Orcas Island September Fly Out

The flyout this month (September) was held on a Saturday and the location was Eastsound Airport on Orcas Island. With a sunny weather forecast of few clouds and low winds, Saturday was chosen for this flyout and eleven aircraft carried seventeen people to this island airport. Most of our flyouts have occurred on weekdays and this time we saw folks that had not been able to attend previous flyouts. Our flyout included Todd Taylor (new participant in his Tecnam Echo Super), Erik Peterson (who brought Kevin Tracy in a C-172), John Ward (who brought Aidan Lara in his Pipistrel Sinus), Scott Alair (in his Lancair Legacy), Ken and Skip Brown (in their RV-9), Ray and Lisa Ballantyne (in their Glastar), Bud Davies in his Cessna 152), Richard and Mary Ann Howell (in their Sling 2), Mark Long (new participant in his SeaRey LSX), Sam Cyphers (in his Zenith), and Barry and Tracy Halsted (in their Saffire). Wow! As noted, some of our chapter members who were unable to fly in their own aircraft received rides from those with empty seats. Several pilots volunteered to take those in need; what a great group of aviators we have!

Besides the Saturday date this flyout was also unique in that there was a choice of two luncheon locations: the airport for those who wanted to have a picnic, and Eastsound for those who wanted to walk to the town’s several restaurants. Ray and Lisa, John, and Bud chose Eastsound, and after lunch Todd (who brought an E-bike with him in his Tecnam) rode into town also.

The airport saw plenty of activity while we were there. Those of us picnicking at the airport watched a beautiful 1927 Travel Air biplane giving rides. We also watched as a very nice SNJ-5 (similar to the Army’s T-6) as it was pulled from its hangar. This aircraft flew after lunch so some of us were able to see it in the air. There are several houses with access to the runway and a number of airplanes from them enjoyed flights this day also.

After lunch and fellowship, takeoff was made using runway 34. The departure puts one over the water almost immediately with Sucia Island just ahead. The view was spectacular this day, and I’m sure everyone here looks forward to another Orcas Island Flyout.

Barry