Peterson Sighting

[Mike Sullivan]

Well, I went toolin' into Thermal airport Friday morning and who did I find there, but Todd Peterson having a "mini" 260se fly-in.

Actually, he had flown N97646 (230se) in on Thurs. afternoon to show her off to a potential customer, Tom ??. By the time I arrived Friday morning it was a done deal and Tom was up with his instructor getting lessons. Michael (N97AV) was there as well. We planned to go to lunch but Todd had to wait for a phone call, so we just hung around and talked 260se's.

It was great seeing Todd again and meeting some of the other guys.

Mike

[n2099x]

Mike, I know you are waiting and wanting to go to Auburn. It looks like we are going to have a week of clear cold air. So it should be great flying in Northern Ca. this week. Let me know if you are going to be near maybe we could have breakfast or lunch somewhere. Auburn has a good restaurant. Maybe Kevin could come also.

Glen

[kwmoore]

If I could have left work earlier on Friday I would have shown as well, I flew down to HMT to visit my parents and also my son at UCSD for his birthday.

The return to PAO this morning was interesting. The weather was crystal-clear, but there was a SIGMET out for occasional severe turbulence below 15000 with strong northwesterly winds. As there were no actual PIREPS of anything worse than moderate turbulence along my route, I decided to give it a try.

How strong? My GNS430 calculated 60+ kt at 10,500 feet just west of VNY. Interestingly, the ride was smooth with only occasional light chop. However there was clearly mountain wave action going on; as the autopilot labored to maintain altitude, there were cyclical "trim down" and "trim up" indications and IAS varied from <115 to almost 140! GS was agonizingly slow, I wasn't passing the cars below by very much. North of San Luis Obispo I could descend to 4500 where the headwind component was "only" 25 kt (actual wind aloft at 4500 was still 35+ kt). In the Salinas Valley area there were PIREPS of 70 kt winds aloft at 10,000! The trip, normally 2.6-2.7 hr, took 3.9 hr of flying with a fuel and pit stop at Santa Maria.

Northeast of HMT between HMT and Mt. San Jacinto there were ragged puffs of cloud with a "shredded" appearance; the same apparition was just southeast of Mt. Baldy in the San Gabriel mountains NW of Riverside at 6-7000 feet. These are to be avoided--rotor clouds! I stayed well above and away from them.

[Mike Sullivan]

Glen, I have a class Wed. nite, I'm taking the IFR ground school at Mirmar college, otherwise I'm free for the week. I'll keep an eye out and let you all know. And yes, I'd love to have breakfast, lunch or dinner.

We're going to have to communicate a little better. Kevin, I flew into Hemet Sat morning to have lunch with a friend who lives in Hemet. Man I couldn't believe it, there were gliders all over the place. I wanted to get down in a hurry so I came in low and did a really quick base leg and I think I had that puppy down and turned by the second turnoff. I'm starting to get really comfortable slowing it down. Anyway, I stuck around for about three hours and then caught the wave back to Imperial. My airspeed indicator registered 125 kts and my GNS 530 said my GS was 169 kts. and I didn't get much turbulence. I was home in a flash. Landing in Brawley there was a 20+ kt cross wind but she just popped right down. Fun day!

Mike

[Mike Sullivan]

Kevin and Glen, if the weather holds I think I'll fly up Thurs. morning. If I leave here by 8:30 or so I should be able to make it to Auburn in time for lunch. Would you guys be able to get free on Thurs., if not, how about Friday?

I'm a little worried about the weather. Glen, do you know how long this cold spell is supposed to last? It is definitely keeping the fog out of the valley.

Let me know.

Mike

[n2099x]

Mike, the weather looks like it is going to hold through the weekend. I have a weather class thursday afternoon but I could do breakfast Friday morning. In Auburn if you want to stay there or anywhere else if you want to fly somewhere.

Kevin, Shelter Cove has been clear all week I will keep an eye on it if your looking at going this weekend.

Glen

[Mike Sullivan]

Hey Glen, breakfast Fri. AM would be great. I'll borrow my daughters car and meet you at the airport. What time??
I'll email you my cell phone #.

Mike

[n2099x]

Sounds good I'll talk to you later this week for a time.

Can anyone else make it ?

Glen

[kwmoore]

We've had frost on cars and wings since the front went through--takes until 9 am or so to melt off. :( Let me know a time to show up and I'll do it if nothing unexpected happens at work.

[n2099x]

Is anyone else interested?

Glen