by fastj22 » Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:18 pm
I was flying chase in a C175 with Carl (another Sonex builder) while Mike did his first high speed taxi. So he finishes it and tells us on the radio that he wants to do another taxi text before first flight. We are in the pattern and watching, planning on another loop of the pattern before he launches. Well, we are on downwind, I see a shadow on the taxiway going really fast. I think, what the heck, is he back taxiing the taxiway at takeoff speed? No, Mike decided to fly. And the shadow was him departing the runway. Anywhoo, a C175 is no match for a newly hatched Sonex, they like to fly, fast. Mike pulled away and climbed to orbiting altitude before we could do a 180 to follow him. The best laid plans of catching his first flight on video from a chase plane where dashed. We climbed 1000ft above pattern and circled the airport for 30 minutes, occasionally catching sight of each other. My job was to keep the incoming traffic aware of what was happening above them. We landed just before he did and were able to catch his awesome landing on tape.
John Gillis
SEL Private, Comm Glider, Tow pilot (Pawnee Driver)
Waiex N116YX, Jabiru 3300, Tail dragger,
First flight, 3/16/2013. 403 hours and climbing.
Home: CO15. KOSH x 5
Flying a B-Model Conversion (Super Bee Baby!)