Wednesday, March 7, 2012

9th flight - Lesson: Be open to unexpected surprises

February 26th 2012
 
Today we headed over to the airport early. Bryan was going to get checked out in the 'S' model Cessna. After that he did a little simulator work on instrument work, to get current again (IPC-Instrument Proficiency Check, this is where a Certified flight instructor tests you and checks to make sure you are up to speed on all your instrument flying; in other words flying by sole reference of your airplanes instruments and not by looking out the window. This is very important if you get stuck in clouds or bad weather).



Bryan did awesome work on both fronts. The CFI (certified flight instructor) after completion gave him the sign off and okay to fly the 'S' model Cessna (As per the FAA you must be certified and checked to fly any new type or model aircraft you wish to fly. The 'S' model comes with some digital instruments or glass as they are referred to in aviation, and when you get checked out in any aircraft you must be able to demonstrate complete knowledge of all the aircraft systems).



The CFI though advised that Bryan he needed to go up for just two more instrument approaches before he could sign him off to be instrument current. Unfortunately we had to end the flight before Bryan could complete these two approaches as someone else was waiting for the airplane.

  
In the latter part of the evening, Bryan and I planned to take the Piper Cherokee aircraft (he's checked out in this aircraft) out for a night flight. A couple of weeks earlier Bry had seen on-line a nearby airport with an awesome restaurant lounge that overlooked the runway. We figured we could fly out over there for some chow. The problem, we realized was we just could not remember the airport or even the state the restaurant was in. We thought it was perhaps in RI, so we both set about looking on-line at all the small airports in the state of Rhode Island, and checking to see if we could find and/or recognize the place.

After some time of looking and having no luck, the crew from the Downwind aviation Club came walking in, and upon seeing Bryan and I, invited us to go to dinner with them at a nice restaurant at Waterbury-Oxford Airport (KOXC) called "121 Restaurant".

We figured, way not as we didn't seem to be finding the eatery we were hoping to go to we said yes. To make a cross-country of this trip (a flight of 50 nautical miles (nm) from the original point of departure), we first flew to Meriden Markham Municipal Airport (KMMK), and then took off toward Waterbury-Oxford Airport.


After parking our plane and walking over to the restaurant, we were immediately shocked when we realized that the very airport restaurant/lounge we were looking for on-line was this very establishment. Wow, what a happy accident. Well this flight taught me to be open to the unexpected surprises of life. We had a delectable and mouth-watering dinner with excellent company. I highly suggest “121 Restaurant” the food and ambiance is amazing and the staff was super attentive. Things could not have turned out better.

2 comments:

  1. You're so right, Piper Mama! "Things could not have turned out better".

    Another trip to this fine airport-restaurant is in the flightplan. :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. I quite agree, an excellent venue! :-)

    ReplyDelete