The Flying Thread

[Timberridge]

500 kts at 500 AGL sounds exciting

[Ted Striker]

250 at 50' is pretty fun

[Meadow Skipper]

250 at 50' is pretty fun

You shoulda gone into wildfire suppression.

[XXX-er]

most years those guys driving a flight of airtractors stop at the local craftbrew to raise a pint and toast the mission, my sense is they all be having way too much fun,

[present tense]

First off, passenger here not a pilot. Came into Sacramento today from Denver with no flaps. 737-800, midday, clear weather. I’m not a frequent flyer, so not sure how common that is? shakes the nerves a little when they bring out rescue trucks to flank the runway. Landing aborted on first try and crew regrouped for a second attempt.

[GBB]

I'm a newb- I passed my checkride last month. Total process took about a year and a half. It can definitely be done much faster, but I had to start and stop multiple times because of work getting in the way.

Awesome. Year and half with a full time job doesn’t sound all that bad, actually.

Sick photos, Norse. Have always wanted to visit Greenland.

[Norseman]

I'll pass the accolades on to my broheem. Sure af made me jealous.

~

Congrats Kevo. Post more aerial pr0n!

[Ted Striker]

First off, passenger here not a pilot. Came into Sacramento today from Denver with no flaps. 737-800, midday, clear weather. I’m not a frequent flyer, so not sure how common that is? shakes the nerves a little when they bring out rescue trucks to flank the runway. Landing aborted on first try and crew regrouped for a second attempt.

Flapless landing, uncommon. Fire trucks, common. You pretty much always call for them during any abnormal approach & landing. In that particular instance they're mandatory because they have an infrared gun to measure brake temperature from the truck (or just see flames with their eyes).

The 73/8 has fairly high approach speeds with flaps, and is a bit of a runway hog, and the brakes are easy to heat up even under normal circumstances. And to top it off, SMF doesn't have super long runways. It's definitely a situation where if you're off the numbers/profile even just a little, going around for a second attempt is the prudent move.

[NBABUCKS1]

flew around in a heli a couple weeks ago in Alaska for work. My company makes fancy generators and we had to replace a unit on top of a shorter mountain. Took off from Wasilla and landed just outside Denali State park on the mountain top. We had to sling our old one out and put the new one in. We flew up the valley because it was kind of socked in (RIP Kobe) but were able to fly up the straight shot back because weather vastly improved. It was a good day.







https://youtube.com/shorts/hTuaYc-PlYI

https://youtube.com/shorts/7QlMJI0sIKE

apparently stupid shorts won't load natively so you have click on those sorry

[benk]

Great pics^ love the tones with the leaves turning color.

Not a pilot but fortunate enough to land a job in aerial photography/survey. Thought about getting my privates for a while but hard to stomach the cost and upkeep unless someone is paying.

For those looking, most survey outfits work a 2on/off schedule that allows for a lot of time to play(ski) in your off time. One of the best jobs I could’ve imagined after graduating. Here’s a few of my favorite images I’ve taken in the last 11 years on the job.


F-15 taken from the ramp at PDX


Mt Hood National Forest


Yosemite with NPS approval


Brooks Range, AK


Denali NP


Marketing shots


Mt Hood, during Covid quarantine


Kachemak Bay, AK


Denali

[Kevo]

Oh man, amazing pics NBABucks and Benk. Thanks for sharing. Alaska and the PNW is so unbelievably beautiful, especially from the air.

[Ted Striker]

Wow, this thread keeps delivering. Just stunning shots.

[Timberridge]

Bravo!

[mangle]

Here's one from yesterday morning, taken coming into Swan Valley from Pine Creek Pass.

[Kevo]

Ha, awesome. I just flew through there today on my way back to Driggs from Afton.



Where'd you head from there? There are some really good options.

[zion zig zag]

Here's one from yesterday morning, taken coming into Swan Valley from Pine Creek Pass.

Very cool. I hiked that ridge in the foreground a couple of weeks ago.

[mangle]

Went down to Afton as I'm trying to finish up xc time for an instrument. Tuesday was West Yellowstone, which was also rather pretty.

I bailed on Big Sky yesterday, as the winds weren't great. Driggs was surprisingly gusty at the 22 end around noon, which made for some interesting landings in a new-to-me tailwheel. Was hoping to get some more time today, but it's already gusting to 20. There are a few days next week that look ok.

[Kevo]

I had a 17 knot headwind when I landed in Driggs yesterday afternoon. Was definitely interesting.

What's up with West Yellowstone? A few people had told me that KWYS shut down on Oct 1st for a seasonal closure, but sounds like no?

KEKS has been on my list of places to XC to as well.

Cool that you're getting your instrument rating. At some point I'm hoping go down the same path of instrument + tail dragger.

[mangle]

So kind of a funny one - WYS was dead Tuesday, and the AWOS went out of service at 10AM Tuesday, right after I left, so I was a little concerned I might have missed a NOTAM and landed at a closed airport. A quick call to the FBO and I learned that they're likely closing for the season tomorrow because of the incoming snow (it's not plowed in the winter).

The new taildragger is a Citabria, and I've been having a bit of a rough time in it solo in gusty conditions - a second person providing ballast seems to make a huge difference.

[Norseman]

Recent Montana shots from my bro.



Tobacco Roots, looking south






Madison range, looking NE

[mangle]

Reno Air Races anyone? Tickets went on sale today. This will be the last year. Perhaps we'll get to see all the unlimiteds back for one last hurrah.

[Name Redacted]

I used to fly Robinsons as a CFI/CFII and have flown a few Citabrias, Cessnas, Pipers, Katanas etc but haven't finished my fixed wing ratings. Don't fly much anymore, would like to but can't justify spending money on something that could be taken away at the drop of a hat due to medical BS.

Hey Driggs pilots, I know your new airport manager.

[rockcreek]

Recent Montana shots from my bro.



Tobacco Roots, looking south






Madison range, looking NE

These are badass

[mangle]

Reno Air Races were awesome, minus the midair. I'm eagerly awaiting 2025 and it's possible they'll pick Casper, WY.

Meanwhile, a new-to-me plane:

[J. Barron DeJong]

That looks awesome.