Keeping Current With US Airways Virtual

I am required to fly once a month for US Airways Virtual Airlines, and I was sick last weekend which was my planned trip with them. I was able to head up to Charlottesville, Virginia (CHO) from Charlotte on Thursday. This morning I am flying the Dash 8-300 to Philly. I have never flown the Dash 8 before, so I was looking forward to a new airframe for a flight.

Here were are walking out to the aircraft on the ramp in Charlottesville. Charlottesville owes it's airline service to it's college, and largely to US Airways Express' service from New York, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.

Click on pictures for a larger view.

We took off on runway 23 out of CHO with a quick right turn to due east. The Dash 8 climbed like a rocket with the minimal 4000lbs of fuel onboard.

Here is the wingview as we bank left and climb. I really like the view out the passenger window with the high-wing.



We are now leveled off at 13,000 feet, and this is the view out my window looking up the Patomac River towards Washington D.C.


Here we are turning over the Patuxent VOR (PXT), heading now to the northeast, with the Chesapeake Bay out the window.

We are now starting our slow descent into Philly. We were in the clouds for probably 15 minutes while Philadelphia Approach vectored us for the visual to 35.

He we are turning to line up for the approach to 35 from the Cedar Lake (VCN) VOR.

We are now on final approach and just about to approach the river on our way in.

We are now parked at gate F23 in Philly after a very smooth touchdown. The great thing about many props is it gives the passengers the older feel of walking out onto a ramp!

Today I will leave you with some pictures of leaving Seattle a couple months ago, with Mt. Rainer in view.

Here we have a great overall view of our 757-200 and Mt. Rainer while climbing out of Seattle to Minneapolis.

Here is an edited wingview shot, again, with Mt. Rainier in view.


Until next time, keep the blue skies up!