BARNSTORMING!

 

BARNSTORMING!

My Travel Buddy!

After I returned home from my stint in the US ARMY, I started

 taking flying lessons, working towards a Commercial License. I

 bought a Cessna 150 and took instruction in it. One spring, I flew

 from San Diego County, California to Grants Pass, Oregon, on a

 mission for my father. I did not accomplish what was hoped for,

 but I did resolve matters. I first debated driving the distance of

 about 800 miles of mostly boring, familiar freeway. I did not relish

 that. Since the weather was perfect for the trip except for Coastal

 Low Clouds and Fog, I elected to FLY. It was a trip with some

great experiences and I made some surprising new friends.

My Pilot Log Book shows I landed at Fresno Air Terminal on the

 first leg of the flight. Since I carried four hours of fuel on board,

 Fresno was a logical choice. However, the distance between

 airports remaining from there, meant two SHORT hops and one

 longer one was needed. I opted for Modesto for the next stop, and

 from there to Siskiyou Airport near the Oregon Border.

A Northern California Community with its Airport.

 Now Siskiyou Airport is a County field, but it was a “joint-use

 facility” with the US Air Force back then. So, I ended up dealing

 with an Air Force Controller. The Airport was used for all kinds of

 flight operations in a remote area for AF pilots who got their

 required monthly flying time in there.

As I crested the pass between Mt. Shasta and the Trinity Alps,

 visibility was more than 50 miles. The airport was easy to find, 

but the air turned very bumpy beyond the crest, and I was held 

busy keeping the airplane flying straight and level. 

I tuned in the  tower

 frequency to see what was happening there and soon learned the

 winds were straight down the runway from the south at 25 knots!

 In other words, it was WINDY. They had one of those large B52

 type aircraft in the pattern doing touch-and-goes. I was evaluating

 what my options were. Large aircraft are a danger to all planes

 because of wing-vortex winds known as “wake turbulence.” The

 tanker was doing a left hand pattern which kept him to the east of

 the field. He lifted off fairly early for a heavy plane and then

 circled back for another approach. It was obvious I could AVOID

 the whole turbulence issue by flying a straight-in approach with a

 hefty tailwind. The winds worked to my advantage by keeping the

 “wakes” moving to the north! My skill level at the time easily

 allowed for this option. I had not yet received my Commercial

 License but was within a dozen hours of qualifying. I radioed the

 tower to advise them of my position and aircraft type. I was

 pushing a ground speed at the time of 130, selling off my altitude

 in the rough air. I requested a straight-in approach, mentioning

 my concern about wake turbulence and that I was willing to

coordinate approach times. I was cleared to land (...“wheels down

 and locked!” the controller said! Cessna 150’s do not have a

 retractable gear! That was apparently standard AF procedure.)

The big boy extended his down-wind a bit and I had clear sailing.

 Getting the craft slowed down took some doing, and eventually I

 added 20 degrees of flaps for the landing. It was too bumpy for 

full flaps but it turned into a smooth operation with the big boy

 landing minutes later in the OPPOSITE direction as planned. I

 gassed my plane, rested a bit before tackling the remaining 

hour to Grants Pass. When I spotted the big fellow off the ground I

 requested to taxi to the midpoint of the runway, and I would take

 off from there. Normally one does not do that, but the deciding

 factor in my decision was the strong southerly wind and the

 guarantee of no “wake.” I was cleared for a midpoint takeoff, did

 so, and was airborne in seconds. I requested a right-turn climbing

 departure, received it, and wished them all a good day.

Thompson Creek Airstrip. Can you spot the grass runway??!

At Grants Pass, I gassed again, and inquired about using 

the Thompson Creek Airstrip, which was my eventual 

destination. The neat grass strip is no longer used. It was a 

one-way field at the time and could be tricky! It was just 

a few feet from where we lived when I entered the military, 

so this was a great piece of luck for me in completing 

my reason for going.

Today, several ranches in the area keep their own planes and 

active runways in more suitable locations nearby. I looked 

the place over before deciding my approach. Once I was 

sure I could land, I returned to Grants Pass to top off my 

fuel for the eventual trip south. I also talked to pilots familiar 

with the strip for any additional tips.

Left-hand landing pattern with arrow showing the grass runway.

