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Wurst - a Thursday Prompt - aviation humor
*smiles...
V.
V.
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 111 x 120px
File Size 101.3 kB
Always great to see the old fennec in the cockpit and that was some fancy flying under pressure. I've never had to deal with turbulence such as what was portrayed here, luckily enough. I think the closest would have been during a flight home from Kentucky, the pilot was forced to fly through a storm cloud.
Still, I'd hardly call it the wurst.
Still, I'd hardly call it the wurst.
The nastiest that Vrghr, his passenger, actually experienced was on approach to Ontario airport near San Bernardino CA.
The Santa Ana winds were absolutely whipping over the mountain range west of the airport, causing what folks call "rollers": like horizontal tornadoes stacked like high-velocity cannollis from the mountains to the coast, growing larger and slower the farther from the peaks they got. But absolutely violent close in.
We came in over the range from Colorado, descending right through those rollers on the way down.
First pass was "adventurous". All the stewards and stewardesses were firmly strapped in, so there were still a few cups, soda cans, and such about the cabin. They were supposed to be secured by folks until after the landing. By the time the pilots declared a 'missed-approach' and applied power to go around, quite a few of those had departed their owners' care and taken to going "walk about" around the cabin. The pitching and rolling was pretty good; definitely an "E-Ticket" coaster ride! We got to pull quite a number of negative and positive G's on the way in.
During the orbit to line back up, folks scrambled to gather the trash up without releasing seat belts, concerned over things becoming impromptu missiles on the next attempt.
And rightly so! Apparently the weather gods were affronted by us ignoring their efforts the first time and coming back for more. They decided to crank things up to "11" just to let us know they weren't kidding last time!
When we attempted to descend through those rollers a second time, the plane was flung up and down hard enough to open some of the over-head luggage compartments, unfasten tray tables, and pitch any of the debris unsecured from the first pass up into the ceiling and them fling it violently back at nearby passengers.
The pilots aborted the second landing before we even reached middle marker, and made for LAX where the winds were more negotiable.
We landed there uneventfully, and folks needing to get to San Bernardino got to take a bus in from LAX instead.
The Santa Ana winds were absolutely whipping over the mountain range west of the airport, causing what folks call "rollers": like horizontal tornadoes stacked like high-velocity cannollis from the mountains to the coast, growing larger and slower the farther from the peaks they got. But absolutely violent close in.
We came in over the range from Colorado, descending right through those rollers on the way down.
First pass was "adventurous". All the stewards and stewardesses were firmly strapped in, so there were still a few cups, soda cans, and such about the cabin. They were supposed to be secured by folks until after the landing. By the time the pilots declared a 'missed-approach' and applied power to go around, quite a few of those had departed their owners' care and taken to going "walk about" around the cabin. The pitching and rolling was pretty good; definitely an "E-Ticket" coaster ride! We got to pull quite a number of negative and positive G's on the way in.
During the orbit to line back up, folks scrambled to gather the trash up without releasing seat belts, concerned over things becoming impromptu missiles on the next attempt.
And rightly so! Apparently the weather gods were affronted by us ignoring their efforts the first time and coming back for more. They decided to crank things up to "11" just to let us know they weren't kidding last time!
When we attempted to descend through those rollers a second time, the plane was flung up and down hard enough to open some of the over-head luggage compartments, unfasten tray tables, and pitch any of the debris unsecured from the first pass up into the ceiling and them fling it violently back at nearby passengers.
The pilots aborted the second landing before we even reached middle marker, and made for LAX where the winds were more negotiable.
We landed there uneventfully, and folks needing to get to San Bernardino got to take a bus in from LAX instead.
Vrghr leaned over on the dock, dipping up a paw of the clean, cold lake water and rinsing the acrid taste from his mouth.
"Sorry about the 'urps' up there, Vixyy. I'm normally a much more adventurous flyer. But it's a whole 'nother story when the wings bearing me up aren't my own." He smiled apologetically to the fox on the dock beside him. "When I can't feel the wind and currents for myself, well, it sort of tumbles my gyros, so to speak. And things quickly go sour from there."
"At least you managed to keep things contained." the fox replied earnestly. "Not all my passengers have been quite so successful at that. Takes forever to get the stench out of the cockpit when it gets in amongst all the control runs and other nooks and crannies."
Vrghr winced at the thought, snout wrinkling at the imagined odor. "I quite understand!"
