The weather was forecast to be absolutely beautiful today, so yesterday I called my friend Mark Mattioli, who is a member of the Flying W country club in New Jersey to see if we could fly in to meet his family for breakfast. Flying W is a pilot centric resort with an airplane shaped pool, restaurant facing the runway, etc. He agreed to meet us at 10:00 so I went out at 9:00 to preflight and fuel the plane. The family showed up at 9:40 and we were wheels up moments later.
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Katie, our teenager, was grumpy at having to get up even this early.
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The weather is as beautiful as promised as we climb out and head east on course for N14.
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We fly right over the school where I attended college and law school, Villanova University.
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We call Philly Approach and are cleared directly over downtown Philadelphia at 3,500 feet. What a great sight seeing opportunity.
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The sky is so clear that we can see the high rise casinos on the beach in Atlantic City all the way from Philadelphia. Click on the picture. They are right on the horizon on the left of the frame.
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Here is a view of the Grand Rapids screens. We are doing about 200 knots ground speed. This will be a short trip.
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Only 20 minutes after leaving home, we turn base for Runway 19 Flying W.
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Turning final.
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Nancy spots Mark taking our picture as we touch down. Hope I don't bounce it.
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We pull up to our parking spot, right in front of the restaurant.
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Katie, Nancy and Sean after we tied down.
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Breakfast in the restaurant with Mark, Patty, his son Nick and baby Valentina.
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After breakfast, a couple of other pilots ask to see the plane. I open it up for them, then Patty and
Valentina try it on for size.
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After breakfast, we head over to Mark's hangar to check out his Christen Eagle, an aerobatic biplane. He is a competition aerobatic pilot.
It is really cool, but really tight for me.
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We take off for home and immediately call Philly Approach while skirting the airspace to the east.
This time they clear us direct KMQS right over Philadelphia International Airport. More sightseeing.
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Probably as close as I'll ever get to Philadelphia Airport without buying a ticket, yet the GPS says we are doing 175 knots even with a headwind and that we'll be home in 12 minutes.
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It is now clear but very bumpy. We slow to 150 knots and in no time we are turning final for Runway 29 Chester County Airport and home.
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Back at the hangar, we unload, wipe down the plane and head home. It is only lunch time. I had a great time and really good sightseeing today.
I hope we get some more good weather like this. We are just starting to plan our trips for Spring, so more to come.
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