Since I had never landed at Thompson Creek Airstrip before, 

I opted NOT to land up-canyon with the unfamiliar terrain and

 tail-wind. The windsock indicated up-canyon winds from the N/W,

 so down-slope was the logical approach! A good rule here was

 early morning operation, landing uphill and only takeoff to the

 north. Taking off to the south was always a no-go because of the

 high hills and mountains in the way. If you cannot out-fly the

 terrain, it can be a deadly gamble. I landed in the afternoon, so

 uphill landing was iffy. There could be no go-around. Our photos

 tell the story of how my flight operation was conducted here, and

 shows the landing using a left-hand traffic pattern. Basically, I

 followed the terrain, cleared the trees and dropped down onto the

 grass.

As I rolled to a stop to secure my plane, a house across 

Thompson Creek emptied of people, Two adults and a mess 

of kids came running across the creek see who this 

“barnstormer” was! The kids wanted to see the cockpit with all 

its instruments, sit in the cockpit and so on. They were a very 

nice family. I told them my mission and next thing I knew, I was

 invited for dinner! I had planned to camp under the plane 

in my sleeping bag, but they would not hear of it, and so I 

spent the night in their warm house instead! What a neat 

visit it was. Trying to get the kids to go to bed was a challenge 

for the adults. Just too much excitement and too many 

stories to tell!

The next morning I gave a ride as a reward. I made a solo take-off

 first, to familiarize myself with the grass strip. Then I took the

 father in the family up. He had never seen the place from this

 perspective and he was thrilled. Carrying extra weight meant a

 longer take-off run to clear the trees at the end of the runway.

 When our visit concluded, I said my goodbyes and prepared to

 start the engine again.

A Random photograph of the Oregon Cascades!

It would not start!

Oh, the starter turned all-right, but the starter clutch would not

 engage the propeller! I could not find anything wrong in the

 engine. There were no oil leaks or any obvious signs of troubles!

 So I went back to the tried-and-true method of HAND-

PROPPING the engine. I set the brakes, cracked the throttle a bit

 and hand-pulled the prop through its cycle. First time it did not

 catch. The second time was full contact. I jumped in the plane to

 manage the engine. I waved goodbye to my hosts and taxied 

to the end of the runway. All along, I checked to make sure 

I did not have any other issues. Engine run-up was normal, 

the magnetos checked out and there was no carburetor 

icing. The takeoff was normal, I cleared the trees and when safe to

 do so, I made a 360 degree turn, climbed above the scattered low

 clouds and the Greyback Mountains and began my trip south! 

The way it turned out, I had to prop the airplane on each landing

 til I got home so my mechanic could deal with the problem. It 

was a minor clutch issue, as it turned out.

Clearing the Low Clouds and clearing the Greybacks!

I left Thompson Creek as early as the low clouds would permit.

 Once airborne, I filed my VFR flight plan with the local Flight

 Service for my first destination, Ukiah, California. The route of

 flight took me over the Trinity Alps, one of the most remote areas

 in the USA. The pictures show the sights. It was very much a

 “Lone Ranger” type of flight. No-one around for miles…..

 Eventually the harsh mountain landscape became more rolling. I

 passed the Yolla Bolla Wilderness (yes, that is what it is called!)

 and settled into a seeing a softer landscape. The morning low

 clouds had dissipated. The flight took a little more than two-and-

one-half hours of smooth sailing.

The Greybacks looking South to the Coastal Fog and Low Clouds!

Ukiah, California is in the wine country of Mendocino and is a

 TYPICAL California scene with Oak trees, Madrone Trees

 (unique to the area) and chaparral hillsides. The airport was an

 easy find, I refueled and spent some time relaxing. I was not in a

 hurry and kept myself well-watered and fed! I propped the plane

 again!

Marble Mountain Wilderness in the Trinty Alps!

An Alpine Lake in the Trinity Alps!

The next planned stop was Paso Robles, a scenic town on the

 Central California Coast south of San Francisco. Crossing the

 Golden Gate was a sight. Not many get to fly over the bridge that

 close to the water. But I stayed clear of the San Francisco Airport

 traffic pattern and headed south along the coast to Big Sur. I

 avoided the military restricted area as I moved south. Eventually

 Paso Robles came into sight almost three hours later. It was now

 late afternoon. I made this a serious rest-stop, planning to fly

 direct to my home base at Fallbrook. The timing meant I would be

 landing after dusk and I planned for an alternate airport in the

 event Fallbrook was not usable due to landing lights not working

 or due to fog and low clouds. I propped the plane for the last 

time!

