Takeoffs are optional, landings are not . . . .

Steve of Dolphin Aviation happened to take this video.  Not sure why he was watching, but it shows Niner Niner Five flying by.  I wonder if the actual landing was one my instructor liked or shook his head at!  (smile)

What's in a name . . . .

The Harley is named Lacey.  The plane may soon be named Alexandra.  What you ask, is the association?  It's pretty simple:

Queen Alexandra's birdwing

Insect

Ornithoptera alexandrae, the Queen Alexandra's birdwing, is the largest butterfly in the world, with females reaching wingspans slightly in excess of 25 cm. It is restricted to the forests of the Oro Province in eastern Papua New Guinea.

Scientific name: Ornithoptera alexandrae
Phylum: Arthropoda
Higher classification: Ornithoptera
Rank: Species
Order: Butterflies and moths

The joy of ownership . . . .

The mission today, fly a few miles over to Lake Wales, KX07, for fuel.  It is $3.50 per gallon there.  Almost $6.00 at Sarasota.  It was calm and an easy, pleasant flight.  Fueling was simple enough too except you had to stand on the fueling hose to keep it from retracting on its own.  The spring in the rewind mechanism is strong enough to retract 60 feet of heavy hose, and there is quite some force when the hose is fully unreeled.

The mission became interesting when departing.  The plane wouldn't start.  The battery was too weak.  After a half dozen calls because the FBO did not have the means to help, a local pilot and skydiver said he had a start cart and we were again running reasonably soon.  Good voltage.  Alternator must be good.  We flew home without incident and the plane started after shutting it down on the ramp in Sarasota.  But . . . .

A new battery and install:  $500.00.  Corporate Aviation will have it installed Tuesday.  The joy of ownership . . . .

The ride from her old home to her new . . . .

It worked.  The plan, I had a stopover in DTW coming home from Asia on Friday.  My instructor Don could take Friday off and catch a commercial nonstop ride to meet me.  Saturday and Sunday were available for the the ride from her old home to her new.  Watching the weather.  Watching the weather.  Watching the weather.  It ultimately looked like it's possible.  So I didn't get on the commercial flight home after clearing customs and Don and I went to Port Clinton!

I got to see the plane for the first time Friday night and was thrilled.  Exactly what I bargained for and expected.  The seller Joe is the consummate gentleman!  The next morning, watching the weather, there were some concerns but we lifted off at 0900 in calm winds and clear skies after signing a few papers.

The flight plan for the KPCW to KAVL leg is here.  The briefing, here.

The first hours of the flight were interesting with a few altitude changes to stay clear of weather but then all was clear and smooth and back to 8500 ft.  We made KAVL about 1215 after being routed in and around the mountains and valleys.  Fuel used 38 gallons.  Then it got better.  We made KSRQ just after 1600.  Ground speed was often more than 160 knots.  Fuel used 66 gallons.  Overall a little less than 15 gph.  N65995 spent last night in her new group hanger at Dolphin Aviation.

The best part of the voyage, the autopilot!  It was good to just watch outside and inside, becoming familiar with the G1000 panel, Traffic, and SVT.  The worst, FSS said they didn't see the flight plan when I radioed to open it, so we simply used Flight Following.  Flight Following is comforting but best practice is having a Flight Plan, too.

Flying N65995 is going to be too cool!