Flying High: Cirrus SR22 Adventure to the Wright Brothers Monument at First Flight KFFA

If you are a pilot, I don’t have to tell you the historical significance of First Flight Airport (KFFA) where Wright Brother's Monument is located. Flying to the site where mankind's first power flight took place has been on my bucket list before I even became a pilot. I've always heard about this airport being challenging to get into due to the constant wind at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina and the power lines near the runway. So after some careful planning and preparation, I decided to take my family there in our Cirrus SR22 G6. From Republic Airport (KFRG), it's about a two hour flight to the First Flight Airport (KFFA) in a Cirrus SR22. Since there are many Restricted and MOA airspaces along the way and near KFFA, I filed for an IFR flight plan. This video is my very first time flying into First Flight Airport and includes most of the ATC communications that took place along the way.
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DISCLAIMER: This video is for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSE ONLY and SHOULD NOT in ANYWAY be used for flight instruction. Any views or opinions presented in this video are personal and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that may or may not be associated with in a professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated.
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[@giorgiokolaj2192]

What a treat. Thanks for taking us along.

[@SlowAsianDriver]

As always, thank you for the kind words and support!

[@in2flying]

I'm new to your channel and a fellow Cirrus brother. I could see the happiness and pride on your face as you touched down at such an important landmark. Great video. Thanks for showing the power lines were not as bad as I thought. You had low winds that day. Great stuff.

[@SlowAsianDriver]

thanks so much!

[@user-fn4lp2wl9w]

I liked your video. Some good info and nice personal experience. You’re good at narrating!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks!

[@ian408]

What a cool trip!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

thanks ian!

[@trevorwilliamblank]

I love this! Great video!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cj.grasso]

Love it John, hope you had a great trip!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks pal! See you around at LIA.

[@yantsenter6959]

Flying to Key West from New York through FFA next week! Thanks for the video!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Awesome pal! Enjoy the trip!

[@cessna177flyer3]

Thanks for taking us along. FFA is still on my bucket list. Small nit: AC 90-66B says pilots shouldn’t use the word “active” when referring to the runway at uncontrolled airports. In light or calm wind conditions, it could lead to aircraft approaching each other head on (eg. “taking the active” while another plane is on “final for the active”).

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thank you!

[@thomasdavis5514]

Thanks for sharing that flight. Also on my list. As pilots, we stand on the shoulders of giants. If you have not read McCollum's bio on the Wright Brothers, I highly recommend doing so. There are a million things we don't have to think about when we fly because they figured it out.

[@SlowAsianDriver]

I'll check it out! Thank you Thomas!

[@davidsteinberg3663]

Wow-very nice! I enjoyed "coming along" on this trip. Great way to spend a day. I've never been down there, so it was nice to see. Very cool markers and artifacts. And the door code was hilarious! IYKYK!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bryancozad5317]

As always, your videos are fabulous. Thank you for sharing such an interesting trip!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks Bryan and it’s my pleasure!

[@genekastner8086]

Great video Well done Kudos to you for making the bucket list trip with your son and wife !

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks so much!

[@fatesandmyths]

Great video, so many memories for me too. I visited that place many years ago on a trip. Since I was a former pilot, loved to see it again

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks Gerrit! The National Park Service did a fantastic job with the place. Museum was recently renovated and the airport is in excellent condition. Hope you'll get out there soon!

[@kevinwilliams2462]

Love your videos. Sleepy passengers are the signs of a good pilot.

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Lol thanks Kevin…I’m gonna tempt to do a Zero G dive next time my wife falls asleep. 😈

[@kevinwilliams2462]

@@SlowAsianDriver Do it! And record it! :)

[@AbdullahKhan-nd4ok]

Honestly this is one of the most underrated channels out there. Very intriguing vids!! I also have one question, what's your advice to a 13 year old looking to be a pilot someday?

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks so much Abdullah! My advice would be GO FOR IT! Start with a few flying lessons and very quickly you’ll know if you like flying or not. Sometimes it’s not always blue skies and smooth air. Also take classes in Accounting, Finance and most importantly Public Speaking. Just in case you wanna start your own charter company. Good luck!

[@AbdullahKhan-nd4ok]

@@SlowAsianDriver tysm my bro looking forward to the new vid next week

[@jonahgruda8789]

This was great! Thanks for sharing

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@manuelgarces1014]

Great video. FFA is on my bucket list. One minor correction. The picture of "John Glenn" is actually a picture of Gordon Cooper. Thanks for taking us along!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

OMG, I need to find the seller who sold this to me. I hope it’s not a fake autograph. Thank you for noticing it.

[@faisalsultan892]

Great video! KFFA was the first XC I did after I passed my PPL checkride... Always a fun flight with some sporty x-winds haha. Hope you ddnt forget to get a logbook stamp. Its in the pilot's lounge.

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks pal. Regrettably I left my logbook home and didn’t get anything stamped. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@stillrocknthissideofthedir141]

Well John another beautiful flight I just hope when I start flying again I will be as smooth on the coms it's only been like 38 years lol

[@SlowAsianDriver]

I'm sure you'll be smooth as butter in no time pal! Hope to see you in the sky.

[@lindaaustin-morin7781]

My home is a stones throw away from KFFA. I’ve been thinking about what it would be like to fly back and forth to MA to visit family rather than the 12 hour drive

[@SlowAsianDriver]

It’s an amazing and easy flight. There are several local airports in the area.

[@tucksmith8300]

That was a nice flight

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Thanks pal.

[@mitchellmimier5004]

This is definitely on the bucket list. I can see how those approaches could be intimidating. By the way, any more curb rash on the MYP since the first one? I've done it 3 times now. ugh!

[@SlowAsianDriver]

The approach isn’t so bad…just be patient with the skinny runway. As for the curb rash…I stopped noticing them…after my wife and I took turns at curbing them up. 🤣 I just got all 4 rims fixed professionally. Let’s see how long this will last.

[@darrellgrant7615]

It’s been 4 months are you no longer making videos ? 🥺🥺🥺

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Hi Darrell, new video coming next week. Work has been incredibly busy and I have very little time on hand. I appreciate your patience and support. ✌️

[@darrellgrant7615]

@@SlowAsianDriver YAY ! Alway grateful and enjoy your content ☺️

[@anthem819]

haha tust me 21 is much better than 03. . . 03 is a bit disconcerting coming over a bunch of 4 story condos. . and they frequently have construction cranes in that general vicinity that are not lighted and extended in the air very near to final .. . . .

[@SlowAsianDriver]

Good to know! How are the winds in general? The day we went it was perfect and calm.

[@anthem819]

@@SlowAsianDriver winds almost always 03 in the summer. In the winter, they tend to favor 21 (northerly winds). Probably the same through the mid atlantic. but Ive never had it too windy down there, and the winds seem to always be down the runways and rarely bad cross wind. . But FFA is always fun - not the longest or widest but always cool to fly in to!!