Weather: Post-thunderstorm conditions, VFR, approx. 7,000 ft
Flight Summary:
After the thunderstorm, I flew from Sanya to Da Nang in a Beech Baron by Black Square. Flying VFR, reading traditional analog instruments, and listening to the engines provided a completely different experience compared to jets.
Personal Note:
In November 1986, during monsoon season, I visited Da Nang as a passenger on an Ilyushin Il‑18 from Ho Chi Minh City. Back then, the airport still had an “American” feel: the infrastructure was largely from U.S. times, some defensive bunkers for jet aircraft were still in place, and a large pile of American surplus was being cleared piece by piece. Flying there today, one can still feel echoes of that history.
Remarks:
This flight highlighted the contrast between light aircraft and jet operations. Manual instrument scanning and engine monitoring required more engagement and gave me a more tactile, connected flying experience.
