I can’t imagine anything prettier than the places we flew today. I live heaven every day that I fly. I truly love the butterfly that my life has become.
Today I flew to and landed at 4 different airports: Hillsville (HLX); Mountain Empire (MKJ); Bluefield, WV (BLF); then back to Blacksburg (BCB). Another day of doing cross country flying using pilotage and dead reckoning. It was sooooo much fun! I also have a passport that I get stamped at each of the Virginia airports. It’s work mingled in with tons of fun. Take a look at the pictures below!
First stop was Hillsville (HLX). It was an amazing small airport out in the countryside.
This was one of the objects (river; horseshoe shape) I selected on the map to let me know that I was on target:
Next stop was Mountain Empire.
On our way to Mountain Empire I got to enjoy the mountains. They were also a selected point on the map to make sure that I was where I was supposed to be and when I was supposed to be there. Besides that, aren’t they so beautiful!
Can you believe how close to I-81 the runway is! Also, there are some mountains on either side of the runway, as well.
Close up of the airport itself:
Now we’re on our way to Bluefield, WV (BLF). And on our way we get to see inside Burke’s Garden. It looks like an old crater from above. From Tazewell, Virginia’s hometown website, they say that Burke’s Garden is “Known as “Vanderbilt’s First Choice,” “God’s Thumbprint,” and the “Garden Spot of the World,” beautiful Burke’s Garden is Virginia’s highest valley and Virginia’s largest rural historic district. This bowl-shaped valley carved out of the top of a mountain offers the most breathtaking scenery this side of New Zealand, with verdant farmland, abundant wildlife, rare bird watching, peaceful biking, and adventurous hiking on the Appalachian Trail.”
Here is the runway where I landed in Bluefield:
There was this massive helicopter there as well:
While at Bluefield, WV, we also saw Paul Newman’s old jet hangared there:
Here’s the airport itself at Bluefield, WV:
After taking a break, we saw the sunset and enjoyed the mountains on the route back to Blacksburg (BCB).
I-77 going into the Mountain Tunnel:
And the Mighty Cessna 103 takes us home again!
As everyone already knows, but I never want to take it for granted, I am enormously blessed with an outstanding instructor who patiently teaches me, coaxes me, and expects the best from me in my training.