{"id":4844,"date":"2018-04-15T21:57:50","date_gmt":"2018-04-16T03:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/?p=4844"},"modified":"2023-11-21T21:59:31","modified_gmt":"2023-11-22T03:59:31","slug":"sun-n-fun-2018_","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/?p=4844","title":{"rendered":"Sun N Fun 2018_"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 13, 14, 15, 2018<\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday, April 13, 2018, my friend Rick and I were flown by Chuck in his Mooney from Houston to Lakeland, Florida, to enjoy a day and a half of the Sun-N-Fun Air Show.\u00a0 The flight there and back was probably as instructive and enjoyable as actually walking around Sun-n-Fun, checking out the vendors and watching the airshow…. if not more so.<\/p>\n

This track shows the route we took getting there.<\/p>\n

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

This gives you an idea of our altitude and speed (the ‘valley’ in the middle is where we landed to refuel):<\/p>\n

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

We left when it was still quite dark.<\/p>\n

\"20180413_045443\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1853\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

We flew over a low cloud base just after take-off and it was spooky to realize a glowing area below us were the lights from Galveston, trying to shine up through the clouds.\u00a0 Soon enough, we saw the moon rising and not long after, the sun.<\/p>\n

\"Moonrise\" <\/a>
Moonrise <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Sunrise\" <\/a>
Sunrise <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Finally up at 9,500 feet, we cruised east as the growing light revealed various areas on the ground.<\/p>\n

\"Near <\/a>
Near the Atchafalaya River Basin <\/div> <\/div>
\"Mississippi <\/a>
Mississippi River, west of New Orleans <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Downtown <\/a>
Downtown New Orleans <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

We decided to land at Jack Edwards National Airport near Gulf Shores, Alabama, to refuel.<\/p>\n

\"On <\/a>
On the approach <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A look at the airport <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Refueling\" <\/a>
Refueling <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

With a full tank, we again headed east, flying over the white sand beaches that range from Gulf Shores to well past Destin and Panama City, made a turn to the southeast just south of Wakulla Springs and kept an eye out for traffic.<\/p>\n

\"White <\/a>
White sand beaches near Destin FL <\/div> <\/div>
\"Flying <\/a>
Flying near the Crystal River Coal And Nuclear Power Plant <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It <\/a>
It looks daunting, but despite the large number of aircraft in the air this morning, we rarely saw any of them. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

When we got to the area near our destination — Lakeland Airport — there was a very specific track we were required to follow, which avoided other traffic and other air activities.\u00a0 Chuck made it look easy!\u00a0 We got close and spotted the giant green and red dots on the taxiway (which, today, was being used for the runway).\u00a0 We made our turns, then a quick final to land just past the green dot, and we’re there!<\/p>\n

\"Threading <\/a>
Threading our way to the airport. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Big <\/a>
Big green and red dots on the taxiway… that’s where we’re landing <\/div> <\/div>
\"About <\/a>
About to make the turn to final. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"I <\/a>
I captured a quick look to the right, seeing all the other aircraft and a large portion of the exhibits. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"On <\/a>
On final, aiming for the green dot. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Made <\/a>
Made it down with no problems, and we were directed to a grassy field to tie down. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

We had hardly gotten out of the plane before we started to see all kinds of interesting aircraft flying around.\u00a0 It was a very enjoyable day and a half.<\/p>\n

\"Hardly <\/a>
Hardly out of the plane, and we see some heritage aircraft. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"And <\/a>
And a gyroplane! <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1947\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Skydiver\" <\/a>
Skydiver <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1972\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Awww, <\/a>
Awww, they didn’t have to name a street after me! I still woulda come! \ud83d\ude09 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A Cavalon gyroplane, just like mine (but mine is orange). <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1964\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1959\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lots <\/a>
Lots of very cool flying <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A new model seaplane that Rick is interested in <\/div> <\/div>
\"Old <\/a>
Old and new <\/div> <\/div>
\"Awesome <\/a>
Awesome aircraft, everywhere you looked <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1979\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1982\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1985\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Getting <\/a>
Getting ready for the mock air battle <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A1998\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2004\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"4N1A2006\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2008\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2013\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2019\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A jet powered Sonex <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2031\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2033\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2034\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2035\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2036\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"4N1A2037\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2038\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2039\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2041\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2042\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

