Eclipse 2017

[fastj22]

Those of us close enough to intercept the total eclipse, took to flight to do so.
Carl Benda, in his Nan Chang and I in my trusty Waiex, flew up to the Wyoming/Nebraska border at high noon. We climbed to 11,500 to get on top of the haze.
Huge change when you get to the total eclipse. It gets darn dark. Took a shot with my cell phone at the total and you can see the reflections of the my iPad on the canopy.
I logged 2.5 minutes of night flying.

[N111YX]

That makes two Waiex's on the centerline. I was at the GA/NC border. It was odd to be at 5 minutes until total and there was still lots of light. It went dark fast. I wanted to capture a roll during totality but the GoPro on the wing was not tight on it's hinge and flopped over at the first "G".

It was a great experience.

[142YX]

Waiex #142 took an eclipse trip as well.. but watched from the ground. Flew with some friends up to Douglas, WY - KDGW. Ended up being ~100 airplanes that showed up there and had a good time seeing my first total solar eclipse from the ground. Waiex performed great and passed 230 hours on the way home.

[avee8r]

We had planned on taking the Sonex down to southern IL but a friend with a Bonanza's offer to ride along was too good to pass up. We watched the eclipse from the ground and had a ball. Good thing we took the Beech though, we needed it coming back to navigate weather and not get stuck in Indiana long enough to become citizens.
Happy Landings
John
N50NX

[fastj22]

Seems the Waiex out numbered the Sonex at the eclipse. Probably due to us Waiex drivers being bolder and more adventurous than our three feathered friends. Oh well, we still will talk to you at flyins. I passed 335 hours on the trip and landing in Wyoming for fuel really pushed my crosswind skill set. 20 Knots direct cross. Sporty!

[sonex1374]

Isaac and I flew during the eclipse here in Jackson, MS. We had about 90% coverage, and it got dimmer than usual, but not really dark. Still very cool to see. We climbed to 9000 ft to get above the haze and clouds. It was really cool to see the small-ish cumulous clouds literally evaporate during the eclipse, leaving totally clear skies, then the clouds reform 10-20 minutes later!

Jeff

[caveman370]

My wife and I were in Cabo, MX . Only had 30 percent coverage. I took. Trike ride from Cabo air tours guy during the eclipse
. Wasn't a cool sky like my waiex friends had but did buz the beach and sand dunes and

ended with a voluntary engine shutdown to a dead stick landing


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[fastj22]

Friends on the ground told me they noticed a sharp drop in air temps during the total. I didn't watch my OAT to confirm.

[hickej]

It was so cool! I'm already planning my Houston trip in 7 years!!!

Here is a video of the 2017 eclipse from the EAA 105 campout in Garden Valley ID

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnOY59rZ2Mo

-Jim

[sonexsteve]

Thanks for the video Jim, chapter 105 rocks! But, what happened to the octopus? The world waits to hear the full story.....