Bill's Aviation Log

Looking south down the Wye River.

An anchored sailboat enjoying some solitude in one of the many inlets of Wye Island.

Checking out Ragged Island, which has its own runway. I noticed that the big house was no longer there and I wondered what happened.

So I did an internet search and found the following: At one time Ragged Island had a 12,000-square-foot, 8-bedroom, 9 1/2 bath house. A couple bought the island/house/runway in 1995 for 1.7 million dollars at an auction. Originally, the island was bought in 1987 for $300,000 by two brothers who own a construction company. They spent another million building the house, swimming pool, tennis court and runway. Unfortunately, in January 2014 a fire destroyed the house. For various reasons -- extreme cold, high winds, faulty fire alarm system, poor phone service -- firefighters were unable to get to the scene in time to save the house. No one was hurt.

Whoever lives here must enjoy his privacy.

I landed at this private grass strip off the Choptank River once. Shortest runway I have ever landed the RV on. I'm glad my brakes worked that day!

I thought the different shades of green in the woods was interesting.

The big building on the left is Floor Decor. To its right is the first Amazon fulfillment center building. Not sure what that building on the right is.

Not sure what those two buildings on the left are. At top center, by the bridge, is the second Amazon fulfillment center.

They should build a naval shipyard here and build cruisers, destroyers and frigates here for the U.S. Navy. China already has more cruisers and destroyers than the U.S. Navy and is outbuilding us at least three to one every year.

Heading east towards Essex Skypark.

This building had only half its walls up; now the walls are complete and the interior structure is half done.

April 24, 2021 - Funfly Eastern Shore South
I haven't flow the last two and a half weeks or so because I was doing the annual conditional inspection on the RV-7. It took that long because I also installed a SD-8 Backup Alternator from B&C Specialty Products. Anyways, today I went flying. I had no place in particular to go, so I just headed across the bay to the Eastern Shore and turned south. I ended up flying two hours! Everything worked well, including the new backup alternator. I had to turn south to avoid a huge 28nm radius Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) zone centered on Wilmington, Delaware. It's active almost every weekend now -- can you guess why? -- and includes Massey Aerodrome. I bet the Massey pilots are furious. Passing by a nice estate by Rock Hall.

Looking south down the Wye River.

Some friends used to own a house in the middle of this little peninsula, jutting into the Wye River. We went there a couple of times. It was nice place, on the water, eating crabs and drinking Natty Boh.

An anchored sailboat enjoying some solitude in one of the many inlets of Wye Island.

A nice waterfront estate.

Checking out the Aspen Institute Wye River Conference Center (formerly known as "Wye Plantation").

Watermen on the bay working their trade.

Checking out Ragged Island, which has its own runway. I noticed that the big house was no longer there and I wondered what happened. So I did an internet search and found the following: At one time Ragged Island had a 12,000-square-foot, 8-bedroom, 9 1/2 bath house. A couple bought the island/house/runway in 1995 for 1.7 million dollars at an auction. Originally, the island was bought in 1987 for $300,000 by two brothers who own a construction company. They spent another million building the house, swimming pool, tennis court and runway. Unfortunately, in January 2014 a fire destroyed the house. For various reasons -- extreme cold, high winds, faulty fire alarm system, poor phone service -- firefighters were unable to get to the scene in time to save the house. No one was hurt.

Cruising south down the Eastern Shore.

Whoever lives here must enjoy his privacy.

The marsh is still brown; I guess it doesn't turn green like everything else until later.

Stick marsh!

Taking a close look at Horn Point, which used to be a multiple grass strip airport.

I landed at this private grass strip off the Choptank River once. Shortest runway I have ever landed the RV on. I'm glad my brakes worked that day!

Two nice estates.

I thought the different shades of green in the woods was interesting.

Another nice waterfront estate.

A housing development going up on the north end of Kent Island.

Before landing at Essex Skypark, I went over to check out Sparrows Point again.

The big building on the left is Floor Decor. To its right is the first Amazon fulfillment center building. Not sure what that building on the right is.

Not sure what those two buildings on the left are. At top center, by the bridge, is the second Amazon fulfillment center.

Approaching the Sparrows Point Shipyard Site, with the Key Bridge in the background.

That is one big parking lot.

They should build a naval shipyard here and build cruisers, destroyers and frigates here for the U.S. Navy. China already has more cruisers and destroyers than the U.S. Navy and is outbuilding us at least three to one every year.

A good look at the graving dock.

Heading east towards Essex Skypark.

Looking south. Still no clue on who owns those two big buildings at center.

A new building going up at center. I saw the same building two and a half weeks ago and was amazed at the construction progress.

Two and a half weeks ago the roof was maybe one third up. Now it is complete.

This building had only half its walls up; now the walls are complete and the interior structure is half done.


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April 24, 2021 - Funfly Eastern Shore South