Hyannis
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23 June 2007



Pilot Section

General
 
Today was planned to be my preparation day for the start of the long flight, and after a good nights rest, I spent the morning at Cape Cod Aviation making sure N238JG was prepared for the long trip ahead. Liferaft and survival equipment were stowed in the right place for rapid access should we need to use them. My survival suit was unpacked and checked. International databases for my Garmin 430s and MFD were downloaded and stored in my flight bag ready for changing from the USA databases at the appropriate time.
 
By midday the aircraft was ready and I decided to go for a VFR flight around Martha’s Vineyard and Cape Cod after lunch. I had never been to this scenic part of the USA before so it would be nice to see it from the air, but more importantly I wanted to ensure I was back “ahead of the aircraft” and had no more landings like yesterday!
 
The weather was excellent. Clear blue skies and limitless vislibility. I took off from Hyannis and headed initially for the island of Martha’s Vineyard about 10 miles off the coast. Martha’s Vineyard is famous as a holiday island for the rich and famous – particularly the Kennedy family. As I flew around it at 2000ft it seemed surprisingly unspoiled. Clearly some very nice (ie. Large!) properties and marinas, but also large areas of woodland and sandy beaches.
 


From Martha’s Vineyard I headed for the South of Cape Cod, with Nantucket Island off to my right. I flew over the small airport of Chatham and then up to the curled Nothern tip of the Cape at Provincetown before turning and heading back towards Hyannis. My landing was a whole lot better, and I felt back in tune with the aircraft again, ready for the start of the long trip across the Atlantic.
 
On Saturday evening I took a long walk through Hyannis, visiting the harbour and having an excellent seafood dinner at a resaurant on Main Street.




Kids Section

Fun Fact: The name “Hyannis” is derived from the old native American Indian name for the area.
 
Quiz:  
Answer to yesterday’s Quiz: Thunderstorms contain very strong vertical movements of air inside large Cumulo-Nimbus clouds that can rise to over 30,000ft into the air. The vertical air movements can cause violent turbulence which can damage aircraft. Even big airliners steer clear of Thunderstorms.
 
Today’s Quiz Question: Hyannis is the home of the Kennedy Family. Who are they?
 
(Answers on the next Daily Diary!)