Plane and Pilot

JULY 1, 2025

A witness reported that they saw the airplane lift off from the runway and remain in ground effect until it crossed the departure end of the runway. Probable cause(s): The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees after takeoff, during high density altitude weather conditions. He had no further memory of the event.

Density Altitude

Photographic Logbook

JANUARY 25, 2025

But getting there from Rochester, NY is never a simple task and not only requires the runway to be open with favorable conditions, but the weather between here and there must be amenable to a six hour round trip there and back again. Syracuse advised of lake effect snow creating a wall between us and Sodus.

Runway

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

He frequently hosted visiting pilots, providing them with detailed briefings of the area and the weather. The CAPE index, a measure of convective energy and instability, was below 100 joules, indicating a very low probability of severe weather or thunderstorms. Only the blowing dust on the ground is visible.

Pilot

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

ORA does not fly their pioneer era aircraft above the treetops, but the Pusher climbed out of ground effect and flew along the runway before setting back to the turf at the far end. However, turning the wheel actuates the rudder (instead of the ailerons). A little weather en route home.

Airplanes