Airplanes, like Tiggers, are wonderful things. And despite the fact that weather may prevent us from accomplishing our goals on our preferred timeline, they are in every way time machines. Private aviation, as the late, great Richard Collins called it, allows us to go places and do things that we might not otherwise get to do; thus, the reason for this epilogue to the story I posted earlier.
We were unable to depart due to moderate turbulence the Friday before Uncle Bob’s 90th birthday. Sunday, however, dawned cool, calm, and clear. So we loaded up the airplane for a 7 a.m. departure that morning. Dear M-I-L stayed behind with her neck brace due to concerns of possible turbulence later in the afternoon on Sunday.
Having dropped Dear M-I-L from the payload (and no golf clubs!), I was able to pour enough fuel back into the plane from our five-gallon gas cans (the fuel removed and mentioned in the previous story) to make the flight without stopping. Wife, daughter, grandson, and No Count F-I-L along with yours truly were in the air shortly after 7 a.m. and in Yuma before 10 a.m. Yuma time (11 a.m. FMN time).
We were met at the airport by Bob, his son, Rob, and proceeded to his house where we met up with Rob’s sister, Susie, her kids, and her S.O. A long, leisurely lunch followed, more visiting, and Susie and crew then hit the road back to California.
A few more hours visiting at the house, a trip back to the airport, fueled the plane, loaded up, and we were home-bound at 3:30 p.m. Yuma time. The tailwinds were with us, and the flight was a little under three hours coming back. Smooth air by the way.
Our time machine allowed us to cover 940 miles in one day while giving us an opportunity to celebrate a big event with family and be back in time for work the next morning and let us have fun while doing it.
RizAir - A Private Aviation Journey 