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Posted By:
Hal Brown
Date Posted:
May 24, 2013
Description:
There was a splash-in at Bob Woodberry's place on Lake Anna yesterday, Thursday. (Today, too, but the wind is bad today.) The forecast didn't look promising, but it's only about 50 miles, so I went up for a look-see. Ran into a rainshower immediately, but it was small, so I went more or less around it.
Date Taken:
May 24, 2013
Place Taken:
Central Virginia
Owner:
Don Maxwell
File Name:
Shower.jpg - Photo HTML
Full size - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZIMO0000h">
Medium - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZIMO0000m">
Thumbnail - <img src="/show.php?splash=SZIMO0000s">
Category:
23, Max Pix
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Take a Shower: or Fly to Bob Woodberry's Splash-In |
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Read what others had to say:
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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The way ahead seemed clear, so I kept going north. Besides, going south didn't seem like a good idea.
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GPS HeadingNorth
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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With a nice tailwind I soon saw the lake ahead.<br /><br />You might be able to see the reason for the lake--a nuclear power plant--in the center, near the top.<br /><br />Bill Fosdick's place is at center, near the closest bridge, on the 'warm' side of the lake. Woodberry's is beyond the power plant<br />
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LakeAnna 2214
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Woodberry's coordinates were just right! The yellow Legend Cub is Bill Fosdick's. The white airplane is a TwinBee.
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Woodberry Place 2226
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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There was just enough room for me to taxi onshore and snuggle the SeaRey up next to the Cub. (It took two tries, though, because they had to push the Cub backwards a few feet to make room.)
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Max Foz 6130
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Bob is overhauling the engine of his regular Bee.
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Hangar Bee q
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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TheTwinBee came back and powered up the ramp. Bob's son was flying. He said this was only his second try at the ramp the the Twin. I say he's a pro at it!
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TwinBee-UpRamp
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TwinBee-UpRamp
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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I had been wondering for weeks why a splash-in would be scheduled on a weekday--two successive weekdays. It turned out that it was really a business meeting, with the aim to gain support for organizing a Virginia seaplane pilots association. Randy Burdette (left, with Bill Fosdick) is Director of the Virginia Department of Aviation. He's an ardent supporter of general aviation and is probably THE most proactive such person in the country. So maybe that explains why there were more representatives of SPA, AOPA, and FAA present than there were seaplane pilots. About twice as many. Maybe three times as many. <br /><br />(It may also may explain why nobody seemed particularly concerned that there were only three visiting seaplanes and only one belonging to someone who didn't help organize the fly-in. Bob's excellent place couldn't have accommodated even one more amphibian on shore that day, but there's a dock that at least two floatplanes would have found compatible.)
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Burdette Fosdick 6149 f
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Dan Nickens - May 24,2013
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Scary! Slipping a FAA guy into a splash-in? What's up with that? (Though maybe he was there to help you....unless he is one of those rogue agents illegally targeting SeaRey people!)
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Not 'he,' Dan. I got three confirmed (one a woman, by the way) and one or two possibles.
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Russ Garner - May 25,2013
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Thanks for the ride Don and the plug.
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Don Maxwell - May 25,2013
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It's my best cap, Russ.
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Don Maxwell - May 25,2013
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I'm still just a bit creeped out by all those FAA workers working the crowd--I was the entire crowd--that day. <br /><br />'Hello. I'm Paul,' one guy I'd never seen before said to me, as if he thought we were old friends just re-connecting. That was it. He didn't say, 'I'm Paul Somebody, from the FAA,' or 'That's my [non-existent seaplane] over there,' or 'How was the flight up?' None of those questions that are likely to come from another seaplane pilot. Just, 'Hello. I'm Paul.' It seemed just slightly strange to me.<br /><br />Then there was 'Hi, I'm So-and-so.' The same routine, although that guy asked, 'Where are you based?'<br /><br />Several others went through the same routine, and I became more puzzled with each one. It just didn't seem quite right.<br /><br />The one slightly different approach came from a demurely dressed woman, maybe forty-something, who a few minutes earlier had tried unsuccessfully to keep my wingtip from hitting a 3 or 4 foot tall, spindly dock light as I was turning around in the narrow channel to have the second go at the beach. The strobe light housing clipped the light and bent it at an odd angle, and the woman gave me a very confused-seeming look that I couldn't quite read. <br /><br />As I was walking to the boathouse, she sidled up and said, 'I'm Elizabeth.' That's what her name tag said, too. I was puzzled because, yes, she had pushed on my wingtip just a few minutes earlier. But, no, we weren't old friends.<br /><br />Of course, I hadn't the faintest idea at the time. It wasn't until Randy Burdette opened the meeting and introduced a few people that it finally began to dawn on me. FAA. Oho! Officials. From four organizations. Weekday splash-in. Aha!<br /><br />They were SPA, AOPA, FAA, Va Dept of Aviation that I'm sure of. Who did I miss?<br /><br />So yesterday I looked up the roster at the Richmond FSDO, and sure enough, several of the names matched: <a href="http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/ric/local_more/media/RichmondFSDOPersonnelDirectory.pdf">http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/ric/l<br>ocal_more/media/RichmondFSDOPersonnelDirectory.pdf</a><br /><br />I'm still a bit creeped, two days later.<br /><br />But it was a fine splash-in all the same, and the Woodberrys have a great place on the lake.
