February 2, 2020 - Flying into Dave's Grass Strip
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I was meeting Mugsy this morning over at Massey, then we would head to Millville for lunch at Verna's Flightline Restaurant, then visit Mugsy's friend Dave at his own private grass strip.
The weather forecast today was good: sunny, a broken layer at 6,000 feet or so, light winds. There was fog in some areas but it was supposed to burn off well before it would be a factor.
Usually when I have to be somewhere in the airplane, I'm rushed. Drive 40 minutes to the Skypark, get the plane warmed-up and ready, fly to wherever I'm supposed to be. I rarely get there early.
But today the clock stood still. I was ready for takeoff an hour ahead of time! So I took off, flew around Sparrows Point taking pictures -- which will be its own web log entry -- then just took my time getting over to Massey. But even then, I just hung out in the Massey museum area waiting for Mugsy to land. But it's not a bad place to hang out. Lots of aviation things to look at and a huge aviation library.
Here I am flying down the Choptank. I remember that funky looking wooden structure from one of my earliest flights over the Eastern Shore in either the Citabria or the Baby Ace. It's looking a little weathered now.
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This mansion is taking forever to build but is really going to be something when it is done.
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| On left downwind for 20 at Massey. There was a pretty good 80 degree crosswind. As you can see, it is not sunny, and the winds were not light. |
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In fact, on the ground it was downright cold and windy.
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| Mugsy made his crosswind landing at Massey and then both of us took off a few minutes later. The weather was absolutely atrocious as we headed east to Millville. There was a layer at 1,500 feet or so and it was so misty underneath that we were near VFR minumums. But then it got better in the vicinity of Millville. Here we are overhead Millville Airport. |
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| Looking forward to getting out of the cold and the wind into the nice, warm restaurant with hot food! Dave showed up in his Cub, and Paul R. showed up in his RV-8. |
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| Our four planes lined up in a row. It was actually raining when we left the restaurant! |
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Paul and his girlfriend taxi out in their RV-8 Flying Siren. I have seen this plane at many fly-ins but this was the first time I met Paul, who is based out of Eagles Nest north of Atlantic City. The paintjob is one that you don't forget.
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| Dave's Cub stands alone. Verna's Flight Line Restaurant had a good crowd, but I think we were the only ones who flew in. |
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Mugsy can't believe it is raining. Where's that sun they forecasted?
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| It was a very short flight west to Dave's grass strip. That's it, down below. Paul is already there parked next to the hangar. |
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| Mugsy has just landed and I'm turning final. |
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| Dave's RV-6. It has already passed its DAR inspection and first flight isn't far away. I think Dave said the kit was bought 25 years ago. Dave acquired the project 15 years ago. |
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The workmanship and paint job are outstanding. This is probably the nicest RV-6 I've ever seen.
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| State of the art panel with twin Garmin G3Xs. |
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Paul taking off in his RV-8.
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| Dave's Cub. |
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| Dave acquired this Super Cub for a super low price and is doing some restoration work on it. |
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| Parked on the ramp at Dave's grass strip. |
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Dave's big hangar.
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| I really like the headset hangar in this plane. I need to do something like that for mine. |
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Starting engines!
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| Heading west across the southern Jersey marshlands. Looking north. |
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Looking south.
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| Crossing the Delaware Bay into the sun which finally decided to come out. |
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| Flying off Mugsy's wing. |
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| Approaching the Delmarva peninsula. |
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Pretty
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Now over the Delmarva peninsula marshlands.
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| Looking down at Dover International Speedway. |
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Mugsy and I split up and I headed for home. Looking southwest at the Chester River from up high.
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| Looking north up the Chester River and the town of Chester. |
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I remember seeing that tower down there for the first time in the Corben Baby Ace when I first startred flying the Eastern Shore.
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| Looking east at the Back River as it leads out to Chesapeake Bay. Can you believe it? Not a cloud in the sky now! |
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