VFR and rain

[cjensen]

If you have the ceilngs to do it, this is some of the most beautiful flying one can do...in my opinion, of course! I had to run my boss over to Moline, Illinois the other day, and all I had available to fly was our Diamond Eclipse (two seater). It is certified as a VFR only airplane, even though it has ALL the stuff needed to legally fly IFR...

Anyway, here are some cool pics from my trip the other day-

I had a perfect VFR "corridor" to fly right between some heavy rain showers! First two are off the starbord side, the third is port.






And here I am coming back in to Bloomington-

I did land in some light rain showers, but as I was taxiing in, it let loose, and I had to wait it out inside the airplane since it has a canopy.


Just thought I'd share some neat photos from a "beautiful" day of flying...it was smooth as glass too!

[Maxwell007]

Great photos. If the flying deal doesn't pan out it looks like you have a future as a photographer.

[captain_john]

I LOVE flying in the rain during VFR conditions!

It is the most exciting type of environment to mess around in!

That is cool, Chad!

We really beat up the runway at KPYM tonight! We had a whole gaggle of rental planes and we were competing for short takeoffs and landings! I was in the Citabria and was landing pretty short!!! It was a fun night of horsing around topped off my a trip to Nantucket Island for a sirloin at my favorite island bistro!

All in all, a tough night to beat... entertainment-wise!

Okay, who else has a flying story now!?!

CJ

[N200PF]

Chad I would know that DA20 wing anywhere! VERY COOL PICS!!!

Looks like you had the weather NAILED! Did you have on-board XM like a 396? ...or are you just that good!?!

- Peter

CJ - I have a flight tail from tonight! ...got to fly in a UH-60! Yes I got to ride in the back of a Blackhawk helicopter while they put her through the paces! 2G in a twin turbine Helo in a "60" degree turn was kinda freaky!

[cjensen]

Great photos. If the flying deal doesn't pan out it looks like you have a future as a photographer.

Thanks! I can actually say that I get that talent from my dad, who's a professional wedding/portrait photographer.

[cjensen]

Chad I would know that DA20 wing anywhere! VERY COOL PICS!!!

Looks like you had the weather NAILED! Did you have on-board XM like a 396? ...or are you just that good!?!

Yup, DA20! I didn't have any onboard weather, so I'll just say that I AM just that LUCKY! Bloomington to Moline is only about 90nm, and this particular weather system allowed me to cruise along at about 3500msl, and still see for about 50nm. The scattered rain showers were easily avoidable. I did fly through some light rain, but vis was still about 10nm.

[Spike]

I enjoy flying through rain, though, flying through snow can be a really cool experience also.

[cjensen]

I started to experience vertigo one time flying through snow on an approach at night. Snow + night + landing lights= strange mental sensations...for me at least!

[tshort]

I was kicking myself the whole drive out to CO yesterday ... the stationary front that has been across the central plains was generating far less weather than forecast ... I drove thru one ~10 mile stretch of light rain and high clouds, saw one bolt of lightning, and that was it.
Sure wish I had flown out...
Of course, the winds in KS were out of the south at 30G40 - even made keeping the car straight interesting!

Like they say, better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air...

T.

[bmurrish]

I started to experience vertigo one time flying through snow on an approach at night. Snow + night + landing lights= strange mental sensations...for me at least!

Good job Chad, always trust your instruments