Sunday, January 13, 2008, was labeled as a day to prepare for what could be our first major winter storm, predicted for the day after. And one would usually expect that with increasing high clouds, a rather tranquil day with calm winds would prevail, generally preached as "the calm before the storm". Though today was different. There was a rather stiff breeze from the east, and the air was a bit choppy as we soon found out.
Dad and I decided not to pre-heat the engine today because the temps were already approaching 40 degrees by the time we were ready to fly at 11AM. Of course, the engine sprang to life after only one revolution of the propeller, and within 5 minutes we were airborne and climbing to the north, en-route to our first destination. I had originally wanted to fly east towards a small amusement park in Scotch Plains, NJ called Playland, but because of the hazy conditions in that direction, I decided against this route.
So, next on my aerial photo list was Wild West City in Netcong, NJ. This attraction features a town just like you would find in the wild west, complete with a dirt main street, wooden poles to tie your horse to and many shops like a General Store, Blacksmith, Emporium, etc. In this one of a kind attraction in northern, NJ, there is also a real Stagecoach and train ride, and both get stopped by bandits on horses as part of the show. Dad flew two CCW circles of the attraction as I snapped away, capturing about 20 pictures to my trusty Canon S2. And though it was bumpy, most pictures came out rather clear, with only minor blurriness. I wanted to shoot photos of this attraction in the winter because of the lack of foliage. The train ride and other areas run right through the trees, and the winter season is the best time to capture these hidden areas. Summer, though, is much more cheerful with park visitors present, and I will do another photo flight during this season as well, which makes for a nice comparison.
Next on my list was the Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. I spotted Interstate 80 just to the south of Wild West City, and headed southwest, crossing the interstate just east of the town of Hope. I could already see this small children's park to the south, and proceeded to shoot distant pictures as I approached and decreased the plane's airspeed for a closer look. Dad flew only one circle around the park since I already had a number of photos from this place, and I only wanted some update shots and to show what this park looks like in the winter months.
Ok, on to Blairstown and directly over the small, general aviation airport that exists just south of the town. We then spotted Yards Creek, a hydro-electric generating station built into the eastern slope of the Appalachian ridge. This area features a large, aqua colored pipe which diverts water from the reservoir perched high upon the ridge, through the hydro-electric generators to the pond below. I shot some nice, clear photos of this unique power generating station in northern NJ, then headed west over the Appalachian ridge.
We then noticed Shawnee Mountain ski area just ahead of us. The contrast between the man-made snow and the rugged, rocky terrain was a sight to behold, and we flew one complete circle of the maze of trails below, capturing several pictures. I also noted a small area containing water slides for use in the summer months. We continued flying southwest, noting East Stroudsburg airport just ahead. Then I remembered that a few of my colleagues stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge, a giant resort and indoor water park in the heart of the Poconos. I had always said I would get some aerials of this attraction, and so I did. We flew one complete circle of the complex, and found it amusing to see some of the water slides make their way OUTSIDE of the building, though each slide was completely enclosed. They then returned inside of the building at the end of their run. Colleagues of mine said that the water and air temperature suddenly dropped when you exited the building which was a unique feeling indeed. Dad said these slides, or tubes, looked like spaghetti, which I thought was comical.
We then noted a plethora of ski trails ahead, and this could only be Camelback in Tannersville, PA. I also noticed a small, snow covered incline at the base of the mountain, and this was used for tubing. The parking lot was packed, as it was at Shawnee as well. The chalet-type buildings at the base of the trails were booming, and many skiers were out and about either taking in the view, waiting in line for the lift or simply on their way down the trails. It was incredible to see that much man-made snow, and it looked as if each and every trail was open. Again, the contrast between the snow and rocky terrain proved to be exceptional, and I snapped many pictures of this area as we flew one complete circle.
