Flying the commonwealth begins
Mission Log — Flying the Commonwealth (Kickoff)
Mission: Series Kickoff
Aircraft: 1964 Mooney
Conditions: VFR
Objective: Begin the Flying the Commonwealth journey
Mission Overview
Every long flight starts with a decision to taxi. Flying the Commonwealth began the same way—not with a checklist item or a destination, but with a commitment to see the journey through.
This mission wasn’t about logging miles or checking off airports. It was about defining the rules, setting the scope, and pressing “record” on something that will take time, patience, and a lot of planning.
The goal is simple: visit every public-use airport in Virginia, one mission at a time.
The Mission
Flying the Commonwealth is built around a question I kept coming back to: What if the journey itself became the destination?
Rather than chasing the next big trip or highlight moment, this series focuses on the smaller decisions—route planning, weather evaluation, timing, and the realities of flying a personal aircraft on your own schedule.
This kickoff flight marks the transition from an idea to a process. From here on out, every mission has a place in the log. Every airport matters. And every flight contributes something to the overall picture, whether it goes exactly as planned or not.
What This Series Is (and Isn’t)
Flying the Commonwealth is:
A structured challenge with clear boundaries
A reason to explore unfamiliar airports
A way to stay current, thoughtful, and intentional
A record of real-world general aviation flying
It is not:
A race
A highlight reel
A promise that every flight will be perfect
The value is in the repetition, the planning, and the accumulation of experience.
Lessons Going In
Big projects only work if the rules are clear. Defining the scope early keeps the mission honest.
Progress beats perfection. Some flights will be short, quiet, or uneventful—and that’s okay.
Documenting the process matters. The planning and reflection are as valuable as the flying itself.
Looking Ahead
There are 65 public-use airports in Virginia. Some are familiar. Many are not. Each mission will add a small piece to the larger picture—routes, decisions, lessons learned, and moments worth remembering.
This kickoff flight doesn’t complete anything, but it starts everything.
The first mission is logged. The board is live. The journey is underway.