Flying through Cumulus Clouds
I vividly remember when I fell in love with flying through Cumulus clouds.
It was August 23, 2005 in N624BB (a Commander 114B) on our way with friends to Saratoga Springs, NY for a Tori Amos concert taking place that evening.
As we flew over a stretch of New York woodland, Cumulus clouds began to surround us. I isolated our headsets and played Cornflake Girl (random choice since I had never listened to her music before).
Tori Amos floated us through those valleys and it was magic. Flying in Cumulus clouds became my favorite flight experience.
I became, of course, a Tori Amos fan. The show was amazing and memorable. She is a fully-integrated artist and makes beautiful sounds I have never heard before. Just like Jack White. (Can’t talk music without a JW reference.)
Just be sure your seat belt is tightened before you start flying through those cloud valleys. They are after all an indication of thermal air rising from the surface and light turbulence can be expected.
Cumulus clouds are also great subjects for creativity. Because they form on individual convection currents, they are separate individual clouds. Their flat bottoms and cauliflower tops randomly scatter to form patterns of shape, light and color.
Oil on Cradled Board.
Available for viewing and purchase at FLYAdvanced KLNS (Lancaster Airport, PA).
I am endlessly fascinated painting them.
As Gavin Pretor-Pinney says “the humble Cumulus humilis never hurt a soul.” He has an excellent chapter in The Cloudspotter’s Guide devoted to these shapes that make water visible.