IFR Flights of 13MIKE

by Fred J. Calfior and Douglas W. Miller

PREFLIGHT

note:	Set ZOOM to "1.0"
	Set TIME to "19:45"

"As I've promised you, there is one more exercise in the use of ADF tracking, or in this case, it'll be homing. That plus Sandy Point VOR are the two navaids here on Block Island. From the ground, this place looks gorgeous! From the air, it'll be even more gorgeous as we fly in and out of clouds and check out some thunderstorms from a safe distance. I believe it is time to call Block Island UNICOM."

Instruments:

1) Tune COM to "123.0" (UNICOM)

You:

"BLOCK ISLAND UNICOM, CESSNA 9413MIKE. PLEASE GIVE ME WINDS, ALTIMETER SETTING, AND WHATEVER ELSE IS NEEDED. I'M ABOUT READY TO DEPART TO MARTHAS VINEYARD."

Block Island UNICOM:

"CESSNA 9413MIKE, WIND TWO SEVEN ZERO AT ELEVEN, ALTIMETER TWO NINER SEVEN EIGHT, AND RUNWAY TWO EIGHT IS THE ACTIVE RUNWAY."

You:

"THANKS BLOCK ISLAND."

"Ooh! Did you see that lightning? It's a good thing they're scattered about. It's a good thing my chest is covered with Kevlar anti-static lightning chain mail! Of course, if it zaps my head, I'm a toasted bagel! ADF frequency is two one six, and you know the rest of the routine."

2) Set "Altimeter" and "Heading Indicator"

3) Set XPDR to "3116" (assigned IFR code)

4) Tune NAV 1 to "113.6" (HTO)

5) Set NAV 1 OBS to "080"

6) Set ADF to "216" (BID)

7) Activate "ADF"

8) Tune NAV 2 to "115.6" (PVD)

9) Set the DME to "NAV 1" and "DIST"

10) Check CARB HEAT is "OFF"

11) Check GEAR "DOWN"

12) Turn STROBE "ON"

13) Turn LIGHTS "ON"

"Man, when you get schooled, you pick up on it good! Even though we'll use the NDB facility, Hampton VOR's zero eight zero degree radial is an excellent backup! By the way, this whole flight is flown over water until we arrive over Marthas Vineyard. Not that we'll be able to see anything, but just to know you're island hopping gives us an adventurous feeling deep down in the ankle! Tell UNICOM we're taxiing to runway two eight with unrelented passion in your voice!"

You:

"BLOCK ISLAND UNICOM, CESSNA 13MIKE IS TAXIING TO RUNWAY TWO EIGHT FOR IFR DEPARTURE."

Block Island UNICOM:

"ROGER, CESSNA 13MIKE."

TAXI -

"Well, you just taxi down this pad, turn left and keep going until you reach the approach end of runway two eight. This is probably the shortest runway we've taken off from, but '13MIKE' can handle it. I see a thunderstorm cell moving in, so let's hot foot it, get our runup complete, and skedaddle out of here. It might not be any better at Marthas Vineyard, but there's a celebrity who lives there, if I'm not mistaken!"

RUN UP -

1) Set brake (hold down to prevent aircraft from moving)

2) Advance power to about "2000" RPM

**                    3) Select CARB HEAT "ON", record RPM drop______(5 pts)

4) Select CARB HEAT "OFF"

**                    5) Select "LEFT" Mag, record RPM drop____________(5 pts)

6) Select "BOTH" Mags

**                    7) Select "RIGHT" Mag, record RPM drop__________(5 pts)

8) Select "BOTH" Mags

9) Reduce power to idle

10) Set FLAPS to first notch (10 degrees takeoff configuration)

"Carly Simon is the one who lives there, and she writes children's books - real good ones, at that! She will always be unforgettable to me because at the Naval Academy, I think around 1973 or 1974, James Taylor was to put on a concert for us midshipmen. It was rumored that Carly Simon would be there also to sing with him - and the newest release was the Mockingbird Song. Well, he did his whole concert, and Carly didn't show until the very last song. Backstage, we all heard Carly start the song, and we went nuts! Thunderous applause and total awe at her graciousness and ability to sing! Oops! That storm's not going away, is it? Tell everybody we're out of here!"

You:

"BLOCK ISLAND TRAFFIC, CESSNA 13MIKE IS TAKING OFF, RUNWAY TWO EIGHT, IFR."

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