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Flying into Writing: Amazing Contrast
By Eric McCarthy
Descending through the San Pasqual Valley (Rich Lee) I recently had the opportunity to fly with a good friend, Rich, in his beautifully maintained C-172. Our flight was to take us from Imperial County Airport (KIPL) to our home base, McClellan-Palomar (KCRQ). The contrast in terrain and weather along our route could not have been greater. Imperial sits 54’ below sea level in the middle of a vast agricultural area south of the Salton Sea, and even though we departed before noon, with clear skies, it was already hot.
Departing from IPL, we skirted El Centro Naval Air Facility’s airspace (KNJK) and joined V458 westbound to the KUMBA intersection, where V458 turns northwest bound to the Julian VOR (JLI). Just a few miles west of El Centro, the terrain changes dramatically from the miles and miles of lush greens and dormant browns of agricultural fields, to desolate gray desert, punctuated sporadically with cactus and hardy low bushes. The terrain starts to rise significantly as well, with peaks more than 6,000 feet, just 40 miles west of below-sea-level Imperial Valley.
CPK Cars, Planes, and Kids in Compton
A Free Open to the Public Event To Benefit a World Record Teen Solo Flight Across the USA
Sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen, Taylor Lynn Foundation, www.taylorlynn.org
On Sunday May 22nd from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m., Tomorrow’s Aeronautical Museum – TAM (www.tamuseum.org) will be hosting hundreds of kids for a free lunch (while supplies last) sponsored by California Pizza Kitchen (www.cpk.com) at the Compton/Woodley Airport with a dynamic event called “CPK” (Cars, Planes, and Kids) to benefit a world record teen solo flight across the USA. Fifteen super cars (Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, and McLaren) wrapped in super hero themes will be joining planes, helicopters, drones, and one of the world’s largest Instagram – Insta-Meet gatherings. #CPKCARSPLANESKIDS
Homebuilder's Workshop: Fetching the RV-8
By Ed Wischmeyer
The RV-8 in flight. (Courtesy of Ed Wischmeyer)For quite some time, I’ve figured that the RV-8 was probably what would best meet my needs and desires in a sport airplane. There have been any number advertised for sale, many with over-personalized paint jobs, excessive equipment, and astronomical price tags.
Eventually, though, one showed up on the west coast that looked pretty good, and at a good price. However, there are plenty of homebuilts of all sorts out there with beautiful cosmetics but shoddy wiring and engine installation. Those fears were allayed when it turned out that a long-term friend knew the airplane, knew the builder, and knew the seller. Plus, the picture of the engine installation showed numerous details nicely done. As a bonus, those frustrating piano wires in the hard to reach parts of the cowling had been replaced with Dzus fasteners. With absolutely no bargaining on the price, I mailed off a deposit check.