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Niagara Falls

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Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:46 am Post subject: Niagara Falls

I got another 1.5 hours of Slingshot time today and took some short videos and a few snapshots. I'm providing the video links here and the photos will be attached to next msg. Hope you enjoy.



Note that most of this was taken from about 3,600' msl because I was above Niagara Falls Airport Class C airspace. Hopefully, the descriptions and titles will give you some useful references. 



All of these were taken from my iPhone (in landscape this time).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2fCUsiquGw&feature=player_profilepage



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5bKHrnXO1Y&feature=player_profilepage



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrpHOG2mn28&feature=player_profilepage



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD66qCSMUpM&feature=player_profilepage



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL5WlKRW2qs&feature=player_profilepage



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7t2CLMx0Ak&feature=player_profilepage

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls

Here are the snapshots I took on today's flight.



Buffalo on Niagara River. Looking south returning to my home base. This is the last photo I took today. All appear in order opposite that in which they were taken.



The Falls. Looking south as I was heading back to Buffalo. Sorry about the quality of this one which was a digital zoom. Still learning. Won't be zooming any more.



Fort Niagara at tip of NY. Fort Niagara, changed hands many times during our early years, with England, USA, and France each holding it at least twice. 

Much disputed area for obvious reasons.  Niagara River flowing north into Lake Ontario. Across the lake is Toronto. Not sure you can see if in the photo but it was easily visible in the air. Great visibility day. Toronto is about 2.5 hour drive from Buffalo. 



Niagara Powerplants. Two plants, one on left/top is Ontario, Canada's and the other is NY's. This shot is looking NW with the river flowing north toward Lake Ontario.

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The Falls.JPG

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Ft. Niagara & Toronto.JPG

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Powerplant.JPG

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_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:11 am Post subject: Niagara Falls

Again, remarkable video from an I-Phone.  Looks even better in landscape mode.  These came out better than some video taken from a regular camera.  Thanks.

  

 do not archive

  

                                               Bill Sullivan

                                               Windsor Locks, Ct.

                                               FS 447

 [quote][b]

Jimmy Young

Joined: 24 Nov 2007
Posts: 182
Location: Missouri City, TX

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 2:05 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls

Thom,



I really enjoyed the Niagra area videos. I've never been up there and did not realize it is so urban. Your Slingshot looks/sounds like it's running right on the money. I'm envious of a Kolb that cruises at 85-90 mph! I've been flying a lot lately and always take my camera, just have not seen the right photo-op lately. Your Slingshot looks like a lot of fun to fly.

_________________
Jimmy Young
Missouri City, TX
Kolb FS II/HKS 700

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 3:51 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls

Jimmy,



The US/Canadian border in these parts is fairly densely populated. The busiest of all the US/CAN border crossings is the Peace Bridge which is shown in the the snapshot of Buffalo I posted. There are two other bridges along this border section, farther north. 



Getting away from the border a bit there is quite a bit of farm land near Lake Ontario since that area is very flat. South of Buffalo and parts east are more hilly and forested and much less densely populated. 1.5 hour drive south of Buffalo are several ski resorts, centered around Ellicottville. South of Rochester (Bob Bean territory) and further east still is the Finger Lake section. Some day I'll do some videos of part of the Finger Lakes. Western New York is a beautiful place with great weather (except winter) and one of the big reasons we moved here from the deep south after retiring. If you like downhill or x-country skiing, then the winter is good too. End of chamber of commerce pitch .



The SS is a joy to fly. 85 mph turns out to be just about the best speed compromise for getting somewhere, fuel consumption and noise level. At 85 mph TAS the my Jabiru burns 3.75 gph.

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 4:03 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls

OOOps! I mis-spoke. The Peace Bridge did not show up in the Buffalo photo. Attached is a shot Buffalo and Niagara River with Peace Bridge shown, taken during a bit cooler weather, while flying with a friend in a rented C152.

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_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:06 am Post subject: Niagara Falls

Thom R/Gang:



Your video clips and photos bring back a lot of memories.



I had a chance to fly over Niagra Falls a couple times in 1988 and 1989, on 

the way back to Alabama, after flying up to the Flight Farm near Monterey, 

NY.  Totally unfamiliar with the area and flying with a sectional and mag 

compass, I chose to cross the Niagra River, north of Buffalo, in my 447 

powered Firestar, near the I-190 bridge, over the southern end of Grand 

Island, to the west shore of the Niagra on the Canadian side of the river. 

