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I flew from San Antonio to Kingsville, Texas (see 30 NM West of Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico) last weekend. The reason for the trip was the arrival of my #5 grandchild
and that was good enough for my bride and I to take our magic carpet out on a 150 nm cross country. I am happy to say that our Taylorcraft and our grandson are doing fine.
Weather was rough for the Friday afternon flight due to an arriving cold front which chased us most of the way; however, once we left the Texas Hill Country and got over the coastal plain things smoothed out considerably. Flight time was 2hr 20 minutes. The movie was Gone with the Wind. The pilot was a hell of a nice guy and treated everyone to a round of beer upon arrival.
The plane spent the night in Bishop, Texas in thunderstorms, wind 20 gust 35 and rain worse than the proverbial cow encountering the flat rock. The plane was not bent and still rubber side down in the morning. Bishop airport is has no services, no tiedown ropes, and no tie down fee, but the runway and ramp are in good shape.
Sunday was supposed to be the return flight, but not so. Sunday morning weather was another cold front - a "Blue Norther" in Texas parlance. The ducks were walking and the wind could blow the hair off a dog. By Sunday afternoon the weather abated some with ceiling 4000 and wind 15 gust 20. Flyable if you have not eaten anything like beans and Bratwurst in the last 24 hours, however the ETA at homebase would be dusk. Well partner, at dusk after a cold front the deer and the antelope come out to play, well no antelope here, but the deer are thick as flies. At our little airport we have had two world class propeller strikes involving deer in the past 6 months.
So I call the boss's voice mail and say I'm taking leave for Monday AM.
Preflight monday morning goes well and I'm off to Alice International Airport for gas-n-go. (No BS, it really IS an international airport but it probably takes three days for customs to arrive from where ever). At Alice it only takes an hour for the line boy to do whatever in the back room and then help me refuel. "That tank only holds 6 gallons," says I, "better slow down when you get to 5.5 on the meter." Listening skills are obviously not the line boy's strong suit. He struck a gusher as the meter passed 6.4 gallons. (and he had the temerity to charge me for it too)
Takeoff again into a perfect South Texas fall day. I fly a 5 mile perimeter around the edge of Orange Grove Navy Aux Field to avoid jet blast on my fabric and dope. Set course for Greater San Antonio. altitude 4500, ground speed 80 kts, visibility incredible, and 2 hours later back at Bulverde.
A fine T-craft weekend. Thank You Lord for a new grandson and a wonderful airplane.
Photos attached of sights along the way.
A couple words about the photos. South Texas is a flat coastal plain with meandering rivers and no natural lakes. It is subtropical, and this time of year fields are being prepared for crops such as cotton and corn. The Balcones Escarpment is limestone which abruptly rises about 300 feet on a line from San Antonio to Austin - roughly the route of Interstate 35. West of the escarpment is the Texas Hill Country which has rocky soil suitable for goats and limited cattle ranching unlike the fertile coastal plain. It is not uncommon to hear the somewhat derisive term "goat roper" in these parts -- but you better smile if you say that. I highlighted Randolph AFB with its two parallel runways. Photo was from 4500 feet MSL and 7 miles away. I also highlighted Bulverde 1T8 airport. Photo was from 3000 MSL and one mile away.
and that was good enough for my bride and I to take our magic carpet out on a 150 nm cross country. I am happy to say that our Taylorcraft and our grandson are doing fine.Weather was rough for the Friday afternon flight due to an arriving cold front which chased us most of the way; however, once we left the Texas Hill Country and got over the coastal plain things smoothed out considerably. Flight time was 2hr 20 minutes. The movie was Gone with the Wind. The pilot was a hell of a nice guy and treated everyone to a round of beer upon arrival.
The plane spent the night in Bishop, Texas in thunderstorms, wind 20 gust 35 and rain worse than the proverbial cow encountering the flat rock. The plane was not bent and still rubber side down in the morning. Bishop airport is has no services, no tiedown ropes, and no tie down fee, but the runway and ramp are in good shape.
Sunday was supposed to be the return flight, but not so. Sunday morning weather was another cold front - a "Blue Norther" in Texas parlance. The ducks were walking and the wind could blow the hair off a dog. By Sunday afternoon the weather abated some with ceiling 4000 and wind 15 gust 20. Flyable if you have not eaten anything like beans and Bratwurst in the last 24 hours, however the ETA at homebase would be dusk. Well partner, at dusk after a cold front the deer and the antelope come out to play, well no antelope here, but the deer are thick as flies. At our little airport we have had two world class propeller strikes involving deer in the past 6 months.
So I call the boss's voice mail and say I'm taking leave for Monday AM.
Preflight monday morning goes well and I'm off to Alice International Airport for gas-n-go. (No BS, it really IS an international airport but it probably takes three days for customs to arrive from where ever). At Alice it only takes an hour for the line boy to do whatever in the back room and then help me refuel. "That tank only holds 6 gallons," says I, "better slow down when you get to 5.5 on the meter." Listening skills are obviously not the line boy's strong suit. He struck a gusher as the meter passed 6.4 gallons. (and he had the temerity to charge me for it too)
Takeoff again into a perfect South Texas fall day. I fly a 5 mile perimeter around the edge of Orange Grove Navy Aux Field to avoid jet blast on my fabric and dope. Set course for Greater San Antonio. altitude 4500, ground speed 80 kts, visibility incredible, and 2 hours later back at Bulverde.
A fine T-craft weekend. Thank You Lord for a new grandson and a wonderful airplane.
Photos attached of sights along the way.
A couple words about the photos. South Texas is a flat coastal plain with meandering rivers and no natural lakes. It is subtropical, and this time of year fields are being prepared for crops such as cotton and corn. The Balcones Escarpment is limestone which abruptly rises about 300 feet on a line from San Antonio to Austin - roughly the route of Interstate 35. West of the escarpment is the Texas Hill Country which has rocky soil suitable for goats and limited cattle ranching unlike the fertile coastal plain. It is not uncommon to hear the somewhat derisive term "goat roper" in these parts -- but you better smile if you say that. I highlighted Randolph AFB with its two parallel runways. Photo was from 4500 feet MSL and 7 miles away. I also highlighted Bulverde 1T8 airport. Photo was from 3000 MSL and one mile away.
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