A day at N85 and N40

[flyboy 28]

No heavies in this one. :) Please excuse my modest equipment- A Panasonic Lumix FZ-7. I'm going to feel rather insignificant once I get to Costco and see a real man's lens. :oops: :) I'm still learning and hope to improve.

After work last week I decided to head to Alexandria (N85) and Sky Manor (N40) to see what was happening. A normal day considering the fine weather. These are my home airports. Only separated by about five miles, so the traffic gets hectic some days.

First- Alexandria. The setting sun proved to be a challenge, but I think I handled it alright. I have to spots, one is a cauldisack at the end of two-six, and the other right on the tie-down ramp. The owner of the airport came out and asked me not to walk around the ramp because of saftey, homeland security and whatnot. So that spots gone. I got some good shots from there though.












And these are from Sky Manor







I was just about to leave when a saw a silohuette turn on a 45° downwind for two-five at Sky Manor. "Hm, that looks like a Stearman" I thought. "Nah, too chilly today for him to be flying." Sure enough, as he got closer, I could clearly make out it was indeed the red-checkered Stearman based here. I drove down to the main hangars to see if I would be able to take some pics of him on the ground. The pilot was a very nice man named Don. We got to talking and I asked if I could hop up on the wing and take some pics of the cockpit. He said, "Hell, just climb in the cockpit! I won't call the FAA on ya." "WOW I thought. An opportunity to sit in a 63 year old cockpit!" I couldn't pass this up.





This is me. :D




That's it from last week. I was down at BWI two weeks before. I'll post that set next. :)

These photos are nothing compared to what I have seen on this site, but hopefully one day I can produce images like others around here. :)

-James

[Tom_Turner]

Those are nice shots James; I enjoyed looking at them -- and something else besides the heavies.

Thanks for posting.

Tom

[GrummanFan]

This is why I like to hang out at small airpirts. BEAUTIFUL stearman there...i love that "Don't do anything dumb" reminder sign. :D

[nwafan20]

HAHA, I love that "Don't do anything dumb" HAHA! PRICELESS! :lol:

I loved the pics as well, small airports don't get enough attention on sites, only the jets!

[Mateo]

Great placard in the Stearman! I didn't know there were Berievs at Sky Manor - I'll have to swing by the next time the next time I'm back at the boyhood home. I probably haven't been to Sky Manor since 1989 - back when the giant hamburgers at the restaurant there were big enough to eat me! Since you're in the area, on a warm summer afternoon, head out to Somerset or Blairstown and catch the gliders soaring off the ridges.