Love Adventures

I LOVE every moment I feel this way... 

 

Every rare person who had made me feel this way & every experience in life... most specifically, every runway I take off & land on.... Every single one is a True Exhilarating Adventure. :-) 

What makes you feel adventure? Fess up!:-)

Aviation Adventures: Good flying, good learnings

Flew from home base New Kent W96 to West Point Middle Peninsula KFYJ (2nd time there) to Williamsburg Jamestown KJGG (1st visit!) back to W96. Jim has me learning more about VOR navigation which I like for the added orienteering skills. Also, looking forward to familiarizing myself more with the foreflight application.

So far every new airport is an exciting adventure. Love the feeling of discovery. Still, I always enjoy the return to home base. 

You ever hear ever the saying it's the little things that matter? In aviation, there are no little things. Every step of the process is extremely important. Today I learned more. Valuable in growth & experience. It's was a good day of flying. 

Today's route 

Quick shot as I verified fuel levels before takeoff at Williamsburg Jamestown

4 stamps. Looking forward to experiencing landings & Takeoffs at more new airports!:-)

By far, some of the best sunsets I've seen in my Life I've experienced flying in these planes. It's an uniquely special feeling. Looking forward to experiencing many more to come all over the world!:-) 

Here's heading back to W96. I even got my first night flying time tonight!

On the food front: Enjoyed this delicious antipasta salad from A Taste of Italy in Midlothian, Virginia. Great Italian food!! You must try them is you're in the area.

Cheese pizza is delish!

What kind of flying, food &/or fun adventures were you up to on this 2/21/2014? Do tell!

Aviation Adventure: Digital Tools ForeFlight

Playing with ForeFlight tonight. Here I'm pointing at Richmond airport!:-)

I Love the 2 finger feature!!! Instant heading, nautical mile distance. Booyyaaahhh!

LOVE technology at times like this... Cannot wait to learn more of what this digital app can do to support my flying!

Pilots ~ Fess up, what are your favorite features of ForeFlight?

Aviation Adventures: Glittery Flight Plan

Looking forward to getting some sky this weekend. Love the possibilities. So many places to visit. Thinking this weekend I'll propose two airport stops. Good flying & I can get more stamps for my avi ambassador passport.:-)

I'm feeling a greater sense to venture farther. Seems like a natural progression after my first solo & in line with my near future cross country trip to come. One great flying step at a time!!! Bring it!!!!:-D

Note: I'm loving my new glitter nail polish. Roger that! :-)

Aviation Adventures: Flight Plan Briefing--> next stop Richmond Executive Airport for a lunch buffet ~ BOOYAAH!:-D

Flying is a magnificent experience. I don't come from a flying family. It wasn't until I went on my first discovery flight on the West Coast in 2007 in a R-22 helicopter, without the doors on which was The Best, then my first cessna discovery flight on the East Coast in 2012 that I found this passion to aviate & thank goodness I did. I knew, on that first Cessna ride, I wanted to pilot, not be the passenger. Aviation is what I imagine it's like meeting the love of your life. Simply put, it just feels like home! Aviation to me is something you would never take for granted & always showing up at your Best! I love that, really I do because it demands my best. 

To lift smoothly off the ground in a plane you're operating, climbing steady towards the sky is nothing but exhilarating. Cruising high above, things below, thoughts, concerns melt away. I'm acutely present in each & every moment. No distraction.  The steps that lead up to a landing keep me even more so razor focused. To feel the wheel softly touch the runways upon landing is pure zen.

So, last Friday I proposed a flight plan to my instructor Jim to include a visit, my first, to Richmond Executive Airport (formerly known as Chesterfield Airport) & ... priorities... check out their lunch buffet! Yeay!!! Oh yes, flying & eating are 2 of my favorites things! I'm excited about my very first Fly & Dine experience. One of very many, many, many more to come.:-)

Here are a few pics I captured of the adventure. 

There's my lil guy!!! 152 stud:-)

I love my checklist. Preflight. I really enjoy climbing up to check the fuel.

NKAs helping hands to get the lil guy out of the hanger! Hercules!!

Flying to Richmond Executive Airport (formerly known as Chesterfield airport). Note, inflight pics mean I have positively exchanged controls. Just saying ~ safety, first!:-)

Getting closer to the buffet:-)

Love these aerial views! Amazing to really look at these after a flight & awe over how different Life is from a higher altitude:-)

Great first landing at Richmond Executive Airport!:-) Greeted by Ben.

Beautiful charter planes to my right.

Sweeeeet pano of the airport.:-)

Hiya REA!

Finally, I get to try Kings Korner buffet! Bring it!!!!

Yum:-)

Spotted fellow NKA W96ers dropping in for lunch!

Got my Virginia Aviation Ambassador Passport stamp. Cheese!:-D

Eager to get this stamped to the full!

Me directing Jim to take my photo with the Pilots only sign:-) I once came here to meet a date who flew in, now I'm flying a plane in & out. Love how that happens!;-)

Cheese!

Got to watch this beautiful take off while checking the fuel:-)

Checking fuel levels. I love this.... I reeeaaaalllyyy do!:-)

Flying back to W96.

River view

Love these views

Saw this article from AOPA Flight Training Magazine at my FBO. I'm definitely flying into Tangier!

Yes!!!! My license plate came in!:-)

A beautiful Virginia sunset to close out an awesome day of Flying, Food, & Fun! LOVE!

So, fess up... What are you favorite fly & dine spots!  Help an aviator newbie out. Where's the best fly & grubbin I should ass to my list?!

Safe flying to all you Aviators sharing the sky!

Aviation Adventure: Hey Han, there's a new Solo around town --> Em SoloWooHoo!

Last Saturday, it was a calm day at New Kent Aviation (Quinton, Virginia). It was a great day of flight for me. I achieved my first solo.

A week since, I still smile huge recalling the unique sensation that comes with the acute recollection of feelings experienced taking flight by myself, on my own and unassisted. An achievement and memory that will make my heart flutter with excitement, my lips curl up in a smile & my eyes sparkle like fiery diamonds recalling one of my Best days.

Every single take off, flight, and landing is unique. There are very few things I have found in Life that demand the higher standards/levels that aviation does and that spark great feelings I experience with each flight.  

First solo, one of many to come! 

Solo ~ The transition from the thought of, "I can do this!" to "I did it and look forward to doing it again!"

I love flying!

Hanging up my 1st Solo shirt at NKA FBO ~ WooHoo!

Right after landing. High5s with Bryan Smith CFI. Thanks to my Instructor Jim Oddono, too!

Look closely. I'm like a tiny firefly in the sky. Coming in for landing!

My take off!

Em Solo ~ There I go!

God Bless America where opportunities exist to get into General Aviation!

Absolute! I'm eager to continue learning & growing my skills/experience!

If you're a pilot, student or seasoned, share with me your memories of you first solo?! Would love to hear them!

If you're a student who's near your first solo, what are your thoughts about the upcoming milestone?!

Yes another Great Virginia Fly Day!

Some moments caught from today's fly time adventures. Each time I'm up is some of the best moments of my Life. Each time I come back to the ground, I look forward to my next time up.

I love flying:) 

Filler up!

Steep turns

Great view

Dual cheese

Like a painting ~ LOVE!

See you again soon!

Oh & spotted this cool beast up high earlier in the day! V-22 ~ Neat!

One of my Favorite quotes. True Story:)

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." ~ Leonardo da Vinci