I was thumbing through my logbook and came across the entry dated 9/16/06. That was the day I took my first dual cross country flight. That’s the flight with your instructor where you are introduced to cross country flying, navigating your way from two distant airports. I remember this flight well, because to this day it is my second favorite flight, even beating out my final check ride where I earned my license. The only flight more memorable so far was my first solo. One of the reasons this flight was so memorable was because this was the first flight I had done in this aircraft, a 180hp Skyhawk. In fact this was the first time I had ever flown a Skyhawk, all of me previous hours coming in the school’s 150. The 150 was down that day for a 100hr check so we had to take this.
So then I remembered I had some photos of that flight parked on the hard drive somewhere so I dug them out and here they are. This flight was from Friday Harbor, to Bellingham, to Concrete, to Darrington, and then home.
Heading up the valley towards Concrete, WA. This mist and drizzle is limiting visibility to 5 miles, but we are still well within VFR minimums. Our original flight plan was to fly behind Mt. Baker, but further into the mountains obscuration would make it impossible to continue and we had to reroute on the fly to get there from another direction. This was that reroute. My instructor was always pushing and he made me fly right up to the obscuration (without entering) and constantly talking about ADM (aeronautical decision making). When you earn your license you are tested as much on ADM as you are on knowledge of the FAR/AIM’s and your ability to handle the aircraft.
First approach into Concrete. Way too high. A go around would be the correct call. I remember rounding out for the flare and that it looked like we were going to touchdown about halfway down this short strip and I said to my instructor, “Do you think we can stop in less than 1000 feet?” And he replied, “I don’t want to try and find out.” So, five feet or so off the ground I pushed throttle forward and climbed out and I planted it firm the next time around. Concrete is pretty fun because you have to turn a pretty precise pattern due to the surrounding hills.
In the valley between Concrete and Darrington. We saw beautiful rainbows all day
Another view between Concrete and Darrington. Logging industry.
The valley opens up to the southwest and we start to look for Darrington.
Turning final for Darrington, WA, the birthplace of Bob Barker. Note the trees just south of the end of the runway. They are plenty far away, but they give an inexperienced pilot pause on approach!
On short final at Darrington, WA.
The only other plane tied down at Darrington was this poor twin which had a mishap at some point. The props looked fairly new.
Ready to stretch and get a burger after almost two hours in the air. Darrington has a good burger stand within walking distance of the field. The building behind is a covered picnic area with a bunch of benches. You can see the building modeled in the upcoming Orbx release for FSX.
Getting ready for takeoff roll at Darrington. The runway is 2500 feet long, but the trees give you a boxed in feeling. I did a short field takeoff with a max climb just to practice technique.
Reverting to cruise climb and heading home.
Exiting the mountains and flying over Mt. Vernon. From here we call Whidbey Approach and get traffic advisories for the final leg home.
I’d like to do this flight again this spring or summer with Jake and Dolly. Go get another burger and see what has changed.
Ted Aviation
