Experience is what you get when things don’t go as planned. This became very apparent on Thanksgiving day. After watching the forecast like a hawk all week, I decided early Wednesday that the weather was improving enough to fly to Morris. Low clouds were to dissipate and leave a higher overcast layer.
Thursday morning we loaded up the Jeep and drove to the airport. I thought to myself “Those clouds aren’t thinning out very fast.” I decided to finish the preflight in the hangar as it was close to the next forecast period. Just before pulling it out of the hangar, I called for a weather briefing. The forecast along our route wasn’t going to improve with low clouds persisting throughout the day and possible rain on the return trip. Additionally, the freezing level was only 2000ft at Morris. Without an Instrument rating and the possibility of icing, coupled with low clouds of 1900ft above the ground and a time restriction I decided it wasn’t meant to be. We closed the hangar doors and got ready for plan B.
We have been spoiled for the last few months in being able to hop in the Ruff-Air Mooney and in <90 minutes, be in Morris. The drive is 2 hours longer each way. Oh well, I promised to get us to Morris and that is what I did.
After the monotonous 250mile drive we arrived in time for a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner.
We made a quick 3rd stop, then pointed the trusty Jeep homeward. Along the way there were a few flurries and near St Louis, we drove through bands of rain. It was a lot of driving but we completed our trip, visited with family, and arrived home safely.
While it would have been ‘legal’ for me to fly in that skinny column of clear air it would not have been pleasant for my passengers dodging towers and weather in day and night conditions. Altitude is the best insurance for sorting out in flight issues and finding an airport vs. landing in a field. #flysafe
With that, I would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday season!!