A 1959 Cessna 175 Skylark gets its makeover for more VFR and even IFR adventures.
Tag: Cessna 175
On extended wings to the Black Sea
It has been a long time since the last flight in our Franklin powered 1959 Cessna 175. It is currently getting hair wing extensions from Air Research Technology Inc. for a gross weight increase, mad take-off and overall performance. Plus, a Garmin GTN 650, a DME and in-flight weather will make it a real IFR…
Looking Back and Ahead (Video)
Next Monday I am going to fly the first time at Centennial (KAPA) and I am happy to get back in the air. First I need to do a flight review because I am not current on my FAA license anymore. Gosh, it is already three years ago when I was training for my private…
Back in the Air
Finally, finally my father’s Cessna 175 is back in the air! The airplane was in maintenance for 3 months due to an issue with the avionics. It is now equipped with a new Garmin radio and GPS. The weather was at VFR minimums so we decided to remain in the pattern. We both had to…
What’s that burning smell?
My father and I were returning from an interesting day of flying. We flew into small grass strips with mountainous obstacle approaches. We had a lot of fun until, on downwind to our homebase, my father asked: “What’s that burning smell? Is it from the outside or inside?” In this instant I realized there was…
Schmerlat Fly-in
Just returned from a great ‘airfield-gardenparty’ in the north of Switzerland. 🙂 Normally the sailplane field of Schaffhausen is closed to visitors. This weekend they have organised a small airshow and every arriving oldtimer received 20 litres of aviation gasoline as a welcome gift! My dad, my girlfriend and I spent the day having pic-nic…
Oldtimer Fly-Out Greece
Back from 11 days of flying: From Switzerland to Greece. The journey is 20.4 hours in my logbook and I have many stories to tell. Coming soon…. 😉 Approach to Losinj Croatia
163.8h – Aviation Sunday
This was no lazy sunday! 🙂 After an incredible Muse concert on saturday…my father had the brilliant idea to go flying! We flew to a small grass field, called Sitterdorf (LSZV). It had a short runway of just 1570 feet and both threshold were to be overflown at 60 feet. I looked up the take…
156.7h – Alps Crossing
The Franklin engine roared to live and accompanied us with its distinctive galloping sound, while taxiing to runway two five. I gave the girls a quick passenger briefing and took off into the blue skies. Crossing the alps will always amaze me. 🙂 The first time without my dad – but with a superb crew…
152.3h – Conversion FAA-EASA Complete
I have passed the practical test – the final piece to complete my conversion! =) =) =) My grin will not disappear for the next days. I am so happy now… All the hassle is over. I finally hold two stand-alone pilot certificates. Winter went on into the first week of April. We had low…
50nm Cross-Country
One of the easy-to-accomplish tasks toward my commercial pilot licence is the cross-country flight time as pilot in command. I need 50hrs and I think I almost got it. Since I work toward a licence the flights have to cover at least 50 nautical miles in a straight line. Funny thing though – Switzerland is…
Blue Skies
During the grey fall days it is hard to believe that there’s blue skies – anywhere above. One lucky Saturday the clouds opened up a bit to let us catch a bit of sunlight. Knowing there weren’t any clouds in the alps, we headed toward them for a $100 fondue. The alps holding back the…
A Wind Called Joran
“At times Joran south of Jura Mountains”, do you know what this means? I did not and that’s why I made a note on my weather briefing to find out after the flight. On descent into the aerodrome of Neuchâtel nature answered my question – by simply turning my stomach upside down. Flight Planning For…
Flying Like a Skylark
A letter from the Swiss aviation administration stated that I, a young pilot with 110h total time and 444 landings, indeed am a pilot. I told them before but they would not listen. What they were looking for were four solo circuits – done in Switzerland – and a bill in excess of 200$. The…
Let’s Go Flying
Yesterday my girlfriend asked if we would go to the airport’s restaurant on the weekend. I wasn’t sure if I heard right but I agreed without asking why. Anyhow, I really need to give her a bouquet of lilies for this one. 🙂 My father called today and told me that the airplane’s wings needed…
Short Runway at the Lake
Neither have I, nevertheless the airport at Lake Zurich felt as if it was one. After a nice and stable approach over the water – which reminded me of flying floats at 500′ and below – I touched down pretty much on the numbers and I didn’t even need to apply braking on the short…
Swiss Mountain Flying
At the mountainous airport of Saanen you find all kind of people. There is the Glacier pilot with his Maule, working on his engine in the hangar. There is the unknown blonde celebrity on the co-pilot’s seat of a PC-12, desperately waiting for her limousine. And there is the family with their Cessna that borrows…
Lausanne for my Girlfriend
I have been talking about flying for months. My girlfriend, Selina, never flew with me until last weekend. Finally she can’t question anymore if I were a pilot at all! Check out this picture my mom took on the flight home. I believe this flight was a full success. =) In the early Saturday morning…
Precision Flying – First Try
Take a stopwatch and a map then fly a given route as precise as you can. My father and I tried our best at a training event of the Precision Flying Association. This day taught me a lot. The first lesson was learned before even taking of. In the morning there was freezing fog at…
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