NOTHING'S CHANGED

After an eleven month layoff, I finally pulled my old VECTOR 610 out of the garage. Intially I had only planned to fix the nose gear, that I busted the last time out (Nov.'86). After fixing the nose gear, I found myself spraying the sail with Armor oil, replaced some fuel lines, etc. The VECTOR started to look good. Well, I'll just throw the engine on, to see if she'll fire after 11 months. Not to my suprise, the Zenoah fired off after only three pulls. That AMSOIL really works.

The weather has been beautiful around Houston this week. Cool nights, mild days and no wind. The VECTOR has been sitting in my back yard, ready to fly for 2 days now. O.K.! I cannot resist any longer. I had already scouted a field nearby. It's all settled, Friday morning I'll do a cross country to Bryan, TX (70 miles NW of home). Guess I had better disassemble the machine for the transport to the field.

Now this field had been scouted several weeks earlier. It sat at the entrance to a local housing development. There was a real estate office at one end. No need to ask permission. Just exercise good judgement. Do what you feel is best until someone complains, I thought (a la Frank Lorenzo). A quick drive by the field on Thursday verified that it had been cut recently. I also visited a local FBO at Hooks Apt, to purchase a sectional. I cut out the enclosed section and plotted my course. Something I hadn't done in a while, what with all the computer flight plans we use.

The VECTOR does not have storage space, so I packed my old T-38 helmet bag with a screw driver, wrenches, pliers, safety wire, spark plug, rachet and 4 bottles of synthetic 2-cycle. Since the bag had handles, I could secure it to the seat belt strap (so I thought). I shared my plan with a business associate Bill. I expressed the need for his pick-up truck for transport to the field. He agreed to meet me at 0730 Friday morning.

Well, Friday morning finally came. We loaded the VECTOR and headed to the field. It was a beautiful morning, temp in the low 50's, with calm wind.

It took me 1.5 hours to assemble the VECTOR. During that time, I had a visit by two patrol cars. As the LORD would have it, one officer was my former next door neighbor. Seems they had a report of someone taking off and landing an airplane on the street. Needless to say, they saw I was not doing that foolish act. Apparently, the real estate boys had reported me. The S and L that owns the land, wanted me arrested and charged with tresspassing. The officer explained that he saw no problems with what I was doing. The field looked like a recreational area. "NO TRESSPASSING" signs were absent. They took my name and said "Have a safe flight to Bryan".

The takeoff felt great. The repaired nosewheel worked fine. I cruise climbed at approx. 35mph to about 700 feet AGL. _NOTE_ All references to speed, time, and distance are predicted on the HALL A/S indicator, visually checking my shadow across the ground, crosschecking my progress with the cars and trucks. A big guess in other words. But it works!

The first obstacle after takeoff was Hooks Apt. I called the tower the day before, to inform them of my intentions. Serves basically 2 purposes.

(1)Semi-alerts the tower of my cross country attempt. It's like insurance. Should I turn up missing, they know where to look for me. How do they know if I am missing? Remember my business associate? Bill knows my itinerary. He has instructions to call Hooks Apt. first.

(2)Let's them know that I am aware of their control zone, and will not be a conflict or hazard. It pays to know the area you are operating in.

Leveling about 700 ft AGL, I throttled back to 65 percent (.5 throttle). Immediately I begin to visually check the engine, wings, tail section, gas tanks and my helmet bag (I think). All looked good. I spotted Hooks Apt. off my left wing. I wondered if they saw me. The controller said he would be looking out this morning. After passing the airport from a safe distance, I picked up the RR tracks and headed NW. I had a tailwind. Figured my GS to be about 50mph, which would put me in Bryan in 1.5 hours. It was now 1000, ten minutes into the flight.

I computed the VECTOR 610 endurance based on past experience. Back in 1983, I flew in the Arizona UL Air Race. I finished the 107 mile closed course race without refueling, in 2 hours 20 min. (I did have a pit stop in the desert though). I landed with 15 min fuel remaining. With all that information, the 70 mile trip to Bryan would be "a piece of cake". NON STOP. Should diversion become necessary, Navasota was a good alternate. Had landed there once before in a 152. Passing the 7 mile mark (2 RR tracks), I added some power and climbed slowly to 1200 ft AGL. Could still see my shadow over the ground. I really enjoyed the "low and slow exploration of the world". One hour later, I passed NE of Navasota. Glancing back, I had used .5 tank of gas so far. ETA looked good.

Finally I spot Coulter Apt, Bryan TX. As I start the descent, it gets bumpy. I make the approach from the SE. I pick a spot east of the paved runway and set the VECTOR down at 1120L. The wind is gusty, as the left wing tries to fly. I hop out and pull the VECTOR over to the tie down. So much for taxiing to the spot. ONE IMPORTANT TECHNIQUE! - I always leave two tie down ropes attached to the wings in flight. They trail in the wind, but come in handy when you land, and the wind is gusty. Such was the case this day.