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Bob Woodberry - May 25,2013
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Don<br /><br />I am sorry you were 'creeped out' by the FAA FAAST team folks that asked to come by to make a short <br />presentation on safety. Similarly, Randy and Bill asked if they could spend a few minutes discussing <br />whether or not there would be any interest in forming a Virginia Seaplane Pilots Organization, but in no <br />way was the purpose of the splash in a 'business' meeting. Others who were planning on coming <br />cancelled because of departure or enroute weather concerns and that is what prevented ET ( who asked <br />if we could use my place for the splash in) didn't arrive until a day and half later than he planned.<br /><br />The choice of a week day rather than the Memorial Day weekend (or any summer weekend for that <br />matter) was my call because of the heavy boat traffic that typically utilizes Lake Anna--it is more fun a <br />safer if have a less crowded lake especially if light float planes or amphibians want to fly. Elizabeth is <br />the co owner of the Twin Bee and was a little startled that you tried to turn around under power to <br />reposition your plane on the ramp. We thought we would re float you and then have you restart your <br />plane to come up the ramp. Obviously some mis communication.<br /><br />I did have the tools and parts necessary for removing ET's tail wheel and repairing the broken parts and <br />making up a new steering cable. He reported that he made it home with no further tail wheel issues and <br />made three land and water landings on his homeward journey.<br /><br />Sunday was quite windy-- 30 plus knots out of the Northwest. ET and the Twin Bee flew (ET to depart <br />and the Twin Bee to refuel at KLKU) but still a Cessna 185 on Amphisbaenia flew in and did a masterful <br />job of sailing back into the rear of the cove to moor to the rear dock. It took several of us to help <br />maneuver the airplane and secure it but it was impressive. Air/seamanship to pull off that docking. Other <br />pilots drove in and we spent a cool and windy day talking about flying adventures. All in all we had about <br />30 or so pilots and family members show up over the two days and Penny and I enjoyed the company.<br /><br />I tried to open the videos you took but couldn't get them to open on my IPad. Is there some software <br />that I need to view them.<br /><br />Again, it was not my intent for anyone to feel uncomfortable and I am sorry that you did. I also would <br />have liked it for the weather to have cooperated more for others to fly in but it was what it was.<br /><br />Happy flying,<br /><br /><br /><br />Bob and Penny Woodberry<br /><br />
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Don Maxwell - May 25,2013
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Sorry, Bob! I didn't mean to suggest that I didn't have a good time. On the contrary, it was all great fun. And I'm sorry about the deck light. That was my fault--I misjudged the distance--and if it needs replacing, just let me know. Spinning around on the point of the step is a standard SeaRey maneuver. It's one of the attributes that makes SeaReys so much fun to fly. They're about as different from Seabees as is possible, given that they're both amphibious flying boat pushers. I didn't think about how it might surprise anyone at the time and just did what was normal.<br /><br />As you know, I was rather puzzled by what at the time seemed to be just ever so slightly unexpected actions by the 'official' people--before I figured out who they were. It was my mistake, not theirs. Of course they were being completely normal and friendly; I just wasn't tuned in yet. <br /><br />There are always interesting cultural adjustments in gatherings like that--establishment and independent, big-certified and small-homebuilt. They'll just make a state seaplane pilots' association all the more fun and useful. (As long as it stays informal and unofficious.)<br /><br />And now that you've reminded me, you did tell me some time ago that an Elizabeth was co-owner of the Twin Bee. I didn't know her, so the info just went into some dark holding bin in my head. NOW I remember. I noticed that she rode in the back seat of the Twin; if she'd been flying it, I might have remembered in time. I hope I didn't cause her too much consternation! <br /><br />About the videos: they're in standard m4v format intended for iPhones and other mobile devices. (I made them with my phone.) But but they don't play on my iPhone. I don't know why not, but I'll fix them and replace the present ones. Just a sec...<br /><br />
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Robert Charlwood Richardson - May 25,2013
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Bob - I had thought to drop in but you are quite right about the <br />departure wx. It was 25 gust 35 at my Balt Essex location (W48). I will <br />try to make it next time. <br /><br />Don - as to all the 'friendly' FAA types, it was their opportunity to get to <br />meet and talk to one on those 'freedom loving SeaRey pilots' that <br />Richard Bach described in 'Travels with Puff'. Remember There are <br />only about 500 of us out there. Next time regal them with stories of <br />your explorations around the lower Bay and the Md-Atlantic region. It <br />might help keep them from writing bonehead rules. Remember their <br />lives are that of a bureaucrat, not a fun loving seaplane pilot. They <br />were only showing you their respect.
