Christmas Eve flight to Hondo

Tom asked me if I wanted to go flying!  We met at the ranch and flew to Hondo, about 10 miles away.  We gained quite a bit of altitude to get over some hills as we left Medina then descended into the valley as we approached Hondo.  Hondo was an old Air Force Base opened during WW-II and is now the Hondo Municipal Airport.  After landing we were going to make a pit stop and get a drink of water but could not get into the filed business office.  As we were getting ready to leave what appeared to be a P-51 landed and taxied up to us.

The plane was a home built 2/3 scale replica of a P-51.  Turned out Tom knew the pilot and he asked us if we wanted to look at some planes so we followed him over to his hangar.

Quite a surprise as we saw many different planes.

Even another P-51!

While we were talking another plane flew over and landed and a lady climbed out of the cockpit.  We had been talking with here friend and turns out that between them they have 6 planes here at Hondo and a few more in Medina!

After leaving Hondo we took a scenic route back to the Ranch flying along Highway 16 so we could see Lake Medina and even San Antonio off to the east.  On our way back Tom found some large open fields and he did lots of maneuvering as we flew a whole lot closer to the ground so he could show me just how the Gyro handled.  Was amazing to say the least.

Flying down the Medina River

Later in Novemebr I got a text from Tom asking me if I would like to go for a ride!  Of course.....  It was cooler with some overcast but we had a great flight from the ranch hangar down along the Medina River.  Medina River

Gyro trip to Fredricksburg for lunch

Tom called me and asked if I wanted to go for a ride and I did!  We met at the Kerrville municipal airport and flew to Gillespie Field near Fredricksburg  Takeoff Kerrville to Gillespie Field.  Stopped for lunch at the Airport Diner and had a great burger and homemade chips.

Departure, Gillespie Field  As we became airborne we saw another Gyrocopter on the apron.  We flew back over the Kerrville airport and then over our house before heading back to Kerrville.  Video taken after leaving our house on the way back to Kerrville  Approach to Kerrville

After lining up on the runway we flew quite a ways down before Tom landed really close to the approach ramp.  The Gyro will normally land in 50 - 100 feet but we were quite a ways from the approach ramp so we flew on down the run way.

Flying in Texas

It has been awhile since I posted anything so thought I should get this blog more up-to-date.

We've settled in and are still working on some landscaping projects, planting trees and believe it or not, still moving dirt!  I get a whole lot of help from Lewis thankfully.

Lesley started her dog training business last winter and has had a good steady list of clients.  I have wanted to fly a Gyrocopter since I was a teenager and several months ago I saw one fly over the house.  Turns out that one of Lesley's clients husband owns the Gyrocopter that I saw and I was able to beg a ride recently.

In early November I drove over to a ranch near Medina and met the Gyro owner Tom at the hanger where he keeps his Gyro.  There was another family there as well, going to also take a ride.  Here are some photos of one of the rides that day

Tom built the Gyro from a kit while he lived in Atlanta.

Here is a video link for one of the days takeoffs  TangoGyro Takeoff

The takeoff first involves a rotor spin up to about 200 RPM and then the takeoff roll.  Here on this field the roll is kind of  bumpy but not bad.  The engine on this Gyro is a 110HP Yamaha unit used on snowmobiles.

Getting close to finishing

We've both been spending lots of time at the house getting things ready for our move in which will happen later this coming week.  

Things that we've finished recently:

Guest bathroom, tile.  Conventional tub/shower.

 Bar sink and counter top. 

Kitchen showing Wolf cooktop, wall oven, disposal and two sinks.

Cedar ridge beam in Living/Dining room.

Have final plumbing nearly completed, temporary sink in master bathroom while we wait for installation of vanity tops, water softener in but need to commission, all appliances in and tested, 3 zone HVAC system in and fine tuned. 

HVAC system is a standard AC/Heat pump unit with an auxiliary Propane furnace that takes over once outside air temp drops below 38 degrees.  The three thermostats control dampers that allow us to heat and cool 3 areas in the house independently.  Really works nice.

Lots of little things now to take care of and then finish moving and unpacking our stuff.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve and I was working on the house.  Did some baseboards in the kitchen and laundry room getting ready for appliance delivery next week.  Started on crown molding over kitchen cabinets and did toe kicks for all vanities and kitchen cabinets.

Counter tops should be installed in a week and then will hang pendant lights that we found over the bar/prep sink counter.

Drive and walks completed this week.  Mostly concrete with an area of crushed granite in between.  Looking at Compact tractors now - lots of dirt moving, landscaping, post holes, and grass cutting coming up!

Merry Christmas

Major Progress

It has been awhile since I've posted anything so here goes:

The electrical work is complete, lighting is all LED, floor tiles in with 2 rooms left to be grouted, bathroom tile will start Monday, rain gutters and driveway work started yesterday, finish trim underway and Propane tank should be installed early next year..

We finished installing all but one cabinet and once I finished with the under cabinet lighting will install cabinet top crown molding.

 Kitchen/Bar area with wall oven cabinet on the right.

Kitchen proper with opening for dishwasher shown.  Under cabinet light wiring visible.  Hope to finish that today.

Counter tops should be installed within the next week except for the entry hall cabinet and laundry room - I'm doing both of these with Wilsonart Laminate.

This have been quite a project and we are mostly enjoying it!