 The trip south from Paso Robles was nice. The late afternoon sun

 gave a certain glow to the hillsides of the Los Padres National

 Forest. Once while I was looking around for other aircraft, I was

 surprised to see one pass a few hundred feet below me headed 

in a southwest direction! It woke me up to the fact that even 

in visual flying, one cannot be careful enough. Mid-air 

collisions are rare, but can happen if two pilots do not see each

 other! I did not want to be “the rare one!”

Dusk fell, and night along with it. Once I cleared the crest of the

 mountains, the entire Los Angeles Basin lay before me with

 millions of lights! It was breathtaking. I flew at about 10,000 feet

 over LAX, and could see the planes landing and taking off below.

 Eventually, I cleared the basin as well as Orange County to the

 south.

At last it was time for the decent to my home airport at Fallbrook. 

I sold off the altitude with nose down, increased speed and less

 power and lost all the lights of the city as they passed behind 

me. My concern now was the coastal low clouds. They had 

already formed along the water, but had not seriously invaded

 inland. Below two thousand feet, the smell of moisture 

penetrated the cabin, and I looked for the landing lights marking

 the short 2000 foot runway. My eyes slowly became accustomed 

to the darkness. Since I was very familiar with the area, I found 

the lights fairly easy and focused on them. I was high, so I 

added 40 degrees of flaps and idled the engine.

The landing approach was very normal, my landing lights lit up 

the runway, I touched down beyond the threshold and rolled 

to a short stop. I taxied to the turnoff then taxied further to my

 hanger to secure the airplane.

I was home again, the adventure was over!

Written and photographed by 

Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst

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FACEBOOK!

 FACEBOOK!

Facebook is “free.” so they tell us.

But is it? Nope, they collect all kinds of info on us all and sell it to

 the highest bidder, to give you a

“better browsing experience.” Translated to simple English, that

 means they collect info on you so they can connect you with

 advertisers based on your browsing habits. I block unwanted

 intrusions where I can. Facebook constantly brings up past posts I

 have made and encourage me to post them again. I rarely bother.

 The posts are often very good, but I seldom want to re-run them.

I always deny Facebook as much “personal info” as I can, and

 don’t post anything I do not wish to say publicly. I do not discuss

 private matters and I almost NEVER post intentions or where I

 plan to go, in ADVANCE.

Lately, I have noticed another scam. Maybe you see it too. I get

 more than a dozen “Friend Suggestions” daily. It is not the same

 as a “Friend Request.” A “request” comes from someone who

 WANTS to be your friend. The “suggestions” come from

 Facebook, who want to drive up your “friends list” for their own

 personal gain. It has come to my attention that from time to time,

 Facebook loses people and they will find all kinds of “clever” 

ways to increase traffic. Most of these suggestions are 

“friends offriends.” Some appear to be “trolls” that 

have pages without posts.

 They are often half-dressed “young” women (maybe cops)

 soliciting the “greater fool.”

I would never pay Facebook for anything. They are too anxious to

 sensor, claim their “standards” are violated, mislabel 

commentary, facts and posts when it suits them. 

There are other social media

 much more advanced than Facebook, and often those who post

 there have a higher level of intellect than found here! Some of

 them charge, but such service is often worth it. It is always easy 

to see who rules the roost, when you find out what you cannot 

say, criticize or mention…. If they don’t like your source, 

it is banned.

 It does not matter WHERE the original source was published. You

 CAN publish that, but not certain sites that quote the original

 sources.

I also see phony “Friend Requests” from people I am already

 “friends” with. They are mostly hackers. I just delete them. 

Lately, they seem to have increased in number.

Let the “buyer” beware.

Posted by The blogger

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KISSINGER!

 KISSINGER

Kissinger with Zhou Enlai

So.

Kissinger is finally dead at 100…...

It has always amazed me how many “good” people die young and

 the “evil” ones seem to hang on forever. Don’t get me wrong,

 filling 100 years is a very notable feat! That having been said, it is

 useful to remember that Kissinger is touted in the media as a 

great “diplomat” and “statesman.” They also say he “served”

 many presidents. No indeed, many presidents served HIM!

 He deserved none of the accolades he was given, in my 

estimation. He had a free rein in the compliant press. 

