Event write-up
(Photos are available at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/DrKarst/WarrentonFlyIn062407)
Saturday was the first time I had a chance to do a local flight since arriving in Virginia and it turned into a wonderful day. By great luck, EAA Chapter 186 planned an RV Fly-In for today at the Warrenton (VA)airport. While still pretty uncomfortable with the idea of flying in this area, I made the quick trip to W66 to meet local RVers. On the ramp, I joined about a dozen RVs....6s, 8s, and a 9.
The morning started with some ramp chats and inspections. I had corresponded and/or spoken with several of the other pilots before moving to Virginia and it was great to meet them in person. The group then gathered for a brief?..very brief?meeting in which RV-8 builder/driver Rob Brooks invited those interested to his hanger for about an hour long workshop on riveting. He had all the relevant tools spread out and a drilled piece of scrap aluminum for everyone to use for practice. What a great session! Having purchased my RV, I appreciated the opportunity to learn and practice.
After a free lunch, provided by the chapter, some of us took interested folks up in our RVs. Sorta like an adult ?Young Eagles? event. Eric, a student pilot who was familiar with the area, traded his knowledge of the geographic landmarks around Warrenton for some stick time in my -6.
After the flights, many of us stuck around to socialize. Our hanger host and the president of the EAA chapter had a beautiful C-195 that he was proud to show off. Otherwise, we hung out and did the usual hanger flying. The locals kept commenting throughout the afternoon about what a beautiful day it was (true by any standard) and how we were unlikely to see another such day until the fall. Heeding their warning, I changed my plans to return home and decided to take a longer flight down through the Shenandoah Valley.
I pulled back the throttle and made lazy ?S? turns as I cruised south from Fort Royal, enjoying the scenery and the clear day. Compared to my beloved West, the view was terribly green, but nonetheless, beautiful. Two features stood out?.the classic valley-and-ridge topography (appealing to the geologist in me) and the abundance of long, narrow, white buildings. They reminded me of the confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Missouri but lacked adjacent sewage lagoons. But, I recall hearing that the Valley was filling with massive chicken houses and I guessed that these were huge chicken coups.
Headed back to my new home at Shannon, the air was mostly smooth and clear. I decided that I had better take advantage of the weather and join the breakfast run the following morning. As I approached Shannon, a Cessna pilot seemed to be having problems with the relatively short field and twice announced that he was going around. Trying to keep from pressuring him, I pulled back the power, announced my entry into the downwind, and gave him plenty of time to make a relaxed landing?.?cept a Bonanza darted into the space and announced himself as #2. Seems that flying around here may be a lot like drive?.if you don?t tailgate, someone will cut you off!
Many thanks to the EAA #186 members for a great day!
