Today is a memorable day for me as a Pilot, as I took my dad, who is visiting from India, as a passenger in the Light Sport Aircraft, Allegro 2000 LSA over the Raleigh-Exec Airport (KTTA) and flight over and near Lake Jordan.
I preflighted the airplane at 2.00 PM EST at the FBO. The winds were from 300 degrees at 7 knots. I took off from RWY 03 with flaps at 15 degrees. Applying full-power, I rotated at 56 MPH and climbed at 75 MPH crabing left into the wind. After the left crosswind, I flew above and near the Lake Jordan at 2,500 AGL. Turning towards the airport, I joined the pattern at mid-point downwind to RWY 03. After the base and final legs, I had a smooth landing with a crosswind of 7 knots from the left. There were a few airplanes doing the pattern work and a couple of planes approaching KTTA.I took off again from RWY 03 after the landing of a DA-20 aircraft. I climbed and stayed in the pattern. My dad was enjoying the flight even though the 26 C afternoon temperature was producing some turbulence and bounce in the airplane. I extended my downwind to accomodate the Cessna airplane in the base leg for landing. After the Cessna cleared the runway, I landed the airplane with no flaps and with the left aileron into the wind. I cleared the runway and took off again for my final round, this time I extended my upwind and downwind legs and made my third landing of the day with my dad besides enjoying the flight and the view below of the Lake Jordan, Deep river, Cooling tower of the N-plant and the section of the HWY 1.
After parking the airplane, I took some pictures with my father and left the FBO with a great feeling of accomplishment.
