Christmas Rides for Family

Ready for passengers

My younger brother and his family came down from Connecticut for an early Christmas get together this weekend. Our kids love getting together with his and my wife and I also have loads of fun with Mike and Stacey, but we have always hated the 5 to 6 hour drive to their house. They also have access to an incredible lake front vacation house on Sebago lake in Maine, but that is almost double the driving time, and I doubt I'd be sane by the time we arrived with the kids spinning out of control in the back seat.

Now we can fly up to an airport only 10 minutes from his house in 55 minutes. I could shuttle his whole family up to Maine in one trip after dropping mine off. However, Mike and especially Stacey, were nervous about the whole experimental plane thing. I was surprised on Saturday when Mike said he would go up for rides if I brought the plane back the next day. Stacey said she'd come look at it, and possibly go up.

I drove the hour plus from our Mom's house back home on Saturday night. On Sunday morning I flew back so I could take them up for rides and let our kids play together. The flight was less than 15 minutes.
You really do get used to the incredible time savings, but appreciate it every trip.

It was cold and hazy (again), but calm and smooth. In other words, a nice day to give rides.  Although, the primer paint job is not especially confidence inspiring, the panel and interior are.

The panel all powered up

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Mike had listened to me talking about the plane for years, but had never seen it. He and Stacey checked it out and sat in it to get the feel of it. Stacey surprised me and announced that she would go up!

Mike and Stacey check out the front office

Stacey tries the pilot seat & checks out the glass panels

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Mike and I went up first.

Departing Runway 5, Doylestown

Halfway down the runway, gear going up

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We did some orbits around Mom's house while the kids looked up and waved.

Circling Mom's neighborhood

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Callie gets ready for a ride with Mom

Next up, Mike's daughter, Callie, went for a ride with Mom. She had a great time looking out the window and really enjoyed it.

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After that , my sister's teenage son, Quinn went up for a ride with me and we did a little more aggressive maneuvering. He really liked it. Then, the whole family came out to check out the plane and see us off.

Stacey, Carol and the twins, Katie, Kenzie, Callie and Mom

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I loaded up Katie and Sean and 15 minutes later, we were in the pattern at our home airport. They enjoyed the flight and appreciated skipping the long drive down the turnpike.

We put the plane away and headed home. 

Katie and Sean lock up the hangar

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It was nice to finally show the plane to the family. I thought about holding out until the plane was painted, but that will be another fun unveiling. As usual, the plane drew a crowd at Doylestown airport. After each landing, other pilots came out to check out the plane. It performed flawlessly and I had a great day of flying. I am still surprised at how well the cabin heat works. I was actually too warm flying West into the sun on the way home.

The next flight will be one week from tomorrow when I fly it back to Lancaster Aero Refinishers for its final paint job. This had better actually happen this time.

I'll post progress pictures throughout the final painting process.

In the meantime, below are a video of the take off and wing rock to the family on departure for home with the kids, and below that the takeoff with Mike. With half fuel, 440 pounds of large Irish brothers in the front seats and 32 degrees I was getting a 2,000 feet per minute climb at 110 knots. Not too shabby. I love that Aerocomposite prop.

 

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