January 20, 2013 - Flying W Airport, NJ

It was cold and windy.  I'm not sure why we decided to go flying today but we did.   I had Ray with me as a pax.  Bruce B. (RV-3) and I launched out of Essex Skypark Saturday morning and headed for Ridgely Airport.  Bruce R. (RV-8 Mugsy) landed just ahead of us.  The wind was blowing pretty good and it was a direct crosswind.  None of us were bragging about our landings afterwards.    We talked for a bit, then launched and headed northeast to the Flying W Airport in New Jersey for lunch. 

Mugsy skirting the Philly airspace heading for Flying W.  We enjoyed a monster tailwind and made 200+ mph over the ground. 

  
On a crosswind at the Flying W, which is famous for its airplane shaped swimming pool.  No one was swimming today though. 
  
We had to make another crosswind landing.  After I flared, it was very strange, the airplane just floated down the runway a few feet in the air.  But it was so smooth it felt like I was on the ground.  Finally the airplane dropped the remaining few feet and touched down.   We parked and headed for the airport restaurant. 
  
There is the Flying W airport restaurant. 
  
Bruce checking out Bruce's RV-3.  Ray is on the left. 
  
The three RVs parked on the ramp.
  
Heading southwest for home, it was payback time.  We were flying right into a big headwind and only made 135mph over the ground.  Ray was flying the plane while I took this shot of Mugsy moving in close.
  
Big C-5 in the pattern at Dover Air Force Base.  Or is it a C-17.   I know one things:  it is big! 
  
Bruce B.  about to cross the Delaware Bay.
  
The northeast side of the Delaware Bay is very marshy. 
  
A nuke power plant sits by itself on the tip of the marshland.  We made sure not to fly over it, not wanting to spend the night in jail like a glider pilot did recently. 
  
Over the Delaware Bay.
  
We did a little follow-the-leader over the Eastern Shore, then split up.  Here we are approaching the Chesapeake Bay.  The winter afternoon sun is strong. 
  
Essex Skypark, with Baltimore in the distance, dead ahead! 
  
 
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