Oh Man Guys,
You gotta get out there and build some parts, plan or do
something this weekend to get built. I am so sorry that I had a 18 month
layoff in the middle of my KR building. I got to the airport this morning
about 5:45 and did some preheating. By 6:15 I was warmed up, run up and
planned out for the morning flight. I took a tour of the Pocono
Mountains. I departed to the East in to a glorious sunrise with the New
York City skyline under it about a seventy five miles to the East. I
followed the Delaware River north through the Delaware water gap after
passing by 2 hot air balloons that were enjoying the beautiful morning.
The corvair is purring along at 3350 with all temp right on normal and
dragging my shabby KR along at 165 indicated. I was son at the first stop
of East Stroudsburg. The only time that I had been on the runway here was
when I used to get launched off a pick up truck in my hang glider. The
run way seemed way shorter now with a displaced threshold of a hundred
feet. I got a little bounce but was stopped with lots of room. Back
taxied and departed for Mt Pocono. Climbing out and turning North the
next landing would 1500 feet higher only about 15 miles away. No one was
there for wind direction so I over flew mid field to check and was able
to turn left into the pattern for 08 and had a fine short landing in
fairly light winds. I decided to depart the opposite way as I wanted to
head west anyway. The departure route took me climbing out just a half
mile north of Pocono Raceway.(Damn -forgot the camera) I headed out to
Hazelton about 35 miles to the northwest at 4500 ft and was there all to
quick to enjoy all that God had out there just for me today . The wind
had picked up some here and the approach end of the pattern was a little
rough, but all ended well and I taxied back to depart again from 10 and
planned on going to Lancaster about 70 miles to the South. When I got
climbed back up to 4500 I could see the cooling towers about 50 miles
south and the steam was laying over pretty good from the northeast. I
decided that the prudent thing to do would be head home before it got
strong on the ground there. I also knew that I would have to land from
the direction that I hate. I was making 180 mph ground speed and again it
passed real quick and soon had to start descending. When I got close to
home I heard they were using the end I hate and made a approach around
the full pattern to prepare myself. The wind wasn't real strong but near
90 cross and with the turbulent tree line and the down hill landing
slope my anxiety was up a little. It was as I thought it would be rough
and bouncy and a lot of trouble too stay straight on line. A little extra
power and 2 notches of flap we were getting there. The plan was 3rd notch
over the threshold- OK - ready - pull OOOPs flap handle broke off. Guess
I am landing fast. The flaps retracted them selves from the air pushing
them up and I planted it down solid and on the brakes right away. She
slowed down and made turn off no problem. Well at least I have something
to work on today. It has been a few weeks sense I had to fix anything.
Total 1.7 hours today 3 new airports and 52.5 on the 3100 and the
KR. Life is more than good it is sweet too.
Joe Horton, Coopersburg, Pa.
joe.kr2s.buil...@juno.com
