Collegedale, TN

Caution - Man running (with) power tools

On September 23, 2007 Nora and I loaded up the -9 and headed west, up over the mountains and 1.7 hours later we landed at 3M3.

E We got up at oh dark thirty and had the plane pulled out and pre-flighted just as the sun started to come up.

F Charlotte ATC was very accommodating and allowed us to climb up through their class Brovo airspace.  These RV's really do climb well, even with the little O-290-D2 engine I have in our -9.  By the time we exited the other side of their airspace we were level at 7,500 feet.  The flight progressed due West and somewhere over the Application Mountains this picture was taken.  Some valleys were completely socked in and others were perfectly clear.

E Nora, being a rock climber, really liked the looks of this wall.  Me, I'm proof that gravity still works, so I keep my feet on the ground, so to speak.

F Collegedale, TN's airport is laid out in valley that runs North - South, more or less, and when approaching from the East you can't see the airport until you are right on top of it.  The runway has a very noticeable dip in the middle so regardless of which way you land, the runway slops down away from you.  You must watch your airspeed on landing as you will find your self stalling the airplane and dropping it in from an ever increasing altitude.  I found wheel landings worked best here.

The airport staff, flight instructors, etc. where very kind and helpful.  When my Father-in-law arrived to pick us up, it just got better as he has been flying out of this airport for some time and he knows all the locals.

After a nice breakfast with the In-laws, Nora's brother hopped in for a quick half hour ride.  Then it was Larry, Sr's turn.  He has been flying for a number of years but this was the first time he had the chance to fly an RV, not to mention ride in a plane he helped build.  I'm thinking my Mother-in-law might not be so happy with me right now because Larry is now seriously thinking of building an RV.

The return flight to 28A was a non-event.  We had to climb up to 9,500 feet to clear the clouds over the mountains and to maintain flight flowing.  Not a big issue for the RV.  The best part was the air was cool and clear at that altitude.