ARC Start

We made it to the start of the ARC here in Fredericksburg, VA. We had quite the adventure. We took off from Ionia, MI, did a low pass as the current SMAT class watched and then punched into the clouds. We flew IFR and headed south towards Clark County (Jeffersonville, IN) but decided to divert to Lunkin, OH (just outside of Cincinnati) due to Indianapolis reporting 40kt wind shear and extreme rain/ storms coming in.

SMAT Class along the fence as we did a low pass.

Rainbow in IFR

Parking spot at Fredericksburg

That was a good idea. We quickly got fuel in Lunkin and we were the "little" plane (they called us that on the radio) on the ramp woth a bunch of big citation jets. I quickly checked the weather and filed a flight plan and we got out of there before more storms came in. On our way east to Fredericksburg it was pretty hazy but overall clear. We flew over the Appalachian "hills" and landed about an hour before the sun went down and the rain came in.

Today we worked on getting our airplane inspected, our credentials checked, and the logbooks verified. We had an issue that the ADs (airworthiness directives) were not all signed off and so I spent 2 hours researching and making sure they either didn't apply to our plane or were complied with. I was able to sign them off since I am an A&P mechanic. We finally got approved so now we can enjoy the evening.

That's the update for now. Stay tuned to facebook for more updates and photos. Ps this update is from my phone so if the format comes out weird that's why.

Fly with Christ,
Helen "Girl Friday"

Air Race Classic!

Well it's finally here! We're ready to race!


We're departing tomorrow *weather permitting*... from Ionia (Y70) and heading to Fredericksburg, VA (KMRN). It looks like we may have to depart later in the afternoon and overnight halfway.


Track us live at trackleaders.com/arc15 Team 34!
Also, I will be posting photos and updates on our facebook page throughout the race. www.facebook.com/34arc15


Now off to pack and clean up my house!

Fly with Christ,
Helen

Tailwheel Adventures!

Grand Ledge (GrandAir is the building/ ramp with the circle driveway)

The Bush Pilot Program has been officially put into motion at GrandAir. Several of us are learning tail wheel in our 1946 Taylorcraft and the course consists of finding small airstrips around Lansing, practicing takeoffs and landings at each place, and sometimes enjoying lunch.


These flights are a lot of fun because it is a challenge to find the strip, watch out for other traffic (since we don't have radios), land on short grass runways, and meet people who may be at that airport. One thing Pete and I are trying to get started is using it as a ministry by handing out food and bibles.

Eating lunch in Glowacki

Below you can see some of the airstrips we've been to. Grand Ledge is to the West (left) of Lansing and we're trying to hit all the open circle airports around. Other notable places are Ionia to the West, Eaton Rapids  to the South (where I circled over the town- yellow blob with flag on it, on my first commercial flight all whilst watching out for that big tower). The most Northern airstrip we went to is Glowacki where we had lunch (see pictures below).

Multiple adventures... to be expanded to the north and all around!

Here's an interesting tidbit. The inner circle around Lansing is their protected airspace which goes from the ground to 4900 ft. This means that you can not enter it with out their permission. Since we didn't have radios (ie couldn't get permission) we had to stay north of that circle.

1946 Taylorcraft

Fly with Christ,
Helen "Girl Friday"