4/30/2002: Ominous stormfront

Originally posted by russotto
(just kidding. I don't actually have a rifle.)

"... it's actually technically a rocket launcher, but I sometimes call it a 'rifle' just for kicks. Once you learn how to lead those things, it's spot on."

[MaggieL]

Originally posted by russotto
You fly out of Pottstown? Uhh, let me know what your plane looks like and I'll try to stop "accidentally" firing my rifle in the air when that one flies over :-)
(just kidding. I don't actually have a rifle.)

And I don't actually have hard-points on the underwings to mount ordinance either. But I *have* thought about it. :-)

And I *do* have a 9mm sidearm on board. Problem is that the windows don't open, except for those little vent window gadgets. I'd have to shoot lefty and be careful not to hit the prop arc, too...:-)

We are talking about Pottstown Municipal (just off Route 100 at the Wal-Mart) as opposed to Pottstown Limmerick (next to the reactor cooling towers), right?

[russotto]

Some days, tons of planes will fly over going NE, making a left turn about a mile north of my house (in Trappe). I have no idea which airport they are out of; could be Pottstown, could be Limerick, could be Collegeville. But they'll keep coming around.

Unfortunately the FAA frowns on private armed aircraft, the FCC frowns on unlicensed targeting radar, and ATF frowns on AA guns and missiles. Spoilsports.

[MaggieL]

Originally posted by russotto
Some days, tons of planes will fly over going NE, making a left turn about a mile north of my house (in Trappe). I have no idea which airport they are out of; could be Pottstown, could be Limerick, could be Collegeville. But they'll keep coming around.

In Trappe you're just across the creek and smack dab on the runway centerline from Perkiomen Valley Airport (which most folks think of as "the Collegeville airport").

Most days their traffic pattern involves taking off to the west, with a left turn (to the south) just about directly over Trappe, by which time they should be about 800 feet abover ground level....another left turn puts them on a downwind leg that passes just to the south of the Superior Tube plant. The approach to landing is flown approximately over the Lower Skippack Church.

When the wind is from the east (not often, and usually when there's rainy weather) approaches are flown in the opposite direction, and you'll see planes flying a "base leg" south and roughly parallel to the creek, with a left turn to the east when they get to the runway centerline. At this point they will typically be about 500-600 feet above the ground.

I know these patterns very well, because I learned to fly at Perki. :-) I don't operate out of there much at all anymore, though.