Safer Flight By Steve Wightman, EAA 627933 OLD VS. NEW FLYING. Like the Internet, flat-screen technology has found its way into every part of our
For the very first time, I’m sharing my amazing story with a wide audience of never before seen photos and videos of building and flying my Super Seawind. For me, it’s been a time of reflection and research. Reflections of the many great people, builders, owners and non-owners I have met flying my turbine-powered airplane, the wonderful experiences I’ve enjoyed and the treasured friendships I hold to this day.
Night flying is astoundingly beautiful over a collage of city lights and airports. It’s like Christmas city scale. Blue, red, white and flashing lights are everywhere. Night flying is peaceful because nearly all the VFR traffic is gone. There’s just us IFR pilots doing their thing, flying solely by reference to instruments. Instrument flying is all about being on heading and altitude and being where you are supposed to be at any given time.
Today, all the resources of an all glass cockpit are now available at my fingertips. Starting with my IPAD flight planner, Garmin Pilot, I save time creating and filing my flight plan and managing logs only digitally now. Further, I can plan any flight on my IPAD, I-Phone or desktop, file it and load it to my flight computer via wi-fi. I no longer have to call and talk to Flight Service. Also, these computers log and track flight statistics and maintenance data without me lifting a finger.
Cleared, I lined up for takeoff, held the brakes, placed the engine in high idle and with my heart racing I pulled the yoke full aft. Next, I pushed the throttle to 90% power and then released the brakes. To my surprise N71RJ sprung like a horse I used to ride bursting out of the gate. Jack and I were pinned to our seat backs.
A dozen or so miles southwest of Boston’s class B, ATC directed me to fly east out over the ocean. I had planned other options besides KBED in case of delay. On the other hand I wanted to get home if I could. I turned to the new eastward heading and watched my required fuel ETA fuel reserve dwindle and my distance to KBED double with each ticking minute. With KBED backed up I was on a delaying vector with no time limit-ugh! I also knew fuel consumption was higher than normal due to a high density altitude. I knew I had taken the first step onto a slippery slope. I had to do something and do it fast.
