It's great when friends drop in for a visit … especially when it's from above ! While it was an unexpected visit, it was definitely welcome and appreciated.

Thanks guys!

It's was a bit windy for any casual flying. It was extremely windy for any blimp flying!

The Despicablimp was making its way south and trying to stay as low as possible in an attempt to avoid excess head wind. Unfortunately that made for a rough ride as they porpoised along and right over 53VG.

Just as low temperatures are affecting the farmers’ schedule for planting, the excessive wind is making the regular aerial application to the fields near impossible. The only option is to fly before the wind builds. Most days over the last month, the winds have been quite just around dawn but pickup quickly as the morning progresses.

The lone crop duster in the area has had to fly earlier and earlier as well as in overcast and even misty mornings to get his job done.

Today was no exception as he was working the fields, just across the road from the farmhouse …

I was reading a recent discussion about modern navigation options for pilots. This particular discussion centered on the usefulness (or lack there of) of VOR radio navigation for VFR pilots. The discussion touched on the lesser used skill of “pilotage“.

This got me thinking – pilotage is a lot like geocaching for airplane people !

So, here goes – my first Pilotage Challenge. It is located on the Delmarva peninsula and I have created two set of clues. Using just the first set of clues, it is possible to find the mystery location. If you get stumped or want to confirm you have the right location, the second set of clues will tell you exactly what you are looking for. (I have provided a link for the second set of clues as to not give away anything.) The textual clue is “you are looking for something that looks like its meant for pilots but its not.”

Pilotage Challenge – Clue set #1 (click for full size version)
Pilotage Challenge – Clue set #2 (click for full size version)

To complete the challenge – without cheating – you must locate the interesting thing on the ground indicated by the marker in the images. Cheating refers to using anything other than the images provided and looking out the window. If you think you found it, take a picture and email it to moc.gv35@werc. At the end of the summer, after some entries have been received, a winner will be chosen at random from all correct responses.
big fat hint: 38.468, -75.562

A resent discussion on an Internet forum full of pilots was on the
topic of flying at higher altitudes and the need for supplemental
oxygen.

The FAA has very clear rules on the subject but those rules make a lot
of assumptions about the physiology of the “median pilot”. Some pilots
would benefit from supplemental oxygen at altitudes below the FAA
mandated levels.

One very simple and inexpensive tool can make the decision a lot
easier – a Fingertip Pulse Oximeter.

I now have one and it was less than $35. Pretty cheap equipment by
airplane standards!

There are not a lot of tasks to accomplish at the farm ahead of severe weather. Yesterday, they harvested the soy beans. Today, I loaded the freezer, filled some water jugs, pulled the vehicles into the garage, and got all of the mowing done.

The last outdoor task – and the one that truly signals fowl weather – is lowering the windsock. (*The last time it was down was for hurricane Irene.* )