Aviation

Aircraft Piloting and all the fun there is in the sky!

---

This is the plane a 1969 Piper Cherokee 160 'C-FYPS'

 

 

Martin after his first flight with C-FYPS from CZBB to CYPK!

---

GMT

This was one of those great days on the west coast of Vancouver Island. there were clouds mid-island and I had to skirt them. I also had a 30Kt head wind when landing at Tofino. That means that the touchdown speed was less than 40 Kts! Since the runway is 5000' long the 'taxi' to the departure point for my friends was a long one. The flight back was brisk too! Munching on fries was a novel treat. Since owning my own plane I have discovered you have the luxury to come and go when you please. This time I was on a tight time schedule (flight plan) so it was time for take out! The islands in the series are part of Pacific Rim Provincial Park.

Port Hardy is a small community at the extreme northern tip of Vancouver Island. From Vancouver the flight is about 2 and a half hours. This summer day was not a good one so the landscape looks pretty dreary. Usually it will look more like the Tofino pics. The best thing is that I got to fly it and the weather was just another thing to think about. We thought a few times we would have to turn back to ZBB. I was taking a friend up there to meet his girlfriend. I just wanted to fly! I stayed there the night as the weather dropped right after we landed. In fact I had to turn back on the return because the weather dropped again and started chasing me! So in fact, I had two trips to Port Hardy that weekend. I am so glad they had hot chocolate there! Just to put the trip in perspective, the drive is well over 11 hours! I did get to do the last leg of the journey low over YVR this is not an often allowed event. I love watching the Commercial liners taking off and landing 1600 feet below me as i pass over the threshold! Too cool!

This flight was great! The last few months have been pretty dreary and I was wanting to go cross-country for a long while. I had the plan to fly all weekend but the weather came down for Friday and Saturday. I was able to get in only a quick tour of Vancouver (forgot the camera) on Friday, and Saturday a quick jaunt over to Nanaimo (YCD). Then Sunday morning (Easter) it was beautiful! I had to do the family gathering with the relatives later in the day but, I had a few hours... I got to the airport and there was even better news. The entire southern half of BC was clear! Now I had to decide where to go! I realized that I had only brought my B VFR chart with me so I had to fly within the region of the map. I looked the furthest east and hmmm... Penticton! right on the edge with a few millimetres to spare! Well with a little planning I saw that one and a half hours and I would be there. (driving is about 8 hours) So fill the tanks, filed the flight plan, and off I went! I got there with the plane performing beautifully and a got a lot of great pics. The restaurant at the airport was closed so I opted to take a cab to get the drive-thru experience! Never take a cab in that town if you can avoid it. A 7 minute 5 Km ride was $20! add the $7 for the 'meal' and I could have ordered and had delivered a large with the works from the local pizza joint! During the flight, I took the opportunity a quick self-portrait for the friends who have not seen me for a while. So be warned!