IFR in the Eastern Mountains

: I am thinking of a flight into Ingalls airport in Hot Springs, VA this Fall.
: It's elevation is 3,792' and has a 5000+ foot runway. It is surrounded by
: several washboard-like mountains. Look at the picture on airnav:
: http://tinyurl.com/yn6hrm Also click on this link to see a really nice
: hotel near the field: http://tinyurl.com/ygxfez

HSP is only about 50 miles from me... I've been there a number of times. If
you're looking to look at the leaves, you're already kinda late. The higher
elevations around here are pretty much already changed and dropped. The runway is
great, long, and wide, but there *are* some pretty hazardous air currents right off
the end of the runway. (Basically right off the end of the runway is a cliff that
drops probably at least 1000'... supposedly a few airplane wrecks can be found down
there).

Rules of the "mountains" here seem to be similar to out west, only less-so.
Density altitude can make a mess of you. Turbulence, lift, and sink can be a problem
in windy conditions (especially this time of year). Don't push the aircraft
performance envelope, and don't do anything stupid while clearing ridges and you'll be
fine. ... a good example of stupid would be coming in slow at HSP where you're very
likely to get sink off the end of the runway. Plenty of runway, so keep it fast.

-Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss, Ph.D., PPSEL-IA *
* Electrical Engineering *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

HSP is only about 50 miles from me... I've been there a number of times.
If
you're looking to look at the leaves, you're already kinda late. The
higher
elevations around here are pretty much already changed and dropped. The
runway is
great, long, and wide, but there *are* some pretty hazardous air currents
right off
the end of the runway. (Basically right off the end of the runway is a
cliff that
drops probably at least 1000'... supposedly a few airplane wrecks can be
found down
there).

Rules of the "mountains" here seem to be similar to out west, only
less-so.
Density altitude can make a mess of you. Turbulence, lift, and sink can
be a problem
in windy conditions (especially this time of year). Don't push the
aircraft
performance envelope, and don't do anything stupid while clearing ridges
and you'll be
fine. ... a good example of stupid would be coming in slow at HSP where
you're very
likely to get sink off the end of the runway. Plenty of runway, so keep
it fast.


Great advice...thanks so much.

Kobra