Airplane – Eskildoodle Photos and Feelings

Tie Goes to the Runway

Side by side we raced towards touchdown at the airport in Seattle, and I like to think we both won since each landed safely on different runways. It did seem a little strange, however, having another airplane so close, but I guess it is not as scary as meeting a car on a two laneContinue reading “Tie Goes to the Runway”

Mountain High

It’s better not having to take off from a high altitude when you’re flying light aircraft. The thin air at higher altitudes robs the engine of horsepower and limits the airplane’s performance. This lengthens the takeoff roll considerably and decreases the rate of climb. Cruising speed is also decreased a bit. Even so, this lightContinue reading “Mountain High”

Flying Colors

Sleek and eye-catching, I can’t help but imagine that its bright colors must add at least 10 mph to its cruise speed. I also wonder what the whirling propeller looks like as it blazes through the sky. Flames come to mind! #airplane #colors #airspeed #flame

Of Mountains, Wings, and Dreams

Above: Piper Clipper and I on Tieton airstrip at Rimrock Lake in the Washington Cascades. Below: Tieton airstrip and Rimrock Lake seen from above thirty years later. What rag-winged, tail-dragger pilot hasn’t dreamed of mountain flying and landing on remote grass airstrips. There’s a bit of bush pilot in most of us, and it didn’tContinue reading “Of Mountains, Wings, and Dreams”

Winging It

“It’s a bird, it’s a plane…” Actually it’s both and more; a bird can be seen winging its way just above the airplane in the photo, and two more are flitting by on the lower right of the photo. The plane and the birds follow courses that parallel the contrail, but in opposite directions. WhileContinue reading “Winging It”

De-jet Vu

Once again, a jet photobombed one of my solar images. We live over an approach and departure area for several mid-Florida airports. As a result, sometimes their space and my space becomes our space with interesting results. Well, interesting for me at least; they really have no idea. #photobomb #sun #airplane

A Fairy Tale

This was the beginning of the flight of my life. It was March, 1971, and I was ready to depart the farm near Lexington, Nebraska, to go to Lincoln and then on to Mineral Point Wisconsin a day or two later in the EAA Biplane that was built by my dad. Though temperatures hovered justContinue reading “A Fairy Tale”

Past Plane and Simple

Thanksgiving reminiscing always includes memories of airplanes, starting with this 1941 Taylorcraft, NC33932. The first airplane ride that can I remember was in this aircraft, and I thoroughly did not like it! Later, however, I came to love the airplane and looked forward to each chance to go for another ride. Both my brothers flewContinue reading “Past Plane and Simple”

Well, This Ain’t Gonna Fly!

Seated just behind the wing, I took this photo and thought: There’s no way they are taking off like this. I waited for the announcement of delay due to deicing, but it never came. The plane left the gate and taxied towards the runway; en route to the deicing bay, I thought. Soon all airportContinue reading “Well, This Ain’t Gonna Fly!”

Pull Up To Go Down

It is often said on TV programs that to make an airplane go up, pull back on the control stick and to go down, push forward. That only works in a very narrow range of flight attitudes. Keep pulling back and the airplane slows to a point that the wings suddenly quit producing lift andContinue reading “Pull Up To Go Down”