Ah, a real summer day, this past Saturday, April 21, 2007 was. With temps in the high 70's to low 80's, combined with light wind, it was a real treat. What wasn't a treat, despite these low winds, was the turbulence we experienced throughout the day. Though nothing significant, it became a nuisance by the time we returned home. Still though, we had a great flight as I will try to convey below.
After arriving at the airport, a standard pre-flight was in order, followed by a quick trip to the airport office to check last minute weather and use the facilities. I already knew where I wanted to fly to, and Hershey Park in Hershey, PA was it. Before we could actually fly there, we figured on a quick fuel stop at Queen City airport in Allentown, PA. This is our usual fuel-stop and rest area before, during or after a day of flying, if we are in the area of course.
Upon departing, I headed southwest, paralleling I-78. We overflew Kutztown and the university located there, as well as the small airport with one paved runway and the other turf. Continuing, we flew just north of a rather large, irregular shaped lake due northeast of Reading, PA. Soon after, I could see the town of Lebanon in the distance, and knew that Deck airport was around the area. We were both getting hungry and since it was a little past noon, we decided on a visit to this quaint, farm country airport amongst the cattle and corn fields of PA. After taxing, parking and shutting down the engine, we emerged from the cockpit to utter silence. It's almost spooky to hear nothing at all in the midst of a corn field. If it wasn't for a Piper and a few other planes departing and landing, it would have been too weird. We pulled out our step stool and used it as a make-shift seat and enjoyed our picnic lunch which we always haul around with us. WaWa subs, chips and pickles with Gatorade, plus cookies for dessert.....Delicious and re-energized, ready to photograph the coasters of Hershey Park.
After departing on the same runway we had just landed on, 01 (10 degree heading), we were soon leveled-off at approx. 2,000 feet. It's good we had climbed this high, because I had no idea the park was actually open that day. I was figuring the park to be closed before May like nearby Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, PA is. Anyway, I throttled the engine back just a bit and entered a shallow, left-hand turn. With pops assisting me and helping me check for traffic, I commenced snapping my camera's shutter button on anything resembling a coaster that jumped in front of my lens. Seriously, though, I was there for one purpose, to photograph each and every coaster and add these photos to my website. Click HERE to check-out my Coaster "Aerial Photo" Page if you have not done so already.
Our next stop was Donegal Springs airpark, which lies south of Hershey in Mount Joy/Marietta, PA. Smack dab in the middle of a corn field, the airport features a large Piper Aerostar maintenance facility and parachuting operation. After a brief walk around the airport grounds and watching some dare-devils diving their towards the earth with their chutes strapped to their back, we departed and headed southeast towards Lancaster. This is a large city, and I never realized this until this flight as we flew directly overhead, snapping many pictures of this spread-out gathering of homes and buildings. We noted Lancaster airport to the left (northeast) of our course, and soon found Smoketown airport up ahead. The field is nestled withing the confines of an Amtrak rail line and small roads on its' three other borders. There is an aircraft painting operation there, as well as many tie-downs and hangars available for rent. A short walk away are many fine Amish, country-style restaurants, as well as an amusement park known as Dutch Wonderland. Check it out if you're ever in the area.
While walking towards the office, we noted three Grumman Tiger airplanes flying in formation overhead, then breaking off one by one to land. Something you don't see everyday. We poked around a bit by the operations area, seeing many spectators relaxing on the patio and watching the planes take-off and land. There was much hustle and bustle that day, due mostly to the outstanding weather. After 15 minutes or so, we were taxiing to the runway and were soon climbing away from the traffic pattern, on our way to nearby Strasburg Railroad grounds, including an indoor/outdoor museum and train ride. We flew a few circles around the complex, taking a look at all of the activity there and noting the large, steam locomotive huffing and puffing in anticicpation of its next load of excited families, ready to tour the Lancaster countryside.
Now we were due east of Strasburg and I noticed that a large portion of a field had been mowed down to spell the phrase "Wild West City". Of course I snapped a few pictures of this, then a lot more of the never ending, Amish farm countryside. Quite an amazing site indeed. So, after all of this flying, airport hopping and photographing, it was time to head for home. A direct route from the Strasburg area to western NJ, flying just east of Reading and southeast of Allentown, PA. This was a day that we hope is an example of many more to come....See after the next flight !!!
