Cascade Mountains VFR Discovery Flight (with .PLN link)

[ZKd0s]

@pwmacbert

I live 40 miles south of Saint Helens. We used to go swimming at the YMCA camp (at Spirit Lake) when I was a kid. The volcano sorta messed it up.

I can imagine, living in New Zealand surrounded by volcanos we share an ever changing back yard to so speak. You have to appreciate the landscape for what it is, as you never know when the next eruption is just around the corner!

@RwpTurnip

Lived 37 years in the Puget Sound… Auburn, Puyallup, Kapowsin. Served in the US Navy at Whidbey Island. Got my pilots license at S44 Spanaway Airport in 91. Moved from there last year to the beautiful state of Tennessee.
Got my mountain flying training flying from S44 to Ellensburg, then to Yakima then back, all skirting Mt. Rainier. What a ride.

I’ll have to visit S44 for some circuits! I remember reading a book when I was younger about a pilot who passed out in flight and his passenger was talked down by ATC to land the aircraft either in or near the Puget Sound. Can’t remember if it was fictional or a real world account now?

You’re very fortunate to have been able to aviate here for real! I’d love to visit some time and do some flying with a local pilot who knows the airspace and radio frequenies.

@pwmacbert

I got my PPL. 5 bucks an hour for a wet Cessna 150 and 5 an hour for a CFI (8 an hour in the Cessna 150 Aerobat). Flying was a bit cheaper back in the day.

Sheesh, even 10 years ago when I trained, C172’s were NZD$200/hr wet (about USD$145/hr). Hate to think what they are now! Good thing we don’t have to pay these rates in the sim huh!?

For those of you who are interested, I continued this journey along through the Columbia River Gorge and up around Mount Hood today. The .PLN link and a bunch of screenshots can be found here: Columbia River Gorge (with .PLN link)