With 6 months to go until retiring from the military, I’ve been attempting to get my ducks in a row for the civilian Pt. II of my life – on the list has been getting my ATP-H prior to dishing out resumes. Off to a military friendly 141 operation in Denton, Tx.
I waffled between driving and flying (largely due to the summer convective activity over pretty much my entire flight path. Watching the long-range closely, it was looking promising for flying – 6 hours vs. 2 days… The point of no return – 2 days before my start date – the forecast looked good. Sunday AM, the morning of departure, was a slightly different story. Beautiful at home base, but shortly west – around Montgomery – fairly socked in. My VFR fuel stop in Louisiana was looking good for my ETA. I decided to file an IFR leg from Montgomery forward to an IFR gas stop as back up if needed.
Hard to get a better morning for departure:
Almost on cue, the weather begins coming down over Montgomery, so I pick up my IFR over MGM VOR:
Pretty soon I’m over a solid overcast:
Closer to my fuel stop, it begins to break up and build up with the mid-day heat:
I decide to cancel my IFR (VFR fuel stop much cheaper), descend, and land at my VFR location. Getting low beneath the scattered layer – bumpy and hot!!
Can’t miss my field, it’s just past this little landmark on the Louisiana side:
Welcome to Oak Grove, La. and $3.85 100LL:
I decide to file IFR for the second leg and have to use FSS. Been a LONG time since I filed with a briefer – no WIFI is sometimes the price of cheap fuel in the middle of nowhere - it was almost nostalgic in some sense. Also a price of cheap fuel is not being able to reach ATC at a reasonable altitude.
Luckily I was able to continue my climb VFR until able to get Memphis center and receive my clearance. I initially filed 6000’ but asked for 8000’ in the climb to clear tops. Looks just about right:
I waffled between driving and flying (largely due to the summer convective activity over pretty much my entire flight path. Watching the long-range closely, it was looking promising for flying – 6 hours vs. 2 days… The point of no return – 2 days before my start date – the forecast looked good. Sunday AM, the morning of departure, was a slightly different story. Beautiful at home base, but shortly west – around Montgomery – fairly socked in. My VFR fuel stop in Louisiana was looking good for my ETA. I decided to file an IFR leg from Montgomery forward to an IFR gas stop as back up if needed.
Hard to get a better morning for departure:
Almost on cue, the weather begins coming down over Montgomery, so I pick up my IFR over MGM VOR:
Pretty soon I’m over a solid overcast:
Closer to my fuel stop, it begins to break up and build up with the mid-day heat:
I decide to cancel my IFR (VFR fuel stop much cheaper), descend, and land at my VFR location. Getting low beneath the scattered layer – bumpy and hot!!
Can’t miss my field, it’s just past this little landmark on the Louisiana side:
Welcome to Oak Grove, La. and $3.85 100LL:
I decide to file IFR for the second leg and have to use FSS. Been a LONG time since I filed with a briefer – no WIFI is sometimes the price of cheap fuel in the middle of nowhere - it was almost nostalgic in some sense. Also a price of cheap fuel is not being able to reach ATC at a reasonable altitude.
Luckily I was able to continue my climb VFR until able to get Memphis center and receive my clearance. I initially filed 6000’ but asked for 8000’ in the climb to clear tops. Looks just about right:
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