Flying in a King Air 100

Recently, I've moved N-71317 from Steubenville, OH (2G2) to Rostraver, PA (KFWQ).  Rostraver is much closer to home.  I've friended and been befriended by Dennis Tolkach, who is owner of Hollywood Air Services t FWQ.   Houston (71317 is Houston, TX area code forward and backward) likes her new home. She's warm and it's much easier to work on her in a well-lit place.

Long story short....  Hollywood Air Services houses a King Air that belongs to a local contractor and the copilot was not going to be able to make a flight to West Palm Beach.  Pilot John Masters was in need of someone to sit the right seat. This was a private flight, so no real pilot duties required, but he needed some help closing the door and making sure the owners are comfortable. AND, it's always helpful to have someone familiar with cross-country navigation/flight to help with the COMMS and NAV radios and flight planning.

Dennis, good man that he is, suggested to Pilot John Masters that I might be able to fly with him.  All was agreed, and I put on my first tie in years, a white shirt, and nice blues and headed to the airport.

The experience was awesome.

Our route on the way down. 230 kts for 4:06

A beautiful sunset just off the east coast of FL.

The King Air sits in Ft. Meyers where it's 80 degrees. 

 The panel is familiar with a Garmin 530/430 for navigation.  It also sports radar, if necessary.  The 10 smaller dials to the left of the Garmin are for the turbine engines powering this beast.  If I fly with Captain Masters much, I will need to learn how to properly care for the turbines.

That's a 650 HP turbine on the wing there.  

After reaching altitude (21,000' or Flight Level 210) on the trip home. 

N945WS is inside the hanger keeping warm.   You can see Dennis Tolkach's Lamborghini in the background. 

The flight back home: 

I actually hand-flew until we reached cruise altitude of FL210. Again, what a hoot!

I'm not sure it will be as much fun flying N-71317 now. ;-)