May 19, 2019 - WWII Airshow - Part IV

Flight Home

The airshow ended and I headed for my plane.  The heat had just about done me in.  I had to put on my flight gloves so I could get in my plane!  Fortunately, everything worked and the engine started right up.  I could not have handled a flat tire or any kind of problem at this point!  The Dynon was operating in "overheated" mode but it still seemed to be working OK.

I needed gas so I headed west across the Great Dismal Swamp to Suffolk Executive Airport (KSFQ).  I flew right over Chesapeake but Suffolk has always been one of my favorite airports and I haven't been there in quite some time.

Here I am overhead Suffolk.

 
   
Avgas prices are on the low end of the spectrum here.
   
Plus, you can actually get ethanol-free auto-fuel here too.  It's a dollar a gallon less than AvGas.  But, I've never run anything other than AvGas through my engine before, so why break the record to save a few bucks?
   
There used to be a big skydiving operation here in a shack under some trees but I did not see it so I thought maybe it had folded.  But then I noticed they had moved to the old Fighter Factory hangar and had two, big boxy twin-engine planes for hauling skydivers up into the sky.
   
I had the big airport to myself, although it was only 5PM with lots of daylight left and other than the heat, the weather was good for flying.  There was virtually no activity other than one of the skydiver planes taxiing around.  The FBO building was locked up.  I looked through the window and it appears the small restaurant is back in operation.
   
I think this is new -- they have a little pilots shack on the runway side of the FBO building.  I've always thought a pilot shack like this is a good idea for airports.  Transient pilots just want a bathroom, maybe a couch to lie on for an hour or two, some information posted, and of course, the crown jewel:  a courtesy car!
   

I had no desire to do any other type of flying than to get home as soon as possible.  I took off from Suffolk and quickly climbed to 7,500 feet.  This turned out to be a great move because it was nice and cool up at 7,500 feet and I benefited from a decent tailwind that pushed me over 200 mph the entire way home.   From just west of Norfolk, I touched down at Essex Skypark in exactly one hour!  Not bad.  I took the Norfolk to St. Marys to Easton to Essex Skypark route.

So overall it was a great aviation day.  I recommend the Military Aviation Museum's airshows to anyone; they really put on a good show and there is quite a bit to see if you are a WWII fan.  They have an outstanding collection.  Of course, they need a few more planes to complete their collection.   But these rare planes are incredibly expensive if you can even find one.

P-47 Thunderbolt

P-38 Lightning

F6F Hellcat

SBD Dauntless

Japanese Zero

One extremely rare plane they do have but I did not see is the Messerschmidt ME-262, the first jet fighter in history.  I'd like to see it fly someday.
   
   
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