Flight Plan: KTTA-KHRJ-KTTAToday was an excellent day to fly, with calm winds and bright sunshine but with a bit of haze and a surface temperature of 70 F at Sanford, NC. I preflighted the Allegro 2000 LSA and taxied to RWY 03 at the Raleig-Exec Jetport (KTTA). After the landing of a Cessna 182, I tookoff with flaps at 15 degrees and climbed to the North.
I made a right crosswind turn at 1000 ft towards my destination - Harnett County Regional Airport (KHRJ) in Erwin, NC. I climbed to 3,000 ft and cruised at 100 MPH. I followed the Cape Fear River that is formed at the confluence of the Deep River and Haw River. My flight path took straight over the 2,150 ft Communication Tower. I flew to the west and still followed the GPS Map with the Cape Fear River below. The city of Sanford, NC was to my right and after flying about 20 miles SE, I flew over the town of Lillington, NC. I started to descend about 10 miles from KHRJ and joined the downwind for RWY 05 just north of the river. I made the base and final legs at 80 MPH and landed the airplane with no flaps on the 5,000 x 75 ft runway.
Harnett County Airport in Erwin, NC is famous for the glider planes and as I taxied to the GA ramp, I saw a glider being towed by a Cessna climbing and making a right turn to the North. After a few minutes in the GA ramp, I took off from RWY 05 entering it from taxiway Delta and climbed at 75 MPH.
Making a left crosswind turn, I set my course to the KTTA situated 25 Miles to the NW. I again follwed the Cape Fear River below and could see the Nuclear Power Plant Cooling Tower and the smoke raising straight up in the calm winds. I switched to the KTTA CTAF about 15 miles south and there were a few planes in the traffic pattern and approach to RWY 03. I crossed the RWY mid-field at 2,000 ft and joined the downwind for RWY 03. I made a longer downwind and after the base and final legs, landed the light sport airplane on the RWY 03. I then cleared the active runway and taxied to the FBO.
Today's cross-county flight of 50 Miles is my first solo cross-country flight to an airport I have not been earlier with my flight instructor. It was an adventure as a recent Sport Pilot and is dedicated to the Indian Cricket Team that won the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 yesterday in Mumbai, India!
