May 6, 2012 - Pottstown EAA/RV Fly-In

EAA Chapter 1250 of Pottstown, Pennsylvania was having a Fly-In in honor of the RV-1 so that was today's destination.  

Dragon Flight's plan was to rendezvous at Smoketown at 9AM and do an aerial join with the RV-1 and RV-10 escort coming from Frederick.   It would have been good since we would have had a four-ship.  As always, however, the weather had plans of its own.  Looking at Weathermeister.com Saturday night, obvious the 9AM meet wasn't going to happen.  The entire mid-Atlantic area was forecast IFR until noon.  We would be lucky just to have a Fly-in at all.

Sunday morning was socked in, as forecast.  But it looked like it might break up around noon.  I stayed at home and then left for the airport around 11AM.

From the vantage point of the Key Bridge as I drove to the airport, I could tell the weather definately was  improving and was flyable albeit not perfect. 

I launched and headed up the Eastern Shore.  There was a sometimes broken, sometimes overcast layer around 2000 feet.

 
Signs made by visitors from outer space?  You be the judge.
 
The weather deteriorated once I was north of the Chesapeake Bay.  Solid overcast at 2000 feet and reduced visibility.  But VFR underneath.  You can barely see New Garden airport in the center of the picture.
 
You know you are in the vicinity of the Pottstown-Heritage airport (KPTW) when close to the nuclear power plane. 
 
On Left Base for runway One Zero at Pottstown-Heritage.
 
Parked on the grass between two other RVs. 
 
 
Quite a few planes here.  Much more than at Hagerstown yesterday.
 
There were many RVs.  I'd guesstimate 20 plus.
 
Standing in line for some BBQ Beef.  Upscale fare at this fly-in!
 
Well, this was the first time I've seen a Business Jet come to a fly-in.  The Cessna Citation actually did a low pass before landing.  Then taxiied through the fly-in area.  Right on! 
 
The Nanching's always have great paint jobs. 
 
I was interested to see how this motorglider would navigate around the airport on the narrow taxiways with his long wings since this is an issue Bruce & I will someday face with the Xenos motorglider.
 
This is an Aerotechnik L-13 SE Vivat.  I had to look that up, a service I provide to you, the loyal reader.   It basically is a L-13 Blanik glider with an engine on the front turning it into a touring motorglider. 
 
A Sonex showed up.  I checked out the cowl, wheel pants, gear fairings and cockpit since that's where we are on the Xenos project. 
 
This RV-3 has one of the most unusual paint schemes you are ever going to see. 
 
Each underlying aluminum component -- rib, longeron, etc. -- is marked by part number. 
 
The Trunk Monkeys in their Citabrias were here as well.
 
 
The local Ham Radio were set up and doing their thing. 
 
A nice-looking Kitfox IV.
 
Another interesting paint scheme on this RV.
 
A sleek-looking Aerion LS-1 Lightning. 
 
Gyro-coptors must be gaining in popularity; It seems like I'm seeing them at every fly-in.
 
A Vans Light Sport RV-12 clecoed together. 
 
There were some neat cars at the fly-in.  Here is one of the early Jaguars.
 
I've always liked the look of this classic Jaguar.
 
My parents used to have one of these.  They had a 1952 -- this is a 1953.  The color was about the same, only theirs had a creme top instead of black.
 
Flame coupe.
 
The Local EAA Chapter 1250 is restoring this 1946 Fairchild 24. 
 
A T-34 taxiis by. 
 
The RV-1 finally showed up around 3PM or so. 
 
Dragon Flight wheels overhead:  Clogs in the lead, followed by Chef and Lawbreaker.
 
The crowd swarmed all over the RV-1 as soon as the prop stopped.
 
The motorglider taxiing out with a wingwalker.
 
Most planes had already left when I taxiied out to do a little four-ship with Dragon Flight, then head for home.   
 
The business end of my RV.
 
Dragon Flight overhead in diamond formation:  myself, Chef, Clogs & Lawbreaker.
 

The overcast at Pottstown never did burn off.

We did a second pass over the field in echelon, then broke and headed our separate ways.

 
I stayed low on the transit home and took some pictures.  Here are some big McMansions in southern Pennsylvania.
 
 
A solar farm on a farm. 
 
Approaching the top of the Bay.
 
Interstate 95 detours around a big quarry.
 
I wonder what they extract from the quarry?
 
Passing by Miller's Island and almost home.
 
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