Flight Trip with my Dad: KTTA - KHRJ - KTTA

On Sunday, August 7th, I took my dad for a short cross-country round trip of about 60 miles from Raleigh Exec Jetport (KTTA) in Sanford, NC to Harnett County Regional Airport (KHRJ) in Erwin, NC.

I preflighted the Allegro 2000 Light Sport Aircraft around 10 AM on a sunny and clear day with slight winds from the southwest. I started the engine after giving my dad a preflight brief and taxied to RWY 21. I tookoff at 56 mph with flaps at 15 degrees and climbed at 75 mph heading south. We saw the confluence of the Haw river and Deep river that forms the Cape Fear river. Our flight track was aligned with the Cape Fear river that flows through Lillington, NC all the way to Wilmington, NC where it drains into the Atlantic Ocean.




This was my first trip with the iPad WingX moving map application as my portable GPS backup. My father held the iPad and watched our flight progress, as I continued piloting the airplane using the primary GPS in the cockpit instrument panel. WingX for iPad is a great aviation tool. I plan on utilizing it for my flights as a backup GPS Map, for preparing flight plans and gathering NOTAM and weather information.

I cruised at an altitude of 4,500 ft in smooth air at an airspeed of 100 mph. We flew above the town of Lillington, NC and I crossed the Harnett County Regional Airport runway midway and joined the downwind for RWY 23. I descended following the takeoff by a Piper Cub and did two rounds on the pattern. I then climbed above the runway and turned north towards Sanford, NC. We flew above the Coble Water Ski and Wakeboard Camp.

I started to descend about 15 miles south of KTTA and we encountered some turbulence around 2000 ft altitude due to the summer heat. I checked the weather at the airport and the winds now favored RWY 03. I planned a long final with no flaps at about 70 mph. After the touch down, I exited the RWY at the second turnoff. I taxied to the FBO and switched off the engine near the hangar.

My first cross-country flight trip with a passenger, my father, was a great adventure for me as an FAA certified pilot. We both then drove back home.

Flight with my sister!

On July 24, 2011, I took my sister for a flight over the KTTA airport and above Lake Jordan. I also took my dad for his second trip in the light sport airplane. I performed one landing with my sister and two landings with my dad.

Flight with Amma!

On June 26, 2011, I took my mom for a flight above the KTTA airport and near Lake Jordan. It was another memorable moment for me as a pilot to be able to take my mother for a joy flight...



The weather in the morning at KTTA was cool but sunny with slight winds from NW. I also took my uncle for a flight over KTTA. I made three landings and took some photos at the FBO with my parents and my flight instructor.