December 13, 2014 - Holly Run to Tangier Island
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| The Holly Run to Tangier Island was cancelled the last two years due to weather but we made it this year, although it was wisely postponed a week. The weather was pretty good this Saturday morning at Bay Bridge Airport. A little cool but not too bad. |
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The Christmas Elves served up a nice breakfast. That's yours truly on the left helping himself to some hot Dunkin Donuts Ravens coffee.
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| There was a large turnout including seven RVs I think. |
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Helen of Chesapeake Sport Aviation briefs the flight to Tangier Island.
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| After takeoff at Bay Bridge, four of us joined up into a flight. Chef was the lead. There was a thin layer at 3,500 feet. Below that it was surprisingly hazy. |
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| Tangier Island dead ahead. |
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| A little closer. |
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Because it took us RVs awhile to join up, the slower planes arrived at Tangier Island the same time we did. The landing pattern was crazy. Chef had to break up the flight and we all landed individually. Because of planes cutting into the pattern in front of me, I had to pull out and start from the beginning.
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| Even so, when I turned on to a long final, there were three planes on final ahead of me. We all got down safely however. |
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Santa and his Elf aide arrived in this Mitsubishi MU-2. Nice ride. Carries up to 12 passengers 300 mph at altitude (28,000 feet).
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| I parked right behind it. |
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| Mugsy parked next to an Aircoupe. |
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| A gaggle of Holly Run pilots milling about. |
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Eventually we walked the short distance to Lorraine's Seafood Restaurant for a nice crab cake sandwich.
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| Inside Lorraine's. Because there was limited seating, there were two lunch shifts., |
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| Despite only 83 acres of land on Tangier Island high enough for habitation, you see many cemetaries like the below about the island. |
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| The Museum was open for the Holly Run pilots. |
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| There were a wide variety of houses. Some modern like this one. |
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And others have been around for awhile.
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We went on a scenic walk around the island.
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| This Inn overlooking the Bay looks like a nice place to spend the night. |
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| Back at the airfield, we briefed a photoshoot flight. |
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| Riggo was the lead and took off first. Notice the Christmas hats., |
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Followed by Mugsy.
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| Then Jolly. |
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I was #5 which gave me an opportunity to take some pictures.
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| A good overhead shot of the inhabited part of Tangier Island. Lorraine's is to the right of the water tower. |
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The four-ship trying to get into a left echelon. The photo ship - a Cessna 172 -- can be seen just on the other side of the center RV.
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After the photoshoot, we did some formation low passes down the runway and then headed for home. I broke off and on the way home engaged in one of my favorite activites, checking out big waterfront estates.
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Not too shabby!
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| Flying up Kent Island, I flew by Kentmorr Airport, an airport community. |
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| Passing by Bay Bridge Airport and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. It is still pretty hazy. |
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