With a major storm headed our way starting Saturday there was no way I was going to miss the chance to fly today. My initial plan was to do a little Northern Vermont swing – Newport, Montpelier, Burlington then back to Franklin County – but as I headed toward Jay Peak I was just on the northern edge of an overcast layer at 3k feet. To the north it was clear with only a \u201cfew\u201d wisps of cloud but to there were only a few \u201csucker holes\u201d otherwise it was a solid layer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite my plan to get some quality IFR training the desire to play was to great so I floated along the northern edge of the clouds then slipped over the top and skimmed the layer for some quality cloud surfing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After hanging 10 (RV10 get it:-) I decided to take what Mother Nature was giving and to stay West of the Green Mountains so we headed over to see what was going on at Plattsburgh (PBG). I let George do a little of the flying as we headed down to BABDI for an RNAV 35, but hand flew the approach to a touch and go. Then it was over to Burlington (BTV) for my first landing on Runway 1 since it reopened following construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beyond being the first flight of 2021 there was another first for me on this flight as two balloons were sharing the pattern with me. One actually requested a touch and go on runway 33 and came down to bump his basket on the runway before climbing backup. This was a definitely a first for me and the tower controller – resulting in a fun conversation. To make it even more fun the balloon scared up a fox that then ran down runway 33 and was standing at the intersection of 33\/1 as I did my touch and go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was then back to Franklin County for the RNAV 1 depart and come back in for the break! What a great way to start a new year! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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