Twilight over Seattle

Last night was one of the best flights ever. My friend Cameron and I met at 75898 at 8 pm and after a good preflight we launched to the north. There was not a cloud anywhere, and even though the sun was about to set it was still around 70 degrees...a beautiful evening capping our first real day of summer-like weather in the Northwest.

We picked up advisories from Seattle right after departure. We were both surprised how quiet all the frequencies were...except for the big iron traffic in and out of KSEA.

Just before reaching the recently closed prison on McNeil Island we turned east to pass just north of McChord Field (KTCM, formerly Air Force Base) to Lake Tapps, then north for a touch-and-go (and my first-ever landing) at KRNT. After Renton, we followed the eastern shoreline of Lake Washington to just north of the SR 520 bridge, then turned west to cross the lake. We overflew the University of Washington campus, and the Fremont and Magnolia neighborhoods of Seattle. The view out the left side window, of downtown Seattle, Queen Anne Hill, and the Space Needle at twilight was probably the coolest thing I've seen yet in my 83 hours of flying.

We crossed Puget Sound and headed direct for KPWT, passing the Bremerton shipyard to the south. From there we plugged KOLM into the GPS and went direct. 20 minutes later we were entering a right downwind for runway 35 at the home patch, runway and taxiway lights gleaming brightly after seven clicks, followed by a decent landing (just a little bounce).

Google Earth (kml) track of flight

It's really fun flying with Cameron--having another pilot along makes for great conversation and help with radio and transponder work, as well as navigation.

I'm sure glad the long, rainy winter seems to be over!