Florida here we come
Washington on the horizon – I promised myself that once every two years I would fly to the US for a trip where I would rent a plane and travel in the United States, and indeed two years had passed since the tremendous experience of crossing the US from coast to coast. My old friend Joel was happy to join. The excitement grew as we landed in Dulles Field (Washington). The first day was spent strolling through the beautiful city between the mighty monuments of Jefferson and Lincoln, symbolizing the history of the founding of this mighty land. We went through the cherry tree garden that was in full bloom to the site of the Arlington Military Cemetery. We laid a stone on the graves of the Kennedy family. The gravestones of the soldiers who fell over the years stood in rows in exemplary and precise order.
Gaithersburg – WIFA Flight School is located in Montgomery Airpark Airport KGAI in the town of Gaithersburg. We arranged to meet with our friend the flight instructor for the final instructions. After coordination with Washington, we headed for the Appalachian Mountains. The field situated within 30 miles of Washington aria and is one of the few places in the US that requires permission to departure. We determined that a flight should not exceed two hours. On our way we landed on a grass track at SHIFLET FIELD AIRPORT, this was my first time to land on grass field. Understanding the difference between Asphalt and grass runways is essential, the difference is mainly in takeoff .On a grass runway you need a long run, in fact take off with flaps down, and as soon as the plane detaches from the ground perform a “go around” process, increasing speed while gradually raising the flaps to a desired climbing speed. We landed on one of the tops of the Appalachians Mountain in INGALLS FIELD AIRPORT. The airport is located across the mountain with an abyss in front of it and behind it. Of course there was an FBO office, we rested for a short while over a cup of coffee and continued on our way. When hunger began to pound on our stomach walls we landed in an ASHE COUNTY AIRPORT the person in the FBO handed us the car keys that stood outside for a drive to the nearest town for lunch. Later we landed at WAYCROSS WARE COUNTY AIRPORT for an overnight stay.
Epcot – On our flight we passed towns, huge bridges, swamps and rivers, finally we landed in Florida in the small town in KISSIMMEE GATEWAY AIRPORT near Orlando. We rented a car and spent the rest of the day at one of Disney’s attractions, the Epcot site. Monorail led us from the parking lot area to the site. The entire site shows the culture of many countries from around the world in typical buildings for each country, from Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. Between each building separates a public space with manicured gardens where pruned shrubs in Disney characters and actors in costumes of Disney heroes are photographed with the guests. The day ended with a tremendous fireworks display.
Tampa – The next day we flew to WINTER HAVEN’S GILBERT AIRPORT, rented a car and drove to the hotel. Since we had a free day we decided to visit the charming city of Tampa. The impressive university on its spires stood desolate; apparently we fell on Easter break. From there we drove in an old trolley that took us to Ybor City, the only urban reserve in the world. In the distant past the main occupation of the locals was rolling cigars. Immigrants from all over the world were attracted to the area because of the demand for working hands.
Sun n Fun – The moment has finally come for which we flew all the way from Maryland to Florida, the second largest aviation event in the US. We arrived at the site early and entered its gates. The site had huge hangars inside which were dozens of stalls offering everything a pilot needed. Outside the hangars stood dozens of aircraft from various models from the oldest to the most modern. We sat on the lawn waiting for the flight performances that did not disappoint, Amazing aerobatics including nocturnal aerobatics and between the shows a young woman climbed during the flight on the top of the wing of a Piper plane, tied herself to a pole that was located in the middle of the wing, then the pilot began to perform aerobatics stunts with the lady standing above the wing, amazing. Modern fighter jet cruised in the air, and fighter From World War II next to him. The spectacular flights that are once again amazing in their daring, the aerobatics pilots become icons in the aviation world.
Back to Maryland – After two days full of events we started our way back. This time we chose a route along the east coast. We landed for overnight parking in a small town at ACCOMACK COUNTY AIRPORT. During an evening walk, we heard familiar music and approached. Nice people saw strangers and offered us to come in and enjoy the event which turned out to be a music dance event from the sixties. The next day we continued our flight and of course we made a mandatory landing in a field called First Flight (KFFA), where the Wright brothers made their first flight. On the site you can walk between the monument erected in their honor, with the restoration of the plane and the figures of the people who helped hold this flight. Huge stones along the flight path indicate the distance the plane made on the first flights and in the middle of the area stands the museum, inside the museum stood a life-size model of the airplane. A description of the way they passed until their first flight and the developments they invented like anemometer and more. The museum also has a respectable corner for other famous pilots such as Charles Lindbergh and Emilia Earhart. Needless to say the airport is without a tower and free for any guest.
Sun n’ Fun at last
Flying to WINTER HAVEN’S GILBERT AIRPORT passed very fast, where we parked our Cessna and rent accommodation and a car. Winter Haven is about 20 miles from Lakeland where the Sun n’ Fun event is. We spent the next two days In San n’ Fan the famous event for pilots and flying lovers. Walking among the airplanes on the ground and the big hangars for merchandise participating in lectures, all was very impressive and the flight shows completed a beautiful days.
We took advantage of one free day to visit Tampa, the capital of Florida. Walk through the local university and visited the local aquarium, large and beautiful (not mandatory) and tour the beautiful Ybor City, the only urban reservation in the world to the best of my knowledge the place was declared a nature reservation. We arrive to the town in an old wooden carriage running on rails. A nice museum shows the lives of the residents in the past, the main occupation was cigars manufacturing.
Sun n’ Fun is similar to Oshkosh but smaller in size, the air show was impressive full of dangerous moments, we also saw for the first time a night show with aerobics and gliders. The spectacular flights that were once again amazing in their daring, the aerobatic pilots known as icons in the world of aviation proved once again their courage in performing impressive and dangerous exercises in the air.
We continued on our way to Gaithersburg and landed happily at the Montgomery airport. We have two days left until the flight to Israel, these two days we plowed through Washington, we visited many museums such as: Aviation Museum, Botanical Museum, Native American Heritage Museum, of course the Holocaust Museum, the amazing Capitol building with its variety of sculptures, marble halls and National Library. For dessert we visited the picturesque town of Alexandria and the bustling port through which an ancient river boat sailed. We did not miss the Washington Zoo, it was a pity that the panda was tired and we got to see half of it with the other half hidden among the bushes.
The flight back passed quickly thanks to the experiences we went through, already planning the next trip.
