Flaminghotsauce's blog

[flaminghotsauce]

Just thought I'd post a pic of my "New" small corner office:



While I'm sitting at home nursing my foooot, here's my new setup. I took a small desk, pulled the drawer out and inset the Saitek yoke into the hole. There's a small piece of 1/4" plywood under it for stability. I pulled the top drawer out, and attached the throttles to the second drawer. I have to push the bottom of the drawer in to pinch it tight. I moved the entire setup into an area half the size as before.

The advantage is now the yoke is more properly sittin on my lap. That's my knee in the plaid pajamas. Yes, football streaming online, and my foot pillow on the left.... ;D

[flaminghotsauce]

I got the Track IR 5 system for Christmas. Takes some getting used to but it is a great add- on. I find it's much better for VFR flight than IFR flight, however. In IFR, I really need to concentrate on the panel, the scanning, the tuning of radio frequencies, OBS knobs, and so forth. It's actually a distraction in that area.

But for VFR, it is wonderful. I am able to see the runway more easily during circuits around the patch, I can look down to check my trim setting, see the sights, etc. without using the pan switch. It's very cool.

[flaminghotsauce]

Good news. I'm back 100% on my feet. I'm walking routes again. Bad news. It's COLD! We're going below zero tonight.

I've been practicing my NDB approaches. Rust has crept in. I've flown a half-dozen approaches and I make a key mistake just about every time. One approach I misread my altimeter and busted altitude by 1,000'. another approach I turned the procedure turn fish hook, but I thought I was turning on the final bearing too late and turned in quickly. But I was mistaken, and turned way too soon.

Practice makes perfect.

I also have been exploring local area airport approaches that I've never gone IFR into. I'm usually just goofing around VFR in these areas. One has an IAF which is an intersection of VOR radials with DME. They're more interesting than I would have thought!

Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[Ed Burke]

Great news FHS. Back on the feet is the way to be for sure 'cos when we stop walking our system thinks it can rest up and that's not a good scene.

NDB approaches are really good. I reckon they are the biggest challenge we can face in IMC and getting one right on the ball in strong winds is a blast. Have fun and have a great 2010.

OH, ALL RIGHT ! THE REST OF YOU BGA TYPES HAD BETTER HAVE A GOOD TIME TOO IN 2010 OR SANTA WILL GIVE YOU THE FLICK NEXT TIME AROUND !!

[flaminghotsauce]

Just an update. My wife and I lost our child last Sunday. She was 17 weeks along when it all came undone. ER bill, no baby.

Then came Haiti. A good friend of mine has done missionary work there, but the church and school he's been working with is at least 90 miles from Port-au-Prince, and the epicenter. I haven't heard any updates about his friend Mika and their school. No news.

A good friend of mine at the Post Office took vacation before Christmas and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. She was home, sucking down O2, unable to work. She suddenly passed away night before last. Age 57.

This week has been a twisting emotional turmoil. We're doing okay after all this, but it sure makes your brain turn 'round awkwardly. Life is short. Thank God for all your blessings every day. Enjoy your loved ones, your toys and joys, and live well. I hope today finds all you guys well.

[Ed Burke]

My sincere condolances Kevin on the loss of the babe, I know how rough that can be. Along with your PO friend AND the Haiti question marks, I think you and yours must be due for good news, I hope so. Hang in there, Ed

[Allen Peterson]

Flame,
It's hard to know what to say after reading your words and setting here looking at a blank screen.
You have my sincere condolances, and hang in there.
You gotta keep a-goin'.
Allen

[flaminghotsauce]

Thanks you guys. Oddly, the blessings are in there when I look. My friend that died leaves me her full time route at work. I will get the promotion to fill her spot, a big raise, benefits (haven't had those in 2.5 decades!), and solidity in our financial life. My wife miscarried on my one day off so I was home. How much worse would it have been if I'd be miles away? I normally keep my cell phone off, so she wouldn't have been able to reach me.