We then notice the clouds getting rather dark to the west, as well as the air becoming very hazy. We knew that a storm was approaching for the day after, but figured it was arriving sooner than expected. This proved false, because as we flew south, the skies opened up with abundant sunshine. The air, though, was still a bit choppy, which made shooting aerial photos that much more difficult. The next area of interest we noted was Blue Mountain ski area in Palmerton, PA. The slopes here are similar to Camelback, from the air at least, and I shot some pictures of this place as well. What's different here, though, is that there exists a large, additional parking lot atop of the mountain with a lodge and all, instead of typically at the base of the ski trails.
With the passing of Blue Mountain and the Appalachian ridge once again, we were soon approaching the Lehigh Valley and Allentown, PA. I wanted to shoot some update pictures of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom to check on the progress of their newest coaster, Voodoo. On the way, though, we noticed it was a bit hazy, though nothing terrible. I am not used to entering this area from the north, plus the fact that I had to circumvent Lehigh Valley International airport's airspace, meant I was kind of zig-zagging as I descended and approached the Allentown area. We then spotted Dorney Park ahead and to the east, so I pointed the plane in that direction and prepared the camera yet again. I didn't even need to circle the park because there was virtually no progress since the last time we checked on things two weeks ago. I continued on to Queen City airport, entered the traffic pattern on a downwind leg for runway 15 and landed uneventfully, which incidentally is the best landing one can make.
As noted in my last blog entry, this is our favorite stop. We taxied and parked the plane, grabbed our lunch bag and headed toward the operations building. On the way in, we noticed a rather large twin engine aircraft made by the Beechcraft company. Known as the Duke, this is a "HOT" piston engine plane that seats six, in luxurious comfort. Its sleek lines and large engines give it a look of pure speed and wickedness. I have always been fascinated by this plane, and if it was't for a wallet 100 sizes to small, I would own one (well, maybe). Anyway, we entered the office and took a seat in their cafeteria. Let's see, what's on the menu today. Smoked Turkey and Bacon sandwiches with all the fixins, including pickles and olives, and some Powerade to wash it all down. Oh, there's cookies too, well I'll be. After chewing the fat some and enjoying our lunches, we heard what sounded like a large aircraft running, and I immediately went to check. It was in fact the Duke, so we both grabbed our gear and headed outside. While walking towards our plane, the Duke was taxiing to runway 7, and I wanted to see this beast take-off before we boarded our Cessna for home.
Within a few minutes, I heard the Duke's engines come to life as full throttle was applied. The prop tips went supersonic and a low pitch whine could be heard, followed by a roar as this wicked craft made its way down the 4,000 foot runway. Within a few seconds, the Duke was literally "flying" down the runway at incredible speeds that must've been close to 150 mph, yet the wheels were still in contact with terra firma. Then it basically flew off the ground with a minimal angle of climb, maintaining the impressive speed it had gained on its take-off roll. Damn, that was impressive. But the show wasn't over yet. We were just about to board our plane for home when we heard the whine of the engines once again as the Duke was now climbing for the stars and heading southeast, directly over the airport. It was extremely exhilarating to witness the performance of this machine, all without being equipped with turbo-props.
We were soon ready to take-off of runway 7, the same as the Duke had done only a few minutes prior. Needless to say that with a rather strong headwind, we were airborne within a few hundred feet and climbing rapidly. Certainly, the Duke could NOT accomplish this ! I turned to the east upon departure and climbed over the ridge that lines the Lehigh Valley area. Our ground speed was reduced due to the headwind from the east. We noted the Delaware river ahead, with the small town of Milford to our south. I shot a few more pictures of a local park nearby the airport, then entered the traffic pattern. The wind was blowing about 10 mph and was a direct crosswind, or at least it was when I landed. Uneventfully I landed, then taxied to the fuel pumps for gas. Finally, upon securing the plane for the possibility of a winter storm, we commented of the hopes that our next trip would prove to be as rewarding and exciting as today's was.
Thanks so Much for Reading !!!
