Flight May 22, 2005

Solo: (T. Peters)
MapComments
Solo to Lanai, Molokai, and back again. Pretty uneventful, weather was drifting toward marginal, but I got the job done. Made the flight within 5 minutes of what my plan on the navlog predicted, both ways. Had to duck a little to miss a cloud over the VORTAC going into Lanai, yet the pattern was OK. Landed 21 (again), the wind was 70 degrees off at 150 (140 magnetic), but a little better than on R3. Took plenty of rudder to put it down. Another FSH renter was right behind in N790SP, so I pulled into parking and watched him do to touch-n-gos. It probably cost me $11 with the engine running, but it was nice to relax for a moment. Even though I have never had any of the planes not start, I wasn't about to kill the engine, just for superstition's sake.

Took off behind Eric in 790SP, rode out the bumps over the valley north of the VORTAC, and headed for Molokai, via Kaena Point, Lanai.

On Molokai, I had an easier time finding the airport this time, and touched runway 5 on the first try, but things were really squirrely (a Mike Nonaka-ism that I keep using since it fits so well), and I went around. Second try was firm and skimmy, gusty crosswinds, but it counted. There was a number 2 behind me, so I didn't stay to chat. Throttle forward, climbed out and went north and east to Ilio Pt.

I closed my flight plan with Honolulu FSS Radio about 10 NM off of Kokohead. Called into HNL Bravo and got a squawk code, but they didn't clear me, so I did a right hand circle, which, of course put me behind Makapuu and Koko Crater, so reception from approach got really sketchy, and they couldn't hear me either. Just to add to the fun, another controller had N861SF (FSH's Cessna 182T), so they were just getting confused between 1FS (me) and 1SF (him). From then on, I used the whole call, and approach gave me a traffic advisory calling me "1SF" once, for a head-on with a light airplane coming from Diamondhead. I didn't bother to correct him that time. The traffic came as close as I've seen another airplane, but not really bothersome close, so it was more interesting than scary.

At HNL, of course, my first landing attempt on 4L was also squirrely. I went around and set it down much nicer the second time, before taxiway Delta.

It was a challenging day, but only to the extent of being satisfying. I was pretty tired when I got to the shop, which was full of people all wanting something. I introduced myself to Eric, and told him I had pictures...

Pictures from May 22nd:


Molokai from the west

Interesting little rainstorm in the channel between Molokai and Oahu.

Another one off Kaena Pt. Lanai.
FSS now saying Lanai had "Marginal VFR".

Planes in "transient parking" at Lanai airport.
(The one on the right doesn't look very transient.)

N790SP on final

N790SP on even more final

Ilio Pt., Molokai

HNL from left downwind for 4L, coming up on the tower.
(I had been told to extend).

Submarine, relatively short, flat deck, no FWP, swept sail, no foresail structure(???)
An attack boat anyways, headed into PH.

At parking. All pau.