Then north to the Falls to take some photos as I flew several low circuits 

around the huge mist plume that reached pretty high into the air.  Departing 

the Falls I flew back down the west side of the river, in Canada, then back 

across Grand Island.  I climbed to get as much altitude as I could to get 

back across the Niagra River that is pretty wide on the east side.  About 

halfway across I had an engine failure.  My best bet was to glide back to 

Grand Island and land on the right of way for I-190.  I changed my mind and 

decided to land on the outside of the fence off the Interstate too late, 

stalled the Firestar and wiped the left gear leg and gear leg socket off the 

airplane.  I kind young man came to my aid, after the state troopers, 

sheriffs deputies, EMT, radio and television folks, left me standing knee 

high in weeds in 100+ plus weather.  We hauled the Firestar to Niagra 

International Airport where another gentleman patched things back together 

to get me back to Alabama.



Next year I did it right.  Flew from the Flight Farm north through 

Dansville, NY, where I landed and taxied right up to the parking lot of 

McDonalds for breakfast.  Then north to the south shore of Lake Ontario, 

west to the mouth of the Niagra River, south to the southern end of Grand 

Island and the same route up the Canadian side to the Falls.  This time, 

sitting on the edge of my seat, I made it back across the Niagra River, up 

to Sault St Marie, Canada, and south into Oshkosh, for the flyin, and 

finally back to Alabama, with the same 447.



The engine failure in 1988 was caused by a Bosch Fine Wire BR8EV spark plug 

electrode seperating and grounding out the plug.  So much for expensive 

spark plugs.



johh h

mkIII

Rock House, OR

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:51 am Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls

John,



I recall you telling us about that unscheduled landing on Grand Island before. There are lots of very tall towers on Grand Island now but still a couple private airstrips on the island. Too bad they were not in gliding distance when your plug failed. 



For many years now, there has been a restricted area directly over the falls but there is a way to fly over them legally in a right hand oval pattern strictly defined at an altitude of 3,500' or higher. BUT, I forgot to take with me (or program my radio) with the self-announce frequency required to be used to fly the falls circuit legally. Commercial sight-seeing helicopter operators fly over the falls by permit at much lower altitudes. 



I'm sure it seemed like 100+ temp because it does get up into the 90s for a few days, generally in July, but according to the NWS there has never been a 100F high at either KIAG or KBUF.  I know that seems like nit-picking because it is, but I am so relieved that the summers here are so pleasant compared to my decades of hot and humid summers in Georgia, I just had to point it out. FWIW, the average monthly high in July (hottest month) is 81F, but has been going up a bit in recent years, like most everywhere.



John, you have seen more of the USA down low by air than probably anyone else I know of. Each part of the country is beautiful in its own way, I suppose, but we all want to see where other Kolbers fly. The new video technologies make that possible for everyone, even for flyers that never fly more than 1/2 tank away from home base. Not the same as actually doing it, but good enough for many of us.



do not archive

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:00 am Post subject: Niagara Falls

> I'm sure it seemed like 100+ temp because it does get up into the 90s for 

a few days, generally in July, but according to the NWS there has never been 

a 100F high at either KIAG or KBUF.  I know that seems like nit-picking 

because it is, but I am so relieved that the summers here are so pleasant 

compared to my decades of hot and humid summers in Georgia, I just had to 

point it out. FWIW, the average monthly high in July (hottest month) is 81F, 

but has been going up a bit in recent years, like most everywhere.

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 > --------
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   Thom Riddle


	




Thom R/Gang:



1988 there was no restrictions flying over Niagara Falls.  Then next year, 

1989 the restriction was in place.  I can not remember the altitudes after 

21 years, but the rotary wing aircraft were low and fixed wing above them.



You are absolutely right.  Thanks for pointing that out to me.  I never took 

the time to check the temps that afternoon.



According to weather history on Weather Underground, 25 June 1988, Grand 

Island, NY, had a high of 93F.  Must have been the high humidity and the 

unusually cool weather we had in the Watkins Glenn area that made it feel 

like 100+ standing in that weed field with a broken airplane several 

thousand miles from home, alone....



Many of my stories will be told many times on this List.  We get new folks 

often.  I feel some of them would like to hear of ultralight flights many 

years ago.  For those that have heard the stories before, please delete and 

drive on.  My apologies.



Back in the old days I had barely enough money to fly much less buy 

expensive photographic equipment.  We were in the Stone Age compared to 

today's technology.



john h

mkIII

Rock House, OR

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Niagara Falls

John,



No apologies necessary. I like hearing them again, and as you noted there are new Kolbers joining the group regularly. You added some useful information this time that you had left out the last time. More specifically the type of plug that caused the unscheduled landing.

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

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