Running and Laughing through the Golden State
Running and Laughing through the Golden State
Recently my husband and I decided to private fly to a new airport: Aeroflex–Andover Airport (FAA 12N). We’ve been up to Sussex County multiple times, but we’ve never flown. We’ve flown to Morristown as well as Lincoln Park, so we thought it would be fun to fly to Aeroflex–Andover Airport.
Over the past month, I started biking for a specific event. A triathlon of some sort, but not that triathlon you’re thinking. After flying and walking to a diner, my husband and I had the crazy idea of flying then biking to a diner. With the pandemic, taxis and Ubers are no longer something I want to do, so biking seemed like a safer and fun thing to do.
It’s been a couple of months since my husband, and I flew anywhere substantial. A few weeks ago, we were discussing possible things to do on Labor Day Weekend. I always wanted to run the 18.12 Challenge Race. My husband was not as keen on spending over 14 hours, driving to a race and coming back. I guess I can’t blame them.
He asked if I wanted to private fly. I’ve never private flown to a destination with a time limit. We’ve flown around the state and Northeast on our own time, but we’ve never flown somewhere to do something. I didn’t know how my body would handle flying the day before a race. Private flying is loud, bumpy, and you get sick a lot easier. But it sounded like a fun adventure.
What most people don’t realize is Private Flying, and Air Force Flying is entirely different. Just because you are an Air Force Pilot, does not automatically make you qualified to fly private planes (and just because you fly Private Planes does not make you qualified to fly Air Force Planes.) They are similar but separate entities. You must have different certifications for both. My husband has both and instructs and teaches people how to private fly. So if you, random internet person with no flying experience wanted to learn to private fly, he could teach you. He likes to fly, and it’s become a hobby of his. Anyway, I get a lot of questions about that, so I thought I would answer.
We also rent airplanes (We don’t own any LOL). First, we can’t afford to buy an airplane. Second, my husband prefers to fly a few different types of planes.
Here are a few photos from our flight up to Watertown:
In all, it was a lot of fun.
Flying through the Hudson Exclusion and NYC
Question for you: Have you ever privately flown?
Before joining the Air Force, my husband got his privates pilot license. Then a few years ago, he became an instructor so he is able to teach people how to fly (yes, even you!).
While we didn’t fly as much last year, we do privately fly together from time to time. A couple of weeks ago, we decided to fly to my 250th diner. It wasn’t because the diner was special or even that we couldn’t just drive there, but it’s fun to fly.
Like running, sometimes private flying is more about the journey than the destination. When we flew, it was windy and turbulent. In fact, when we made the approach into Essex County Airport, we had to change runways because it was too turbulant to land from the direction we were coming. Unlike commercial flying, private flying isn’t quiet. You hear a lot of things.
This was one of our shorter flights and it was nice to get a scenic view of all of western NJ.
It was a lot of fun. It will be a while until we get to fly again but I can’t wait. I always tell people, that the plane we fly in can fit four people so if you are local and interested, you’re always welcome (no one seems to take me up on it!).
Flying through the Hudson Exclusion and NYC
Questions for you:
Do you like flying?
Have you ever been private flying before?
As many people know, my husband is a pilot in the Air Force. He also has his private’s license, so we are able to rent planes and fly to various places. Due to being busy, life, and other interests we haven’t gone anywhere too exciting in a few months. Last year was my first time going through the Hudson Corridor (around NYC). We like flying there and it’s usually scenic.
The weather looked good last Saturday so we decided to fly back up to Connecticut. We chose Bridgeport since it would be scenic and there was a lot going on around the airport.
We took off from Princeton Airport. Tim’s been taking lessons to be an instructor there (so he can teach people how to fly…).
The morning of, we realized the Mets were playing which means certain parts of the Hudon, New York, and New Jersey Air Space are closed. This is the same for any major sporting event. When Trump plays golf in NJ, it essentially shuts down half of the state for private flying. If you cross the airspace, you run the risk of getting escorted out by F18s.
We were able to fly around NYC going up, but coming back we had to stay clear and flew down through Western NJ. It ended up being a cool flight because we were actually above Newark Jets approaching. It’s kind of crazy to look down and see a massive 737.
Taking off from Princeton Airport
Flying over the Verrazano Bridge into NYC…who has started a marathon there?
Down into Connecticut:
Coming back home. On multiple occasions, we were about a mile away from 737s and other jets (which in flying world will cause your plane to beep: “traffic traffic”.
This was definitely one of my favorite views of the night.
It was definitely one of the more scenic flights. We are hoping to fly to Block Island this summer as well as Montauk but we will see how schedules go.
Flying to Cape May
Flying to Pompton Plains
Flying the Hudson Exclusion
Questions for you:
Do you like flying?
Tell me a nonworkout hobby you have!