Thoughts & Ramblings: Flight Time

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Flight Time–Flagler Beach

Today, I planned a flight with my mom. She had flown with me once before, back in Washington, with my instructor, but never with just me. I decided to plan a flight up the coast with a landing at Flagler Beach (KFIN) for fuel. The weather looked good, but afternoon thunderstorms were in the forecast.

I left the house around 8:00, which is about the earliest I've ever got started. I stopped at Costco to get gas for the car, then stopped to talk to one of my partners, who was helping out at the pancake breakfast at the airport.

The solo flight to DeLand was smooth and enjoyable. The sky was mostly clear. There’s a reason why pilots like to fly in the morning.

I met Mom in DeLand, near the restaurant. We boarded the plane and departed to the northwest to fly around the Daytona Beach Class C airspace. By now, the smooth air was gone. We were gently bounced around the sky as we cruised up the coast. We turned around at Matanzas Inlet and flew south along the beach. I contacted Flagler Tower and was given clearance for a straight in approach and told to report on a four-mile final. I was number three to land when I reported in. Unfortunately, the spacing wasn’t good and we could not land. Tower told me to offset right and go around. We flew the pattern to the right, then landed on the second attempt.

After landing, I contacted ground and was given a shotgun set of instructions. I asked the controller to repeat, and this time I was ready to copy, “Taxi Charlie, Delta, cross 11, left on Gulf, right on Foxtrot”. I topped off the tanks, then we were back on our way. I considered stopping at the FBO/restaurant, but with the storms predicted, I thought it better to keep moving.

For the flight back to DeLand, I did something I haven’t done yet since getting back into flying. Rather than go over or around the Daytona Beach Class C airspace, I contacted Approach as soon as I was able after leaving Flagler’s airspace. I asked to fly south along the beach at 2,000 feet, past Daytona Beach, then to DeLand. I was granted my request and proceeded into the Class C airspace. I was handed off to the Daytona South Controller, who then told me to expect a turn toward DeLand at New Smyrna Beach. As we approached Ponce Inlet, I was told to turn right to a heading of 230. After a few minutes on this heading, I was cleared direct to DeLand.

On the ground in DeLand, I dropped off Mom, then got back in the plane for my return trip to Valkaria. By this time, there were cumulous clouds all around at 3,900 feet. I flew along at 3,000 until passing Melbourne, then descended through 2,000 feet to fly over Valkaria for a teardrop entry to runway 28. Overall, I enjoyed the flight, and I think Mom did, too.

The flight tracks are below.