Flying Summers Brothers

Monday, August 24

The last two legs

KABQ – KDVT – KSMO

Part of the lost trip report.

The last day was easy flying. I think we all slept well, but I don’t know because I stumbled into dreamland, tripped over something, and came to eight hours later. The breakfast at the hotel was not horrific and we headed to the airport. 

I really like Cutter in Albuquerque. It’s not the fanciest or most modern FBO we have been to, but the people are really good at their jobs and they don’t treat the little planes as second class citizens. We were tied down around the corner from the main ramp, fully fueled, and the tie down job was really secure. That’s important when you are in for a night of fast moving storms. Click to continue »

Saturday, August 22 2009

Westward ho!

KMMU – KCAK – KCMI – KSPI

(Part of the lost trip report.)

MORRISTOWN

Our departure out of Morristown was our first return-to-field event as a family. (I had done this once with Art in the plane taking off out of Long Beach after service.) The truth is, I expected the plane to misbehave a little since it had been sitting for a week. Well, that and I always expect the engine to quit at any moment. That’s what I am planning for. Click to continue »

Wednesday, August 12

Not Even Enough Time to Switch Tanks

KACB – KTVC

Part of the lost trip report.

Click to continue »

Tuesday, August 11

North of Canada... the United States?

CNK4 – KANJ – KACB

Part of the lost trip report.

The time at the Lake was superb. Dexter got very into fishing and, even though he didn’t catch very much, it gave him motivation to see more of the shoreline, other little lakes nearby, and one of the creeks that feeds the Lake. As great as it was, my friend TW kept telling me that his place on Torch Lake would give any lake in Ontario a run for its money, so I started planning our next flight. Click to continue »

Thursday, August 6

Escaping to the North

KLEB – CYTZ – CNK4

Part of the lost trip report.

The summer is all about the boys seeing some places other than home. The airplane is great for that. So far they have seen nearly every state (we’re missing Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Iowa, and a couple southern ones; I don’t think we’re going to ever have a reason to fly through North Dakota, so we might have to just call that one Canada and let it go). More importantly, they have seen a real variety of places, from college towns to Washington, D.C., the town of Marfa, Texas out in the middle of the high desert, and the non-town of Pontiac, Illinois set amongst infinite cornfields. Next winter vacation is meant to be a flight down to the Keys. I would like to stop in Marfa again on our way there. Click to continue »

Sunday, August 1

East over the Lakes

KMSN – KIAG – KLEB

Part of the lost trip report.

The thunderstorm line swept over us in the night and dissipated out over Lake Michigan. The breakfast at the hotel was surprisingly good (I have gotten used to trying to find anything edible in an “included” breakfast sort of buffet, not much effort was required that morning). Once we are packed up, the hotel shuttle van took us back to our FBO for departure. Along the way, Nell lamented that we didn’t get anything Wisconsin-specific during our stay and ventured that maybe the cheese is something to write home about. The van driver, a college-aged woman, say that it’s cheap, and that’s good, but that it’s nothing special, just fresh cheese. She then proceeded to give a running commentary about what the party scene was like around the university and how we are lucky to be there when school is not in session. Click to continue »