There's a lot of good things that fell just right. That's part of the twisting the brain goes through, bad mixed with good.

We had a "Reboot 2010" drink last night. We're SO starting this year over.

[hanspetter]

My sincere condolences. I popped by to see what was going on after being absent for a while. We'll leave the flightsim trivia until later.

[Bill Von Sennet]

Flaming,

I have been in a somber mood watching all the news from Haiti. I can't imagine how down you and your wife must be. We will remember you in our prayers.

[flaminghotsauce]

WOW. We just got the Doctor's bill today. He was there less than 10 minutes, more like 4 or 5, most of which was spent asking questions like "Who is your regular physician?". He wants $738 for this! Just wow. What is that, $5,000/hour? The nurse did everything, and we had to wait for a couple of extra hours while everyone got tied up with incoming patients other than us. One patient came in on the helicopter, and we could smell the Jet-A in the room. Cool.

I'm going to ask what the cash payment is, to see if I can get a better deal.
I do this regularly. Ask for a cash price, and often times they'll knock off a bunch. I had 25% knocked off an X-ray session. They've already discounted over $500 off the ER bill because I asked.

[Allan_Lowson]

Truly sorry to hear of your loss. We'll keep you and the family in our prayers.

[flaminghotsauce]

I'm getting geared up to fly to Vancouver in the Beech 35 Vtail, I think. I am still exploring it's capabilities to see how well it'll cross the mountains. I might change planes yet, not sure.

My goal is to make it a more adventurous cross country flight than just popping into a King Air, or jet. I don't want to make the trip in one leg. I want to have to figure stops, and keep the legs no more than two hours each. I'll have to fly several legs this way. I think its a good 8 hours at 150-ish knots.

I figured the Olympics are going on, road trip, er, go flying! I set up a VOR to VOR flight plan, it defaults to 16,000' which should get it over the mountains, printed out and ready whenever I get some time to fly a leg of it. I have to look over the fuel, range, etc. and decide how many are going along. I'll surely need more than 20 lbs of gear in the back, I'll have to figure what I need. I may then figure whether I have chosen the right aircraft. I might even take a Caravan, it'll haul the whole family.

How long do the Olympics go on? A week?

[Tom Goodrick]

The Olympics end a week from next Sunday.

I jumped to Vancouver several days ago and then flew around the area in a helicopter and in a Shrike. There's a neat airport to land at near the ski activities. It is CYSE with a single runway, 14/32, 2400 ft long at a low elevation (175 ft) next to a river that leads to an inlet just north of CYVR.

I looked at routes to Huntsville from Vancouver. They all passed near Kirksville. Several had an MEA of 13,000 ft which is more reasonable for the piston planes. But, these routes would have you and yours on oxygen for at least two hours. That's a lot of O2. The straight shot near the Canadian border is the shortest way through the mountains but the MEA is 17,000 ft.

Without pressurization you can go to 15,000 ft to safely get obver most mountains but you must remember to come down slowly (at about 500 fpm) to avoid ear pain for your passengers. The Caravan is also unpressurized though it can fly high like the turbocharged piston aircraft.

You might be able to get into the Snake River Canyon heading toward Portland and stay fairly low to Portland and then go north. This route might take you through Salt Lake City and up through Boise. To get to Salt Lake city you can go across Wyoming through some passes.

[Allen Peterson]

Hi Flame,
The following route will get you from KIRK to CYVR and not get above 10,000'. When you get to KLWT climb to 9000', that should get you to CYVR and keep you clear of the rocks by 1000' or so.
When you get close to CYVR then head north to CYSE. If you were to fly direct from CYXC to CYSE that would take you further north over higher terrain.
When you fly at 9000' in clear or fair weather you will get a good view of the mountains. If you take the kids along, get a good map of southern Canada and have them identify the rivers and streams along the way.
Have a good flight.

KIRK - KLWT - CEA6 - CYXC - CYVR