Hi Guys, I've been lurking the last year or so and practicing patience as best I could!

Passed my checkride for PPL a week ago! I have a 1970 Skyhawk with an O-320 engine w/ Powerflow Exhaust and a Horton Stol. Is this a decent starter plane for toodling around the Northwest and doing some grass strip work? When she's light, she has very impressive T/O performance....but she is tricycle geared.

Does anyone know any instructors that offer excellent Mountain Flying instruction in/around the Redmond Oregon area? I'm working on my IFR ticket now but mountain/backcountry flying is a whole different ballgame. I'm reading the late Fletcher Anderson's "Flying the Mountains" to get some basics commited to memory.

Where do I start in this new adventure of backcountry flying? I guess attending a fly-in would help in establishing some relationships and gleaning some more good info.

I watched some of the Johnson Creek videos on youtube.com and it made my heart jump with joy!!!!! And its just a video....

Thanks,
Spindrift
KRDM

Spindrift, hi. Fly light, and early when the wind is light. Know your planes performance envelope. I have a place NE of you, I'm on Round Butte hill by Lake Billy Chinook. We shound meet some time.

Rob

Rob, sounds great. I'm just south of there between Sisters & Redmond. I'll PM you my info.

Thanks!
Spindrift

Welcome to the wonderful world of flying(without someone looking over your shoulder the whole time).You have all kinds of great places to go around the Sisters area.Keep that 172 light and it should treat you just fine.Be careful out there..............