Flying a big bird with the big boys

Recently I was invited to observe airliner pilot training, and it was great to see how the professionals handled engine fires, bad weather, and other unforeseen events. Flying the big bird myself was tons of fun.

Where and with whom? That's unfortunately classified... ;-)

50 degrees of separation

One week ago I had dinner at Real Aeroclub de Grand Canaria Restaurante, and the temperature was +23C. Today I had lunch at Røros in -27C. I was afraid of freezing my nose off, but the aircraft engine stayed warm, with a blanket on top and the heater plugged in. The GPS, however, needed a few moments of body contact to get back to life after take-off for Kjeller.

Flying 350 NM over Southern Norway in CAVOK is a remarkable experience. It was chilly at Kjeller as Tore removed the ice accumulated in the hangar, and it got colder by the minute as we headed north.

At Vermundsjøen an ultralight trike had landed for the fly-in season opening of the local Diner, but we had not received confirmation of the ice condition on the lake, and kept on flying. Røros was cold but dry. Back at Kjeller the wings immediately froze as we pushed the plane back in the hangar. Tomorrow it is supposed to be snowing again. However grounded, I will still be elevated by today's experience.

Ready for new adventures

I had to do my annual check ride at ENKJ in order to stay current at the two flying clubs early this year, as I had skipped this ritual in 2008. CFI David (picture) and I had a smooth ride in LN-NRF on a mild and sunny winther day. After a few months with too much writing on my PhD thesis and too little flying, I am current again, and ready for new adventures. Soon the thesis will also be submitted.