Like the press, he simply

 served his masters, and was VERY GOOD at it. He has been

 responsible for more death and destruction around the World in

 the past 70 years than any other man I can recall.

His phony German accent and his constant lip-sneer was the

 public giveaway of his true self. He simply could not hide THAT.

 He could not hide his Jewishness, either. He was definitely NOT a

 good example for his people to emulate!

He did not “represent” America. He represented himself and his

 “world order” cronies and he did his job extremely well. He had

 no conscience at all. In the last couple of years, he finally said

 what many of us know, that bringing in too many foreigners will

 ruin Europe (and America too). The Europeans have known that

 for some time, Americans have yet to get that, but when he was

 busy promoting his garbage he did not speak up. Recently, 

with one foot in the grave it was time to “pretend” 

to be correct!

He founded “Kissinger and Associates,” a group that “advised”

 Americas “government” not to mention foreign governments and

 World corporations. With his connections and knowledge, I am

 sure there were many who subscribed! And governments would

 “listen,” regardless of whether what they were told was GOOD for

 THEM or not!

So who will REPLACE him?

NO-ONE.

There is no man on the World stage today with the skills this man

 had. Instead we will be treated to bumbling leaders of all kinds,

 who by their actions, will continue to serve the “slave-masters!”

Count on it…..

Posted by The blogger

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DOGS!

 DOGS

 

When I became a young man, my younger sister fell in love with a

 mongrel dog she just could not do without. Since we never had a

 dog during our growing-up years, this was something new.

There was a small problem. The dog was a mixture of Dachshund

 and Beagle. The Beagle part was not a real hassle. He just

 “sniffed” and “followed” everything! But the Dachshund part was

 a whole different “kettle of fish.” The dog dug up flowerbeds to 

my mother’s dismay; dug up my garden to my dismay and 

we literally had to fence him out of everything. Nothing we 

did to discipline or teach the dog worked. We were simply dealing

 with an animal not compatible with us at all! 

DIVERSITY became our weakness!

He was an OUTSIDE dog; never allowed IN the house. Instead, he

 had a nice traditional “dog house” with a comfortable blanket

 OUTSIDE on our small porch. He loved it, and it was his

 sanctuary. He KNEW he did “wrong” from time to time, acted very

 “guilty” and would run into my sister’s arms 

every time he got “caught.”

There was a large creek running by the house. It was bank to bank

 with flowing water during the winter rainy season, but during the

 summer it would dry down to a trickle, or even to just pools of

 water. We irrigated out of the stream and there was always plenty

 of water available.

During the spring Salmon run, the fish would come up the creek

 from the ocean to spawn. After completing their life’s mission,

 they died and were found floating along the banks up and down

 the stream. It became a source of food for the “clean-up

 committee,” including wild animals and some domestic ones.

 While lying dead, the fish would bloat and develop a condition

 known as “salmonella.” It was often deadly for dogs.

Naturally, old “digger” could not resist. Gorging himself on the

 “free welfare,” he got “sicker than a dog” and soon became

 almost unresponsive. My sisters grief was unimaginable. 

I was concerned, too, but I was not as emotionally i

nvolved at first. Eventually, we both begged mom and 

dad to take  the dog to an “animal doctor.”

The diagnosis…..SALMONELLA POISONING.

There was an antidote available, and it cost $25 dollars. Dad and

 mom did not feel it was worth the money. Twenty five dollars then

 was a very large amount of money that people today cannot

 appreciate or fathom at all. But emotion ruled the day, 

and the dog got his reprieve.

He was never the same after his ordeal. But my sister had her dog

 back! I went into the US Army that winter and never saw the

 animal again. Losing me on the farm meant my folks had to move

 back to town again, and did so, and the dog became a problem 

for someone else…..

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THE DINOSAUR CAKE!

 

THE DINOSAUR CAKE!

We have a new short video for you!

Birthday Parties for one-year-olds are mostlty an adult affair! A one-year-old has not yet figured out what all the fuss is about! After all, he is learninjg cool stuff like trying to walk and talk! As a result, he does all kinds of silly things at the party. He decorates his face with cake, smears up the windows, and hears singing "Happy Birthday Damon" for the first time! The cat waits for the opportunity to lick icing off the window, where the boy conveniently puts it!

Enjoy the show!

