Above the Clouds

Calm weather, blue sky, and summer temperature - ideal conditions for not one, but three flights in an airplane!

Morning purges completed, I grab the tow bar on the front train and taxi out to the fuel pump. Fifty liters of fuel later, the tanks are full to the brim. Indeed, I will be making three morning flights so that each member of my family can go for a ride. Pre-flight inspection, in-seat installation - all items on the checklist are checked off one by one. The engine is running smoothly. Engine run-up at Alpha point, all parameters nominal. I backtrack runway 04 and align myself with the axial line. Full throttle and takeoff for a flight over the southwestern.

A few small cumulus clouds are present around 1800 feet. Once above them, the air becomes less turbulent. Right turn, then left turn. A particular optical phenomenon occurs when the shadow of the plane glides across a cloud - a glory. A multitude of colored circles appear around the shadow due to the backscattering of light in the cloud with diffraction in the water droplets for an rainbow-like effect. But time is running out; it’s already time to head back. Standard vertical integration into the airport, I join up behind the club ULM, also flying. Smooth landing and shutdown at the parking area by pulling on the mixture. After a 30-minute flight each, everyone has a smile!