Me'n'my'Mooney

[Darby]

"So heres the plan" says Herb seriously. "Our client is a wealthy interstate trucking boss. He's hired us to take his teenage son for a long flight IFR. It seems the boy is struggling to obtain his PPL and dad thinks this will give him an edge in the tests and exams. Since you own a Mooney with an IFR panel, you get to take him up. We've got 3 days of ok weather so make your own flight plan only it has to be thorough. Good on ya Darb, I know you'll enjoy this one."

KBFI - KYKM - KBFI Fly via VOR's PAE-NUW-TPU-HQM-AST-LSO-LTJ-stopoff at Yakima for a break. ELN-EAT-PAE then BFI. Mooney Bravo N5722A. 1 Pax/student pilot. A couple of text books. 612nm at dubble fee..hee..hee.oooooo lets see now.....that byyyyy that = 9180 and dubble that .....plus......minus the 1 and pay back the 5......18360. Hmmm astounding outcome, I'll just check those figures.......that by that = that and dubble that one times 2 = 18360. Yes a very good outcome for me and PGA.

I've decided to make it a fly by night adventure so the little fella can't see landmarks too easily. so better minus 1 to strong. I'll do the take off and the landing at Yakima and then play it by ear. Rolllll 3!

"We fly tonite! Jump aboard kid and don't touch anything until I tell ya to!"

[Darby]

Stage 1 Boeing Field to Yakima

The sun was just about setting when we departed BFI. I took care of the taxi and takeoff while assessing the young fella's basic knowledge and decided then to let him fly most of the trip. We set our course up for IFR. I twiddled the knobs according to my co pilots instructions. Weather was almost too perfect, very few clouds and lots of stars already appearing in the darkening sky.

We followed our VOR needle making small heading adjustments when needed and tested the accuracy only when spotting the target airport's lights. I let our student handle the run all the way to our Yakima approach but I thought I better take over on final to complete the landing. After all, it is MY Mooney.

Checking the weather, it looks like we will encounter a front bringing some cloud cover and moderate winds our way during the stage II. As I leave my student to think about that and read his text books, I'll grab another coffee and those blueberry muffins are very nice too.

[Darby]

Stage II As predicted the front passed through Yakima giving us cloud, wind and some rain. I controlled the takeoff off and turned toward our first waypoint as my student/copilot set the coordinates. It was bumpy and vis was only about 3 k but we were soon above the worst of it. Once over the KELN VOR I allowed my passenger to take the control and we set the course to north.

The sky was very busy and atc chatter was incessent. I let the young fella strut his stuff and take care of everything. I observed carefully while browsing through the complicated textbook he had brought along. I skipped through the boring bits.

Once over the Paine VOR I instructed my dedicated trainee to turn south. I then requested VFR into Boeing and was given clearance to R13L visual. "Hmmm the small one" The wind was a moderate easterly and required an amount of compensation to stay lined up. I let my little friend help me with the landing and after only three steps to the left and a jump to the right we settled onto the runway and home. Yaaaayy!!. Once we had taxiied to parking and shut down I congratulated the lad on a job well done. He seemed very thrilled. I scribbled down a number abd gave it to him. "Take this phone number. When you get your licence call PGA".

Herb was waiting for us. he had a document in his hand which looked suspiciously like a charter chit. "How did it go?? Good??? Excellent!!. Grab a few hours shuteye or a gallon of coffee whichever you prefer. You are going fishing...sort of. Don't worry, the DC3 will be ready for a 4.30am departure....What was that?...what are we hauling you say?...trawling might be a better word..hahahaha...don't worry...this will pay a nice NET profit..hahahahaha"