My first cross country flight to Lake Tahoe!

Heading back from Lake Tahoe at about 10,500 feet.

I flew the new plane around Lake Tahoe today. The weather was perfect for the trip. It was very cool to be in Tahoe in less than an hour. By the time I cleared the Tahoe basin heading back to the Central Valley, it took 45 minutes to fly back and hanger the plane. I was there and back in less than half the time it would have taken to just drive there.

This was the first time I used the auto pilot. The plane I flew to Vegas had a broken auto pilot. It doesn’t look like I’m going to be flying any more this weekend, but I plan on getting quite a few more hours in next weekend. The next cross country is going to likely be Los Angeles or Vegas.

Flying directly over East Peak looking due East over East Peak Lake into Minden, NV

In this last picture you can see East Peak Lake, a bunch of the Heavenly Ski Resort Slopes, Joe’s House, Minden, and off to the left is Minden-Tahoe Airport (KMEV).

I love it. Out of all of the hobbies I’ve had, this one is here to stay. (Sorry Dad)

Six months later… I’m back in the air.

So, six months after my new years resolution to get back in the air, it finally happens. I’ve been up twice in the past week. I’m looking forward to getting some major time in over the next couple of months. Our new plane has been here for a couple of weeks. I’ve only flown it a couple times, but that will soon change. I took the family out to see it, and Maddox and Zeek love it.

Taxiing preparing to take off for my second flight in our RV-6a.

We ended up getting an Vans Aircraft RV-6a. This plane was built in 2006, and I like a whole lot better than any of the other planes we looked into. I feel a quite spoiled after flying this plane. It cruses at 160 MPH on around 8.8 GPH and can go 200 MPH at around 11-12 GPH. This means that Las Vegas is less than 2 hours away and requires less than $90 in fuel.

After flying this, I really don’t want to fly another plane. Instead of a typical flight yolk it has a very sensitive flight stick. The slightest motion equates to a very responsive change in direction. It really reminds me of an airplane version of my 2006 BMW M Roadster; from the angle you sit in the plane to the physical connection you feel to the control of the aircraft.

This plane really opens up all of California to TMPros. It really does make the world a much smaller place. I look forward to bringing our health IT experience to a much larger geographic area in the coming months.

It’s time to get back up in the air!

This was one of my first landings during my flight training.

The last time I flew an airplane, it was hot out. I really need to find some time to get up in the air again. I’m about halfway done with my flight training, and it’s been about two months since I’ve made a radio call as 9576C. My New Years resolution is to make time to fly.