After securing the VECTOR, I immediately noticed my helmet bag was missing. OH NO! I thought. I've lost my tools, but more important, the synthetic 2-cycle. I searched the landing area...to no avail. I walked up to the only hanger on the field. An old fella named Roy was working on a 172. "Howdy", he said. "You just fly that UL in here?" "Kinda windy out there isn't it?" To both questions, I answered yes. I told him my dilemma, having lost my 2-cycle oil. He told me of a fella here a few years back, who left a couple of bottles of 2-cycle oil. He kicked around some boxes and found them. Story goes... this unnamed UL pilot left the oil behind, just in case some UL pilot might need it one day. Thanks to that thoughtful UL pilot. Those 2 bottles of 2-cycle saved the day.

Since I use the synthetic oil and super unleaded gas, I was a little concerned. It meant mixing my normal fuel with petroleum 2-cycle and auto gas. I had never done this before, and I had no other choice. It took 3.4 gal to fill her up. I made some phone calls, nature call, and talked to a few of the local pilots. Some honest to goodness- hanger talk. The wind started to blow somewhat stronger. The wind meter hit a 25mph gust. I calmly ask what the winds had done the previous day. The prognosis was not very encouraging. Decided to takeoff now, before it got worse. Trying to fly back nonstop was not looking too good at this point. I had two guys hold the tiedown ropes, while I positioned the VECTOR for takeoff. With a thumbs up, I added power and became airborne in 50 feet. I did a max climb to show my appreciation and headed SE.

Right away, I noticed my shadow not moving across the ground very. Turbulence got my attention also. It took 1 hour to reach a point abeam Navasota. I decided to stop for fuel. I flew over Bridle Ridge Apt. Thought about landing, but didn't see any cars in the driveway. A low pass over the field didn't draw any attention. Decided to fly down the center of town (at a safe alt) toward the Novasota Apt. Spotted a gas station just east of the airport. I landed on the grass at the airport, which is next to the golf course. I tied the VECTOR to the wire fence. A 500 yard walk to the office, I found the course attendent.

Young fella asked the "did you & isn't it windy" questions. I asked how far was the gas station. The reply, "too far to walk". "How much do ya need?" he asked. "2.5 gal", I said. Seems he bought 5 gals to cut the grass etc. He had exactly 2.5 gals left. Praise The LORD! He gave it to me and said, "Consider this my contribution to UL flying". That touched me, what a nice gesture. I drank a Pepsi and ate a candy bar. Made a phone call to Bill advising him of my enroute stop. The attendent gave me a golf cart for the ride back to the airplane. I tied the gas tank down and prepared to takeoff. I was parked next to the 6th tee. A threesome approached and stopped. The usual conversation ensued. As they drove off, I heard one golfer say, "We must be in the wrong business, that looks like fun". No truer words were ever spoken.

The flight from Navasota back home was long, as expected. I was averaging 28mph. As I got closer to Houston, the wind speed decreased to 5 to 7mph. It was now 1715 local. A glance back to the gas tank, showed 1.5 gal remaining. I spotted Bill's plant and buzzed - yes, buzzed the office. I had no other way to get his attention. Once he acknowledged, I departed the area so as not to draw unnecessary attention.

Since I had been hasseled (in a friendly manner) when I tookoff, I expected to be hasseled again when I landed. I wanted to spend minimum time on the property. Maybe I could get it disassembled and hauled off before anyone came. DREAM ON JOHN. In the mean time, there was a landing to be made. It's about 1730 as I start the approach. The winds are very light. A car spots me and decides to stop and watch. No problem, except he stopped in my line of intended flight. I wave frantically. They get the message and move. I can make the field now, retard the power, nice flare, and grease job.........the end to a perfect flying day.

Well almost.......a representative of the S and L greeted me within 5 minutes after landing. As he approached, I was hurriedly disassembling the VECTOR. "How was your trip to Bryan?" he asked. There goes my "running out of gas" story, I thought to myself. We chatted, and in a pleasant way, he asked that I not fly from this field again. He actually apologized for having to tell me that, because "it looked like fun". No truer words were ever spoken. Had something to do with liability etc. I explained no one would be hurt, and if I injured myself, I assume all responsibility. He continued to shake his head. "But you don't understand sir," I said. "I fly jets and get paid to do this stuff called flying." He understood my position, and I thanked hime for being pleasant about the whole situation.

No sooner after the S and L representative left, up walks the constable. I saw him approaching out of the corner of my eye. I acted busy like I was minding my business. The officer finally interrupted. I told my convincing story again. He asked for my driver's license (of all things), and the usual "Gee Wiz" questions. He seemed satisfied I was causing no harm. With Bill's help, we loaded the VECTOR, and made a hasty exit.

Was it all worth it?? YOU BET IT WAS...........NOTHING'S CHANGED!