Copy and paste this link into your browser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyE3ZevbPSM&t=1s

Posted by The Blogger

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thd ay Parties for one-year-olds are mostlty an adult affair! A one-year-old has not yet figured out what all the fuss is about! After all, he is learninjg cool stuff like trying to walk and talk! As a result, he does all kinds of silly things at the party. He decorates his face with cake, smears up the windows, and hears singing "Happy Birthday Damon" for the first time! The cat waits for the opportunity to lick icing off the window, where the boy conveniently puts it!

Birthday Parties for one-year-olds are mostlty an adult affair! A one-year-old has not yet figured out what all the fuss is about! After all, he is learninjg cool stuff like trying to walk and talk! As a result, he does all kinds of silly things at the party. He decorates his face with cake, smears up the windows, and hears singing "Happy Birthday Damon" for the first time! The cat waits for the opportunity to lick icing off the window, where the boy convenientloy the show!

Birthday Parties for one-year-olds are mostlty an adult affair! A one-year-old has not yet figured out what all the fuss is about! After all, he is learninjg cool stuff like trying to walk and talk! As a result, he does all kinds of silly things at the party. He decorates his face with cake, smears up the windows, and hears singing "Happy Birthday Damon" for the first time! The cat waits for the opportunity to lick icing off the window, where the boy conveniently puts it! Enjoy the show!

Birthdarties for one-year-olds are mostlty an adult affair! A one-year-old has not yet figured out what all the fuss is about! After all, he is learninjg cool stuff like trying to walk and talk! As a result, he does all kinds of silly things at the party. He decorates his face with cake, smears up the windows, and hears singing "Happy Birthday Damon" for the first time! The cat waits for the opportunity to lick icing off the window, where the

BIRTHDAYS!

                                                            BIRTHDAYS!

• ON GETTING OLDER!

The other day, it occurred to me that there is another birthday

milestone coming up in my life and I am told by the calendar it is

the 82nd anniversary.

As Western writer Louis L’Amour once wrote, “In the course of a

man’s life, he does many things.”

As I look back, it amazes me all that I have witnessed in my life, all

that I have learned and seen, all that I remember, all the things

 that have happened, both good and bad, and of course, all the

 things I have done. I know my limitations better now, and have no

 qualms about asking for help or advice where I need it. I also

 know myself well, my strong points and seldom compromise 

what I KNOW to be right and correct. I have also learned the hard

 way not to GIVE A DAMN WHAT OTHERS THINK!

I am more impressed by what they KNOW!

I also look back at the wisdom gained, and how not everyone has

it! A man of 35, for instance, does not have the living experience 

of someone fifty years his senior. He may be very good at what he

does, but he may not have experienced the world long enough to

 see the RHYTHM in life and understand what creates it. He has 

not yet fully grasped how to deal with it, either….

The older I get, the better I understand my parents and what they

tried to instill in me. I also really appreciate all they did FOR ME

and all they SACRIFICED for me and for the future family. They

were there for me consistently. I also learned that they were not

always right either, but that also was due to the same factors, not

seeing the RHYTHM in life in the correct light! Some things many

times just have to be learned the hard way.

Watching my grand-kids grow, make mistakes, but persist in

pushing forward, is an inspiration. It is definitely more fun to be a

grandparent, than a parent!

So when you see an old man cling to his past like a gem, there is a

reason. It is his connection to all that ever was and still is. When

you pass 50, 60 or more you too, may understand that better.

Meantime, I go about my business, enjoy myself and continue to

observe all the idiocy that goes on in many people’s lives. It is like

the cat chasing his tail. Around and around he goes, and nothing

changes. But he keeps chasing the tail! Once in a while he 

catches it and bites! Then he wonders why it hurts!

I am probably busier now than ever, and while some things take

longer to accomplish, I will continue to do what needs doing and

what I am inspired to do, til the day comes that I cannot. I am not

in any particular hurry to get there, either. My health is my most

important asset, and as long as I do not compromise it, 

life goes on.

 The other day, I came across a list of the number of Hollywood

 actors most of us have forgotten about and how old they are now.

Most are in their NINETIES, still doing projects and still are slim,

trim and look surprisingly youthful. They are quite different from

the spoiled, stupidly opinionated, silly, overfed multitudes they

entertained over the years. These celebrities found “the secret,”

and practice it to the hilt.

Maybe you should too, but you will have to discover “the secret”

for yourself!

Posted by The Blogger

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