allowed at this point — is just under 2,000 feet.\u00a0 The pattern altitude for Weiser is 1137 feet, so I decide to stay high — around 1,800 feet — and announce my position and fly directly over the field.\u00a0 There was some local traffic but they seem to be doing pattern work and so I won’t bother them, and they won’t bother me.\u00a0 As we pass over the western edge of the runway, Amy takes a shot of the hangars.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A few miles later, we pass near by the Highway-290\/Grand Parkway-99 interchange.\u00a0 It’s huge.\u00a0 In many ways it’s ugly, but in some ways it’s a thing of beauty, too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We’re approaching Waller, TX… I used to live out near Waller, so Highway 290 is like an old friend… well, more like a frienemy, being under almost constant construction for decades and I practically lived in many traffic jams.\u00a0 Once away from the congested areas, the countryside has a few landmarks I’m used to seeing.\u00a0 Seeing them from the air gives me a different perspective and I find them interesting once again.<\/p>\n

\"Hanson <\/a>
Hanson Aggregates of Hockley <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hockley <\/a>
Hockley recreation center <\/div> <\/div>
\"Another <\/a>
Another aggregate off-loading area <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Prairie <\/a>
Prairie View A&M University campus <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Frazier's <\/a>
Frazier’s Ornamental Concrete <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Now we’re out in the wide-open countryside with little but rolling hills, and widely scattered farms, ranches and homes.\u00a0 Air temperature at altitude was about 64\u00baF (17.9\u00baC).\u00a0 Another 15 miles or so and in the far distance we can just barely make out Brenham Airport, the white hangars showing up against the brown landscape.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>I’m happy we’re getting there because I only had a light breakfast, so I’m hungry.\u00a0 I am ready for lunch!\u00a0 (The body of water you see in the distance in the photo above is Lake Somerville.)\u00a0 As usual on a nice weekend day, there is quite a bit of traffic in the area… people flying in for lunch, or having finished lunch, flying out.\u00a0 We spot a fixed-wing plane at our altitude heading in our general direction… they pass off our left side, less than a mile away.\u00a0 I had my landing lights on — I always keep them on, for safety — but the other pilot did not.\u00a0 \u00a0They did not show up on my ADS-B navigation display, but it’s too soon to expect every aircraft to have ADS-B.\u00a0 (Of course, pilots that stick strictly to areas outside metropolitan areas are unlikely to spend the money for an unneeded ADS-B system.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>By the time I’m about to pass over mid-field there are two other aircraft announcing their position.\u00a0 That means I have plenty of time to enter the pattern and land.\u00a0 I execute the “new” FAA-suggested downwind entry pattern,\u00a0then do a quick base and final, and I land at Brenham.<\/p>\n

I grab the first open parking spot and make sure the wheels are chocked.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It’s not unusual to have someone approach me and ask to look at my gyroplane, and this turned out to be no exception.\u00a0 After assuring the gentleman that he and his family can take a look, Amy and I head into the diner.\u00a0 A quick look back and we see them all gathering around for a group photo in front of the Cavalon… haha.<\/p>\n

The trip so far:
\n* distance: 101.4 nm (116.7 sm, 187.8 km)
\n* time in the air:\u00a0 1 hour, 47 minutes
\n* fuel burned:\u00a0 8.5 gallons (32.2 liters)<\/p>\n

The flight plan said it would be 94.8 nm and 1:28, so it took us a bit longer than planned, and used about half-gallon more fuel than I expected.\u00a0 I always plan for needing more fuel than the plan, though, so we’re good.\u00a0 There was a little bit of a headwind, but not much.\u00a0 The air overall has been smooth, with just a few bumps.\u00a0 (My fixed-wing brethren may have a different story but the rotors on my gyroplane smooth out most of the bumps.)<\/p>\n