The dragonwolf reached up to gently pat the metal wing of the float plane tied up nearby. "She did well, getting us here through that. You did too!" he said sincerely, turning an appreciative look to the fox beside him. "Don't think I didn't realize how close we really came a couple times up there. Getting ahead of that spin took talent and skill. I thought for sure the ground was going to reach up to smite us there, and during those acrobatics later."
"I know an oregano delivery really didn't seem worth the risk. But you don't know how important this is to my mother. The whole pack is coming. Its a wolf thing, and an Alpha thing. And, " the snowy-furred canid looked back toward the rustic log abode faintly visible through the dense woods, "She's my mother." He finished with a smile from the heart.
"I think I understand that last, even if the wolf-stuff isn't completely clear." The vixen rested her paw on the wolf's shoulder.
"Thank you, Vixyy." Vrghr replied, giving the fox a companionable hug. "I owe you one, big time. Normally, I'd have flown here on my own wings, and cloud-danced happily with those whirls and skirls up there. But much as I love flying, I'll be the first to admit that those metal wings are far faster getting here than my own. And this was a time-critical delivery."
"The horrors of offering the pack her spaghetti cooked to anything less than her standard is too much to consider." he smiled. "Even if I know it could be tweaked a bit."
"You keep telling yourself that! Self-delusion is such a fun thing to watch!" The elderly wolf said wryly from behind them, swatting Vrghr's ears in reproach before taking a seat alongside the two. "Sauce is properly spiced and simmering to meld flavors. Thank you for the delivery."
"Thank Vixyy, mom. She's the one who got us here through the tempest over those mountains."
"Oh, I entirely intend to, dear." The elderly wolf turned her amber gaze on the vixen beside her. "Not everyone would have risked a flight like that, knowing what the winds over those peaks are like. Fewer would have had the skill to get through them unscathed."
"Bravery, skill, loyalty and friendship." There was unexpected strength behind her words, and Vixyy's ears straightened as she saw why this elderly spaghetti-cook was the Alpha of her pack. "These are in far too short of supply in people these days. And I am honored that you have felt my son worthy of your friendship."
"Tonight at supper I intend to formally present you as a Friend of the Pack." She smiled toothily as she joined them in dangling her feet in the cool water. "I hope you enjoy Spaghetti!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vixyy,
Thank you for the wonderful story, and for including this wuff among its delightful passages.
Vrghr hopes this little epilogue amuses and entertains in return.
From a Grateful dragonwolf,
VRGHR
"Sorry about the 'urps' up there, Vixyy. I'm normally a much more adventurous flyer. But it's a whole 'nother story when the wings bearing me up aren't my own." He smiled apologetically to the fox on the dock beside him. "When I can't feel the wind and currents for myself, well, it sort of tumbles my gyros, so to speak. And things quickly go sour from there."
"At least you managed to keep things contained." the fox replied earnestly. "Not all my passengers have been quite so successful at that. Takes forever to get the stench out of the cockpit when it gets in amongst all the control runs and other nooks and crannies."
Vrghr winced at the thought, snout wrinkling at the imagined odor. "I quite understand!"
The dragonwolf reached up to gently pat the metal wing of the float plane tied up nearby. "She did well, getting us here through that. You did too!" he said sincerely, turning an appreciative look to the fox beside him. "Don't think I didn't realize how close we really came a couple times up there. Getting ahead of that spin took talent and skill. I thought for sure the ground was going to reach up to smite us there, and during those acrobatics later."
"I know an oregano delivery really didn't seem worth the risk. But you don't know how important this is to my mother. The whole pack is coming. Its a wolf thing, and an Alpha thing. And, " the snowy-furred canid looked back toward the rustic log abode faintly visible through the dense woods, "She's my mother." He finished with a smile from the heart.
"I think I understand that last, even if the wolf-stuff isn't completely clear." The vixen rested her paw on the wolf's shoulder.
"Thank you, Vixyy." Vrghr replied, giving the fox a companionable hug. "I owe you one, big time. Normally, I'd have flown here on my own wings, and cloud-danced happily with those whirls and skirls up there. But much as I love flying, I'll be the first to admit that those metal wings are far faster getting here than my own. And this was a time-critical delivery."
"The horrors of offering the pack her spaghetti cooked to anything less than her standard is too much to consider." he smiled. "Even if I know it could be tweaked a bit."
"You keep telling yourself that! Self-delusion is such a fun thing to watch!" The elderly wolf said wryly from behind them, swatting Vrghr's ears in reproach before taking a seat alongside the two. "Sauce is properly spiced and simmering to meld flavors. Thank you for the delivery."
