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Thursday, October 08, 2009

Good Morning, Shreveport

Waking up at 4:00am is never fun, especially when you are used to waking up late.  Sometimes though, it does provide for a spectacular morning.  I was headed for work, as there is no other reason for me to be up that early.  The weather this morning is low IFR, with visibility under a mile and low clouds.  Three passengers are here to go to Shreveport, and while doing the preflight walkaround I am thinking of all the risk we are about to take on for three people.  After losing an engine two months ago, I think about if the weather had been like this when it happened.  The weather is too low in Dallas for us to come back if something goes wrong, and Waco, 60nm south, is chosen as our emergency airport.  The visibility is also too low in Shreveport for us to land, so I’m wondering where the flight will end up.  It seems inane to send the plane out with nowhere to go*, but they load us up with about 6 hours of fuel and tell us to hope for the best. 

I’m at the controls as we throw forward the throttle, the airplane shakes with power as it speeds down into the blackness of early morning.  As the light ATR quickly accelerates to liftoff speed, we bring up the landing gear and are immediately swallowed by the orange clouds, lit up by the awakening city below.  Intruding on their sleep, the clouds are cranky and welcome us with violent bumps and turbulence.  With apologies, we quickly try to get out of their way, climbing to 7,000 feet, and with a sudden calmness the airplane surfaces from the clouds like a submarine, greeted by the first yellow and orange rays of sunlight the day will offer. 

I can’t help but admire the view; holding the cold yoke in one hand, power levers in the other, feeling a little bit of pride for reaching this secret location.  This morning’s sunrise is supposed to be hidden from view.  It makes it all the more special.  Soon though, work comes back into the equation.  We still have nowhere to go.  With Shreveport swamped in thick fog and low clouds, we begin holding over the Quittman VOR to wait and watch.  The good news is that conditions in Dallas have improved to the point where we can go back if/when we need to.  It’s actually a pretty nice way to spend the morning.  At 13,000 feet, flying in slow circles, I sip on my cranapple juice and watch the sun rise slowly over a sea of clouds.  For an hour we enjoy the view before heading back to DFW. 

Once we get back, the company wants us to wait an hour and then try again.  Why not just wait to begin with?  Who knows.  But an hour later, the weather is much better and we make it all the way to Shreveport, pick up 6 people and fly back to Dallas.  About $3000 for all that, so I’m hoping their tickets cost $333 each to at least break even.  Probably not, but I had fun.

*We were able to fly to either Killeen or Waco at all times during the flight.  We’d never actually take off without being able to divert to an alternate airport!

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Slipping the surly bonds of Earth

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Apple iPhone Review

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Monday, October 17, 2005

Flight Team results

Back in Spring Semester of 05, myself and the other flight team officers looked to each other and set a goal for our team.  We decided that this year, we were going to do well enough at the Regional NIFA Safecon Competition that we would be invited to the national competition.  The KSU flight team has not been to the national competition in 19 years.  So, let me tell you that this was no small feat; to revamp the team, practice, learn, and keep up with everything else in our lives.  A lot of you all know that I haven’t been around a lot for a while.  This is why.  October 9-16 was the Regional Competition at Western University in Battle Creek Michigan.  It was one of the best expiriences of my life.  It was cool to see all the other teams and planes and talk to them.  It was also really cool to see our team come together from almost nothing and perform so well.  Usually 3 teams from our region (about 7 colleges) make it to the national competition.  This year they were only going to take the top two.  Western Michigan always wins first.  Ohio State University always wins second.  The third place spot is always fought for.  Last year we lost the third spot to Ohio University by 6 points out of hundreds.  This year Ohio State University is hosting the National Competition, so it turns out that they go to nationals no matter what.  This means that there was still a spot even with W.M. in 1st and OSU in 2nd.  Well, this year we worked our asses off all semester and all week.  It came down to the awards banquet Saturday night.  Our hearts on the line as they announce each of the top 10 winners of each event.  When it came down to it, the Kent State University Precision Flight Team….came in second place!  We even beat the “unbeatable” Ohio State!  That means that the only reason Ohio State will be at nationals is because they are hosting it!  It’s so awesome!  If you work hard enough for anything you can do it - ANYTHING!

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Quakecon 2005

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