Weekend Update

Madison and BFF Marleigh had the opportunity to fly a helicopter out of Camarillo, up to Santa Barbara, then down the coast. The Paparazzi was tucked quietly in the back seat, pictures below. After numerous attempts to get the helicopter started, it finally fired up. Hearing all of the racket and feeling the vibrations and what seemed to be grinding, it's amazing these things even stay in one piece... much less fly. All in all, a very nice flight. Once north of Santa Barbara the pilot requested a flight plan back down the coast. That control tower "replied negative, too busy". Wait, what? We're up here and there's no other aircraft visible. About a minute later the pilot requested again to turn west towards the coast. Same response, "too busy... too much (invisible) traffic". The pilot whispered to us that he's not letting this go, and asked again. The control tower replied back "stop talking". Not 30 seconds later the tower said "helicopter 444NV, turn west towards the coast and contact the Camarillo tower." Okay then! We flew down to about 400 feet absorbing the pristine coast... it was beautiful. An interesting observation on the way north... a few sharks. Wow! Wait!! There are surfers down there too. Perhaps that's the norm, but we'll certainly think twice before putting on a wet-suit impersonating a seal. 

Approaching the Camarillo airport, we hit what the pilot called a 'wind shear'. Uncertain how many feet we dropped in an instant, I heard someone on the intercom say "WHOA". (damn... was that my outside voice)

Mama bear Colleen and Madison have plans next weekend, and in to the following week. As those pan out, pics to follow. 

Love, 
The Jones Family 
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