This being the first time any of us had flown to Sun-n-Fun, we had heard that getting out of the airport when the show is over can be quite dificult… and long!\u00a0 So, our strategy was to re-position the plane from Lakeland to a nearby airport called Plant City Airport.\u00a0 Plant City is actually closer to our hotel, so getting there at departure time would be easy.\u00a0 So, all three of us piled back into the plane on Saturday afternoon, and waited for the “window” that would open soon, letting us fly out.\u00a0 Well, apparently, a\u00a0lot<\/em> of other pilots had the same idea.\u00a0 We ended up being number 95 to take-off, and there were at least 100 other planes behind us.\u00a0 But it could have been worse… we just got lucky and got ahead of a Coast Guard C-130 which slowed things down for those behind it.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/a>
A lot of planes had already left when we got to the Mooney. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lots <\/a>
Lots and lots of planes in line. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2063\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The C-130 we got ahead of. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"A <\/a>
A last look at Lakeland from the air. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"And <\/a>
And only a few minutes later, we were landing at Plant City. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

We had spent half a day on Friday and all day on Saturday at the air show, so we decided that was enough and we would plan to head back the next morning.\u00a0 But there was a large cold front heading our way and it looked uncertain as to whether we would be able to head back to Houston.\u00a0 Rick\u00a0had<\/em> to be back Monday morning, so he took a commercial flight (they can usually fly over a cold front) back to Houston.\u00a0 So Chuck and I planned out next moves.\u00a0 We figured we should get as far into our journey as we could before having to land, so we headed for Lake City in northern Florida, landed there and waited out the weather.<\/p>\n

\"Very <\/a>
Very low ceiling on Sunday a.m. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Lake <\/a>
Lake City Airport <\/div> <\/div>
\"Battening <\/a>
Battening down the hatches <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

The front came in about an hour after we landed, rained a bit, and there were some strong winds, but nothing bad.\u00a0 We waited another hour for the worst parts to pass over and get beyond us, then jumped back in the plane, and started heading west.\u00a0 Chuck and his plane are both equipped for IFR flight (when you can’t see the ground, basically, due to some clouds or weather).\u00a0 That helped a little, getting out of Lake City at least an hour ahead of VFR conditions (where you\u00a0can<\/em> see the ground).\u00a0 We bounced around at lower altitudes because, well, when you fly IFR you have to do what they tell you to do.\u00a0 Eventually, the air smoothed out a little, and we got to fly a little higher, and the major bumps were behind us.\u00a0 We were also having to fly a bit slower, so the return trip was longer.\u00a0 Overall, it had been a long day!<\/p>\n

\"It <\/a>
It was worse than it looked, but not too bad. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The fog turned to clouds, and formed up below us. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Further <\/a>
Further along, the clouds were opening up a bit. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Now <\/a>
Now the clouds are well defined and we eventually got above them. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"It's <\/a>
It’s starting to look like a nice day! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We stopped in Picayune Mississippi Airport to refuel <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The nice FBO at Picayune <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The sun reflecting off the Mississippi River <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"4N1A2131\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Crossing <\/a>
Crossing over into Texas <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Very <\/a>
Very interesting breaks placed along the Texas coast <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"And <\/a>
And the sun is going, going… <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Gone!\" <\/a>
Gone! <\/div> <\/div>
\"We <\/a>
We paralleled the Intracoastal Waterway for quite a while. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Beautiful <\/a>
Beautiful patterns <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Finally <\/a>
Finally we see the island and town of Galveston… <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"... <\/a>
… and pass over the Houston Ship Channel and Galveston Bay. Almost home! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

This is our return route:<\/p>\n

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

As you can see, when we finally were lining up for our final descent to the home airport, it was dark.\u00a0 Yep, long day!<\/p>\n

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

This is what our altitude and speed looked like on the return trip (the valleys are Lake City, then Picayune airports):<\/p>\n

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

It was a fun trip and (for me) very educational.\u00a0 I learned a lot more about IFR flight and flight following, and even if the air show had been a bust (it wasn’t, it was very cool, too) then just the long flight in the Mooney was a great experience.<\/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":"

April 13, 14, 15, 2018 On Friday, April 13, 2018, my friend Rick and I were flown by Chuck in his Mooney from Houston to Lakeland, Florida, to enjoy a day and a half of the Sun-N-Fun Air Show.\u00a0 The flight there and back was probably as instructive and enjoyable as actually walking around Sun-n-Fun, … Continue reading Sun N Fun 2018_<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2046,"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":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4844","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-aircraft"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/4N1A1959.jpg?fit=1920%2C944&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4844","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=4844"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4844\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4845,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4844\/revisions\/4845"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4844"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4844"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.texas-flyer.com\/newblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4844"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}