"Thank Vixyy, mom. She's the one who got us here through the tempest over those mountains."
"Oh, I entirely intend to, dear." The elderly wolf turned her amber gaze on the vixen beside her. "Not everyone would have risked a flight like that, knowing what the winds over those peaks are like. Fewer would have had the skill to get through them unscathed."
"Bravery, skill, loyalty and friendship." There was unexpected strength behind her words, and Vixyy's ears straightened as she saw why this elderly spaghetti-cook was the Alpha of her pack. "These are in far too short of supply in people these days. And I am honored that you have felt my son worthy of your friendship."
"Tonight at supper I intend to formally present you as a Friend of the Pack." She smiled toothily as she joined them in dangling her feet in the cool water. "I hope you enjoy Spaghetti!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vixyy,
Thank you for the wonderful story, and for including this wuff among its delightful passages.
Vrghr hopes this little epilogue amuses and entertains in return.
From a Grateful dragonwolf,
VRGHR
Thank you!
*giggles at the wings* Wuff hopefully gave a good reason for a winged beast flying with you. Sounded plausible to Vrghr at least.
Careful, or the wuffy might sneak over one day and take Vixyy for a ride while he goes 'cloud dancing'. He loves the feel of the wind in his fur. But his penchant for seeking out the more turbulent thunderheads to heighten the thrills might have a ride-along passenger, especially a pilot, a bit white-knuckled at the prospect.
*giggles at the wings* Wuff hopefully gave a good reason for a winged beast flying with you. Sounded plausible to Vrghr at least.
Careful, or the wuffy might sneak over one day and take Vixyy for a ride while he goes 'cloud dancing'. He loves the feel of the wind in his fur. But his penchant for seeking out the more turbulent thunderheads to heighten the thrills might have a ride-along passenger, especially a pilot, a bit white-knuckled at the prospect.
With the Rockhopper I'm designing a plane that will almost do what a Super Cub does on less power. According to the spreadsheet design program it should preform as well as a like powered Cub.
I love the Cub... but the cost to get one anymore is just out of sight. I look at the Kitfox and the like aircraft they lack the room for women hips and gain the cost to get the kit... My goal is to build the Solo under for less than 10K. It's also a test bed for a number of ideas, one is the airfoil and control systems. Then the engine placement. The Solo's numbers look good with with a half Bug motor powering it, when you step up to a full Bug motor and a re-drive it really becomes an impressive little airplane. And it's small 30 foot wing span and 20ish feet long and cruise around at 80 plus mph with a fuel burn of 3ish gallons an hour with a 1600 Bug motor. It will fly in and out of a 600 foot strip.
You go to an 85 hp Bug motor with a re-drive and a big prop you are off the ground in 120 feet and climbing at 2000 feet a min and you are cruising 95ish at 70% power. It looks like it is going to be one of those planes that if you can get in, you can get out. The landing roll is longer than the take off roll. The numbers for the two seat also look good.
The nice thing about both of the Rockhopper designs is the visibility with be almost as good as a helicopter.
I love the Cub... but the cost to get one anymore is just out of sight. I look at the Kitfox and the like aircraft they lack the room for women hips and gain the cost to get the kit... My goal is to build the Solo under for less than 10K. It's also a test bed for a number of ideas, one is the airfoil and control systems. Then the engine placement. The Solo's numbers look good with with a half Bug motor powering it, when you step up to a full Bug motor and a re-drive it really becomes an impressive little airplane. And it's small 30 foot wing span and 20ish feet long and cruise around at 80 plus mph with a fuel burn of 3ish gallons an hour with a 1600 Bug motor. It will fly in and out of a 600 foot strip.
You go to an 85 hp Bug motor with a re-drive and a big prop you are off the ground in 120 feet and climbing at 2000 feet a min and you are cruising 95ish at 70% power. It looks like it is going to be one of those planes that if you can get in, you can get out. The landing roll is longer than the take off roll. The numbers for the two seat also look good.
The nice thing about both of the Rockhopper designs is the visibility with be almost as good as a helicopter.
Geez, I can't believe it's taken me over a week to get around to reading this. Great story. Reminds me of the time I was sailing south from Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. We weren't 2 hours out of port when we went through the wurst thunderstorm I've been through in my life on water. And no, the Boss wasn't with me. Three of us from the boat club and the boat owner were taking his 30 ft Tartan back home after the annual Port Huron to Mackinac race.
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