I went up last night to take log some full-moon time. I haven't done night
flying in many years and can't remember ever flying with a full-moon (in a
civilian aircraft). I tried a couple nights ago but between the time I started
my preflight and was ready to climb in for the start the weather went from
beautiful moon-light skies to overcast. And I'm not slow!
Last night was perfect. Skies mostly clear and light and variable surface
winds. At around 10pm on this Saturday evening the radio traffic on tower
frequency was very light. My airport destination on the eastern plains of
Colorado was approx 55 N.miles at 101 degrees Mag Heading. It was very smooth
and found I had a 20mph tailwind at about 2000agl. The skies seemed to belong
to me with almost no air traffic to be seen. It seemed there was plenty of
highway traffic far off into the distance. I had the desire to keep flying
far into the night and would've if I could only tune into AM radio to keep me
company.
Nearing my destination I keyed 122.9 a few times and the runway lights
illuminated. Coming overhead I could see the nearby Wendy's - convenience
store and trinket shop complex was already closed but there was another
convience store - gas station open across the street. Descending into the
pattern I could see my moonshine shadow on the empty fields below. I greased
the landing, as usual, but at the ramp I could find no tiedown ropes or chains
whatsoever! I taxied around in circles looking but found none. With the
lack of surface winds and apparent stable weather I decided I could chance it
without tying-down. I parked next to the the only other aircraft on the ramp
which was chained down. HIs windscreen was covered with dew and I wondered if
that would happen to my little bird. It was approaching midnight.
I walked that 1/2mile in the cold darkness to the convenience store, bought
goodies and coffee and headed back. As I walked along the road some
country-guy stopped to offer me a ride in his pickup truck but I told him "I'm
just going over to the airport", pointing.
I climbed aboard, settled things in, fired it up and continued. I could kiss
my motor as it runs so nicely. Taxiing toward a place for runup I passed a
tiedown spot with chains. Curse. I was concerned about having enough runway
to get off so on the roll I gave it 10 degrees of flaps as the book suggests.
My cup of coffee was parked between my legs. My plane (bluebird) floated off
nicely and climbed out over the dark treeless countryside. Turning left
toward home I passed a truck-packed truck-stop after a mile. I broke out the
sandwich and enjoyed the ride and view, steering with my rudder pedals.
I kept it a lower altitude to avoid the winds aloft. I practiced some
instrument flying and may as well have been in a simulator as it was so smooth.
I passed by some car with headlights on in the middle of a large field and
wondered what was going on there.
Fast-forward, arrived at my destination, squeeked it on again made the first
turnoff onto the ramp and my nearby parking spot. The tower didn't even bother
to say 'taxi to parking this frequency'. I forgot to say 'goodnight tower'
but maybe that would've made them sleepy.
I'll go somewhere else next time the moon comes around.
