Stefan Vorkoetter’s Blog

It’s been over three weeks since I last went flying, so it was great to finally get a nice day between all the snow storms. The sky was completely clear and visibility was virtually unlimited. The cold temperature made for a very low density altitude (about -1500 MSL), giving an express-elevator climb on take-off.

Once again, I stayed in the local area, and overflew my house to get some pictures of the addition (which still isn’t done). Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my good camera, so I didn’t get very good quality pictures. Here’s one of our farm, showing the trails left in the snow by two of our horses.

Upon returning to the airport, there was a 9kt wind blowing at 30 degrees to the runway, making a 4.5kt crosswind. It had been a while since I landed in any significant crosswind, and I’m afraid my first landing wasn’t pretty, although I did manage to get the wheels pointed the right way at the moment of touchdown. I was so unimpressed with the landing that I taxied back to do a circuit, and my second landing was much better, touching down on the right wheel first. Next time there’s any significant crosswind, I think I’ll just stay in the circuit and practice.

Date: 2007-Dec-05
Aircraft: C-GCVX, DA20-A1
Passenger: none
Route: CYKF - Local Area - CYKF
Flight Time: 1.5h
Takeoffs and Landings: 2

Our home renovation continues, so I decided I’d go shoot some photos of it from the air. I also planned to take a picture of Lori’s friend’s house, which is off the end of the right downwind of runway 23 in Stratford (CNM4). So, I flew a triangular flight from CYKF to CNM4, did a touch and go there, flew up to our place, and then back to CYKF.

Unfortunately, photographing the friend’s place didn’t work out. As I departed the downwind and picked up the camera, I noticed a “memory full” message on the LCD. I didn’t have time to erase any pictures before passing over the house, and didn’t want to do an unplanned additional circuit since I’d already announced my intentions to leave. So that photo will have to wait until next time.

I did clear up some memory on the 10 minute flight to our place, and got some decent pictures of the builders replacing our porch roof. They were thrilled when we gave them prints the next day.

Date: 2007-Nov-13
Aircraft: C-FENF, DA20-A1
Passenger: none
Route: CYKF - CNM4 - CYKF
Flight Time: 1.0h
Takeoffs and Landings: 2

The days are getting shorter, so the flying has to be done earlier. Fortunately, my employer gives us flexible hours, so this is not a problem. I took one of our co-op students up for his first GA flight. He snapped this picture with a cellphone camera. I could only see the top half of the rainbow from the pilot seat, and didn’t realize how spectacular the view was from his side.

Date: 2007-Oct-24
Aircraft: C-GCVX, DA20-A1
Passenger: Faizan S.
Route: CYKF - Elora - CYKF
Flight Time: 1.1h
Takeoffs and Landings: 1

Today I flew up to Elora to get some photos of the gorge during the peak of the fall colours, and then over to my place to take a picture of our renovation, which is at the foundation stage.

I also had the opportunity to photograph some hot air balloons from the air, although those photos turned out a little bit blurry.

Date: 2007-Oct-04
Aircraft: C-FENF, DA20-A1
Passenger: none
Route: CYKF - CYKF
Flight Time: 1.3h
Takeoffs and Landings: 1

Another local flight. I took a visiting employee from our California office for some sightseeing.

Date: 2007-Sep-20
Aircraft: C-FENF, DA20-A1
Passenger: Joe R.
Route: CYKF CYKF
Flight Time: 1.3h
Takeoffs and Landings: 1