On a Saturday evening, after the Concord Tower closed at 6:00 pm, the visibility improved and the winds were calm. I decided to fly, after such a bout if inactivity. We have suffered runway construction, excessive heat warnings, nasty cross winds on the only runway still open… and worst of all the weeks of smoke from the tragic fires that have ravaged California. At times, air quality was deemed “hazardous” by the local authorities. Toss in Covid-19 restrictions, and the airport has not been a welcome place. Finally, I siezed the opportunity to fly and shed the layers of rust which have accumulated on my wings. The local radio frequency was silent, and I taxied out for take-off on Runway 19R. During run-up preflight, a Phenon jet reported being on a “five mile final”…He landed and cleared the runway, leaving the entire airport to me alone. I took the active and began my roll and climbed out into clear golden air, smooth and still. Three times around the pattern in left traffic for 19R, the correct direction as in the NOTAM for when the tower is closed. My landings were perfect, and it was evident I had not become rusty after all. The taxi in and shut down was “radio silent” as the solitude of this flight was unbroken by any airport interlopers. The sunset was magnificent, high clouds pierced by rays of the setting sun, and the gently tick sound of the cooling engine thanking me for our dance in the sky.
Evening flight touch and go’s Runway 1L
