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 Trip: Raleigh-Exec Jetport (KTTA) to Harnet County Regional Airport (KHRJ)

Flight Plan: KTTA-KHRJ-KTTA

Today 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!