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ISSUE 619 - January 21, 2020
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RV-8, the speed machine in your hangar |
By Dana Brejakova, Contributing Editor & Photographer |
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The beauty on the photo is a proud member of the single-engine aircraft fleet in Jimmy the Squirrel's hangar in El Paso, Texas. Wherever we take her, she steals attention. |
Van's Aircraft RV-8 is a charmer. This high performance taildragger with adorable sweet spots such as speed, agility, fighter-like feel, speed, full aerobatic-capability, speed, hot looks, and speed made me drop my jaw when I had the pleasure to go through the full experience for the first time one year ago. Oh, did I forget to mention the speed? This birdie's top speed of 220 mph will get you where you need to be fast.
Many times, I have been wondering what it would be like to have wings and just go places whenever I would like: on my own terms, on my own schedule, in my own time, only with people I truly wanted to go. Just do what birds do. That ultimate freedom of overcoming the distance to get from point A to point B and skip all those travel hustles one has to undergo when choosing airline travel. I remember the days watching single engine airplanes in the sky as they were roaring above my head, wondering how awesome it must have been – to just jump in your bird and fly to see places that, sometimes, can be accessed only by air. Someone once said that if you wanted something really bad and went out to look for it you would find it no matter how impossible that vision of yours could be. Well, in my case this premise worked like a charm. Originally from a small town in Czech Republic, here I am, flying here and there, in the epicenter of the local aviation community with one of the best aviators I have known. How lucky can a girl like me be?
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All you need is Jimmy the Squirrel and a backpack. When you have your fast bird and a private pilot's license you can forget all about the classic air travel hustles. You pack what you need, get to your hangar, do the pre-flight, hop in, run the checklists and ta-daaaaaaah you are cleared to go wherever you desire. The sky is your playground. |
Almost every other weekend I get to experience that liberating sensation while flying with Jimmy in one of his birds. I keep asking myself of how blessed we are we to have this. Then I answer to myself, "Very!" When I came to USA from Europe, I could not believe how free and inviting the world of aviation was here. I have been pretty much around the world but the way USA celebrates aviation is something I have not seen anywhere else. I was blown away. Since I was introduced to the T-hangar Mafia (a small club of awesome local aviators) my life has never been the same. Each and every flying adventure we took has been nothing but marvel and I realized I found my second home in the charming Southwest.
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Some lovely landscapes open to those who fly down here in the Southwest. |
Our latest adventure in Jimmy's RV-8 was our flight from El Paso, TX to Prescott, AZ to celebrate Jimmy the Squirrel's niece's graduation from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. There is no better way to celebrate a success of another family member who chose a career in aviation than jumping into an RV-8 to be there for the party.
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On our way to Arizona, passing significant landmarks. This big copper mine struck up a scientific conversation about copper where we further discovered we did not remember its proton number. How can we possibly know everything, right? |
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Passing the Gila wilderness , NM and recalling the fall in 2018 when we had one of the best times in Gila Fly-In |
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Looking over my shoulder, there were snow caps on the mountains far in the distance. |
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After 2 hours of flight and a few bumps along the way, Jimmy the Squirrel performed perfect landing at Prescott Airport., AZ. We tied the bird down and went to the FBO to have a cup of refreshing coffee and something sweet. |
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Prescott Airport, AZ - one of the coziest FBOs. Lovely winter decorations and delicious biscotti with coffee. |
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"You are forever an eagle" The graduation ceremony was beautiful and Jimmy the Squirrel's niece has officially became an eagle too. Joyful moment that made the whole family very proud. |
After the graduation celebrations, we jumped into our speed machine and flew back to El Paso. Making 220 mph ground speed we were on fire.
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Hopping into the RV-8. Charming stratus carving the sky. |
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Leaving the airport in Prescott. Under the left wing, passing the fleet of Embry-Riddle University. |
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On our way back, the sky was beautiful. When the outside conditions align and beautiful stratus formations appear as well, one gets to see the magic. I am pretty certain we flew beneath one. How blessed are we? VERY! |
Almost there! Safely passing the Franklin Mountains that divide Eastern and Western part of El Paso. Quite a spectacular view each time we fly over.
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The West side of El Paso below us and the Franklin Mountains ahead. |
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Passing Sunland Park area on the West side |
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Still on the West side... |
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A moment when the left wing was copying the ridgeline |
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Passing the Franklin Mountain |
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Wing tip on the ridgeline, almost on the East side |
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Aaaaaand we are on the East side. |
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Captain Jimmy the Squirrel behind the controls on the final approach to KELP runway. |
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View on our designated runway. Jimmy is aligning the bird for landing. |
After 90 minutes in the air, we were landing. Fast and beautiful flight. We have accomplished a lot and the weekend has not ended yet. Wow! The ultimate freedom of overcoming distance in the air was once again ours, and it felt marvelous.
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By Dana Brejakova, Contributing Editor & Photographer
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