In the diner, the female wait staff wear poodle skirts and bobby socks, and have bouncy personalities.\u00a0 Songs play on the jukebox and the decor completes the picture of a 50’s diner or malt shop.\u00a0 (And fortunately (or unfortunately), I’m old enough to have experienced them first-hand, in the 50’s.\u00a0 My best memory is of KG’s Drugstore in the West University village.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The food is good and the service is excellent.\u00a0 45 minutes later, we are tanked up and ready for the return trip.\u00a0 (I meant that we<\/em><\/strong> were tanked up… I still had plenty of fuel in the plane, so no additional fuel was necessary.)\u00a0 We quickly un-chock and saddle up, then taxi out for take off.<\/p>\n

The airport is not as busy now… no one is in the pattern and no waiting required.\u00a0 I move on to the runway, spin up the rotor and we’re off!<\/p>\n

The route back will be the same as the one we took to get to Brenham, so not much more to talk about.\u00a0 However, I did fly a slightly different track so there were a few things we spotted that were interesting:<\/p>\n

\"4N1A4865\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A4866\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

As we again approach the downtown area, I can’t help but take a few more shots:<\/p>\n

\"Looking <\/a>
Looking toward the southeast <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A4870\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"4N1A4871\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"This <\/a>
This area between downtown and 610-North is covered in upscale townhomes. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Somewhere in northeast Houston, near U.S. Highway 90 is this interesting “hill.”\u00a0 I’m not sure if it’s just a very old landfill, or someone’s attempt at recreating a Mayan turf pyramid!\u00a0 Very unusual, and I can’t find any hint of what it might be.\u00a0 But I love a mystery!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Up ahead are a couple more interesting landmarks to see…<\/p>\n

\"Looking <\/a>
Looking northeast, U.S. Hwy 90 is crossed by Beltway 8 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The familiar San Jacinto Monument and — to the right of it — the Battleship Texas <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

From this point on, in any of my trips that bring me back through the corridor, the view is pretty much the same and the landscape gets monotonous — just petrochemical plants, swamps and bays, mostly — so I don’t expect to see much.\u00a0 I happened to look down as we cross Interstate-10 — our normal route back home from the airport — and saw this accident… the inbound side was totally blocked by the truck and debris, and the outbound side only had one lane open.\u00a0 So we took a different route home!<\/p>\n

\"4N1A4887\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A4888\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

For this 2nd leg of the trip:
\n* distance: 101.4 nm (116.7 sm, 187.8 km)
\n* time in the air:\u00a0 1 hour, 44 minutes
\n* fuel burned:\u00a0 8.3 gallons (30.3 liters)<\/p>\n

Amazing that the distances were almost exact!\u00a0 We had an occasional and slight tailwind on the way back, so it was a tiny bit quicker return.\u00a0 (If I had flown, on average, as fast as I did on the way to Brenham, the resulting time in the air would have been even quicker.)\u00a0 Less fuel was burned due to lower engine settings, overall.<\/p>\n

Overall:
\n* distance: 202.8 nm (233.4 sm, 375.6 km)
\n* time in the air:\u00a0 3 hour, 31 minutes
\n* fuel burned:\u00a0 16.8 gallons (62.5 liters)<\/p>\n

Interestingly, my most important statistic — gallons used per hour — was lower than what I expected:\u00a0 4.8 gph<\/strong>.\u00a0 Generally speaking, with a near-full tank and a passenger, I typically expect 5.5 gph, so this was a nice surprise.\u00a0 It’s likely that it being a cooler day helped out.<\/p>\n

Overall a very nice flight!\u00a0 I’m glad you could fly along with us!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u039e\u039e\u039e\u039e\u039e\u039e\u039e<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0 If you enjoyed this or any of my other blog entries, I suggest you subscribe to this blog so that you are automatically notified when I make a new entry.\u00a0 Go to the top of this page, and look along the left side for the subscription field.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

December 2, 2018 Many years ago, the group I flew with out of Bailes airport would occasionally fly to the Brenham airport (11R) to have lunch.\u00a0 Inside the FBO building is a 50’s themed diner that had a typical 50’s type of menu:\u00a0 burgers and such.\u00a0 The three photos below are all from 2003. It’s … Continue reading Lunch at Brenham Airport_<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4815","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cavalon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/4N1A4861.jpg?fit=1920%2C1280&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4815","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4815"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4815\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4816,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4815\/revisions\/4816"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4815"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4815"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4815"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}