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Don Maxwell - May 26,2013
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Rob--and All--I seem to have overstated my reaction to finding so many official persons at Bob's splash-in. Let me be clear: The splash-in was excellent! Bob's place is very cool in every way, a great place for seaplanes. Everyone was very nice, and I had a good time there. So if I've offended or annoyed anyone, I'm very sorry.<br /><br />The part about being caught unawares by finding so many officials present is true (I'd never seen the FAA at a splash-in before) although it's just my own personal reaction and not any negative comment about the officials. They all seemed like lovely persons. It was just me.
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Don Maxwell - May 26,2013
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Rob, another number seemed to surprise everyone at the splash-in: Randy Burnette announced that there are 209 seaplane pilots on Virginia. (He's included in that number, by the way.) It was kind of funny because everyone sort of looked around, trying to figure out where they were and who they might be. <br /><br />An FAA rep said it should be easy enough to find out how many seaplanes there are in Virginia, but that will probably take some digging, as some are probably registered in Delaware and several are landplanes with floats. But maybe the gov'mint has some private list of seaplanes.
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Dennis Scearce - May 26,2013
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209 seaplane pilots or seaplanes? I suspect there are quite a few pilots that have added an SES rating but don't regularly fly a seaplane.
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Don Maxwell - May 26,2013
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Pilots. It's easy to search for SES and MES, but would probably miss Sport Pilots without a higher certificate. (I know of one confirmed Sport Pilot with a seaplane endorsement, or whatever it's called.) Burdette himself is a recent SES--may be Virginia seaplane pilot #209--but he doesn't have a seaplane.<br /><br />But I'm pretty sure they haven't the foggiest idea of how many seaplanes there are. They don't keep track of ultralights at all, and they aren't likely to know about many Experimentals that have floats. I don't know about certificated airplanes to which floats have been added.<br /><br />I happen to know of 12 flying seaplanes in Virginia, but surely there are more.
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Later in the afternoon another Bee came in from North Carolina, the SPA's regional director. He did the ramp just fine--but now we know that SeaReys aren't the only amphibians that can have landing gear malfunctions.
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ET-Bee-UpRamp-6154
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ET-Bee-UpRamp-6154
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Dan Nickens - May 24,2013
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Ouch. I bet that costs more than a SeaRey malfunction.
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Woodward said in email this morning that they had it almost fixed. Fortunately, he has a complete spare Seabee in parts in his hangar.
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Dennis Scearce - May 24,2013
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ET lives up the lake (Norman) from me. I hate to see his mis-fortune. He invited all the LKN seaplanes up but wind, work and chores prevented it for me.
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Kevin D'Angelo - May 26,2013
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Sorry to see ET's malfunction- As I was laying on the stretcher waiting for the <br />ambulance, he was the only face I recognized and asked him to breakdown my <br />tent as I knew I would not be in shape to get my personal stuff- He does get <br />around as I often see him at fly-ins on Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks
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Don Maxwell - May 26,2013
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Bob says ET's Bee is all better now.
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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I was keeping a close eye on my phone all afternoon, watching Garmin Pilot's display of thunderstorms moving northeast through the area and wondering where I was going to spend the night. Around 4 some sky opened up southwest (upwind) of KFCI, where my car was, so I high-tailed it for home.<br /><br />By the way, I've found that my iPhone is easily readable in a SeaRey, even in direct sunlight. An iPad 2, on the other hand, is almost useless on a bright day. The iPhone never had worse than a 3G signal all day.
| | Attachments:
GPS Homeward 6156
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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How often do you see a quarry with a paved runway? The Luck Stone Company has this one northwest of Richmond, the only reasonable emergency landing site along the way. But I didn't have an emergency!
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QuarryRunway
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Frank A. Carr - May 25,2013
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How else could the EPA arrive to inspect without a runway?
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Don Maxwell - May 24,2013
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Arrived in clear, smooth air, with 20 minutes to spare.<br /><br />Oh. And do I support the idea of a Virginia Seaplane Pilots Association? Yes. Why shouldn't I?
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TwentyMinutes to Spare
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Frank A. Carr - May 25,2013
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Don, Interesting story and photos. It sounds like you wondered into a nice group. I guess I missed what Ap you're using on your iPhone? It looks great.<!-- >'"><br><font color=red size=6>' or > missing in user HTML. Please fix the HTML.</font> -->
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