gmurray56

I needed to get my Cherokee out of the rain, so I moved from a tie-down at Bremerton to a tiny hangar at the tiny Port Orchard airport. With a runway length of 2460 feet, a width of 28 feet, and 50-foot trees on either end, going in and out involved a significant pucker factor. This is a recreation of my first flight there.

I take off from Bremerton and stay at pattern altitude for the less-than-10-mile trip. Almost immediately I spot the Port Orchard strip, which appears about the size of a postage stamp. I set up for an approach into the cleared rectangle of surrounding trees, slowing down and using full flaps. The runway appears incredibly narrow (2 feet less than the Cherokee’s wingspan.) I plant the plane at the end of the runway, but just a little to the left. (Hooray for simulations!) I come to a full stop and prepare to take off again.

The POH recommends a flap setting of 25° and a best angle of climb airspeed of 78 mph. I set the flaps, hold the brakes and advance the throttle. After using up most of the runway, I break ground and claw for altitude. I see treetops even with my window out both sides in the climb. Yes, the simulation is realistic. That is just how I remember it.

VIRTUAL LOGBOOK:
PA28-140 OY-DHD (FSX)
From: KPWT (Bremerton, WA)
To: 0S8 (Port Orchard, WA)

LOGBOOK:
April 21, 1994
PA28- 140 N55633
From: PWT (Bremerton, WA)
To: 0S8 (Port Orchard, WA)
SEL: 0.3 hrs.