kwmoore
01-26-2003, 12:23 AM
After a week of scuzzy low ceilings/low visibility weather around here, we finally got out for a ride this afternoon.
EVERYONE else had the same idea. The run-up area was 3 abreast and four deep while we were preparing to depart. Fortunately it thinned out briefly when we were ready to go. The GTX330 was calling out traffic continuously between PAO and the coast, even most of the way down to Santa Cruz. Back in the pattern 2 hr later at PAO I received my landing clearance: "cleared to land number five " and made my base turn directly overhead Moffett Field, several miles southeast of PAO.
We overflew MRY's class C and motored down the Big Sur coast to BSR VOR and then returned. The Bay Area haze was nowhere to be found south of Watsonville and the sun shone off the waves and highlighted the mountains and occasional level green headlands near the ocean. Tina was as smitten with the sights as I. A smooth flight with no turbulence and copious quantities of nature to see from above. It was warmer at 6500 feet than on the ground!
At both WVI (fuel stop) and PAO the pattern resembled rush hour on US 101. I followed a kitfox to rwy 20 at WVI. As the kitfox was rolling out a frustrated Stinson driver barged onto the runway, held there until I was less than 1/4 mile out, then began his takeoff run as the kitfox cleared the runway. In any other plane a go-around would have been in order, but with the 260se I just flew level at 50 kt a few feet above the runway until the Stinson was clearly airborne and climbing about 150 yards ahead, then we settled to a slow motion landing. I cleared the runway TWO turnoffs earlier than the kitfox, and he was still 200 yards down the taxiway behind me as I taxied onto the ramp.
Surprisingly much the same was in order at PAO. Tower sequenced me (#5) behind an Archer and called my base turn close in behind him. No problem, I just did 60 kt S-turns to widen the gap, only to have those measures flummoxed by the Archer's using the FULL RUNWAY for his rollout. Can't nobody here play this game? A peeved tower controller told us to go around when it was clear the Archer would roll to the end, but I immediately replied, "I can make it if that's OK, I'll slow to 50 kt." Tower said, "Great, 812KT cleared to land." I came in over the fence at 46-47 carrying 14-15" as the Archer turned off at the end, and flared to a gentle touchdown, still carrying 14" until both wheels were down. Again I cleared the runway with the Archer well behind on the taxiway. Tower actually thanked me for helping out, I guess they were having a stressful time.
Only in a 260se (or 230se)! Gotta love this plane! :cool:
EVERYONE else had the same idea. The run-up area was 3 abreast and four deep while we were preparing to depart. Fortunately it thinned out briefly when we were ready to go. The GTX330 was calling out traffic continuously between PAO and the coast, even most of the way down to Santa Cruz. Back in the pattern 2 hr later at PAO I received my landing clearance: "cleared to land number five " and made my base turn directly overhead Moffett Field, several miles southeast of PAO.
We overflew MRY's class C and motored down the Big Sur coast to BSR VOR and then returned. The Bay Area haze was nowhere to be found south of Watsonville and the sun shone off the waves and highlighted the mountains and occasional level green headlands near the ocean. Tina was as smitten with the sights as I. A smooth flight with no turbulence and copious quantities of nature to see from above. It was warmer at 6500 feet than on the ground!
At both WVI (fuel stop) and PAO the pattern resembled rush hour on US 101. I followed a kitfox to rwy 20 at WVI. As the kitfox was rolling out a frustrated Stinson driver barged onto the runway, held there until I was less than 1/4 mile out, then began his takeoff run as the kitfox cleared the runway. In any other plane a go-around would have been in order, but with the 260se I just flew level at 50 kt a few feet above the runway until the Stinson was clearly airborne and climbing about 150 yards ahead, then we settled to a slow motion landing. I cleared the runway TWO turnoffs earlier than the kitfox, and he was still 200 yards down the taxiway behind me as I taxied onto the ramp.
Surprisingly much the same was in order at PAO. Tower sequenced me (#5) behind an Archer and called my base turn close in behind him. No problem, I just did 60 kt S-turns to widen the gap, only to have those measures flummoxed by the Archer's using the FULL RUNWAY for his rollout. Can't nobody here play this game? A peeved tower controller told us to go around when it was clear the Archer would roll to the end, but I immediately replied, "I can make it if that's OK, I'll slow to 50 kt." Tower said, "Great, 812KT cleared to land." I came in over the fence at 46-47 carrying 14-15" as the Archer turned off at the end, and flared to a gentle touchdown, still carrying 14" until both wheels were down. Again I cleared the runway with the Archer well behind on the taxiway. Tower actually thanked me for helping out, I guess they were having a stressful time.
Only in a 260se (or 230se)! Gotta love this plane! :cool: