Keeping in the tradition of the "Flying with" threads I've started mine.



I recently bought a 1948 Aeronca Sedan and have put about a dozen hours on it to date. So far I couldn't be happier with my purchase, it's such a joy to fly.

The day we met



The plane had been upgraded from the original C-145 to an O-300-D with a vacuum pump and is rocking a full six pack.



The plane was in Santa Paula, CA (which has an absolutely marvelous little airport that is a must visit for any aviator if possible) and I had just started working in LA so the purchase was greatly simplified. After a week of paperwork and hundreds of phone calls, texts, and emails she was all mine.

And promptly moved out of her nice hangar and onto the ramp.



About another week went by before work schedule and weather were cooperative to move it to it's temporary home in Northern Nevada. It was my first cross country trip in this part of the world and for an Alaskan boy the airspace is certainly eye opening! I chose a route east of the Sierras and headed over Filmore and then past Lake Castaic.

Continuing east I passed over the Mojave Air & Space Port. Quite the heavy aircraft retirement home. There's something about flying over an airport that has a rocket symbol on the sectional really gets your attention....at least it did mine!



Picked up flight following with Joshua Approach and found out all the MOA's were cold I had a nice little ride up to Inyokern for a little break and to top the fuel tanks.

Looks like a nice trip.

You've got this trip reporting thing down...keep goin'.

Might have seen you in the sky over Wasilla/ Talkeetna last weekend. Nice Plane!
-DP

denalipilot wrote:Might have seen you in the sky over Wasilla/ Talkeetna last weekend. Nice Plane!
-DP

Not yet! I’ll be taking it home to AK in what is looking like July now.

After fueling up at KIYK I had originally planned to wander up towards Benton, CA and then a bit of a circuitous route to Hawthorne for a splash of fuel and break and then hop over to Carson City, NV and my hangar in waiting. The plane was performing so nicely coupled with very light winds had me make a mid flight correction over Bishop and file more or less direct to KCXP.

At 8500' and heading north.



The snow confirms my direction of flight.....



Mono Lake

Having not flown a plane with 145hp at high DAs ever, I was a bit concerned when I was planning the trip. But the little Connie and 200 sq. ft. of wing climbed up to 9000' for the higher passes with ease. My plane has a 76/49 prop which I think may have helped the climb, and even at DAs over 10,000 I had to pull quite a bit of throttle to keep it below red line.

North of Mono Lake the earth keeps rising higher. Amazing countryside.\



You see beautiful wilderness, I see a wing that says look how nice I fly hands off



Heading through Devil's Gap



Hwy 395 and the West Walker River winding below

From there it was up over Topaz Lake and into the Carson Valley.

Flying over the quaint suburb of Ruhenstroth part of sprawling Gardnerville, population about 3500



Another 15 miles up the valley to Carson City where I pulled my Sedan into it's temporary home.




GREAT trip! about 4.5 hours of total time, averaged exactly 100 mph and 8.5 gph.

More to come!!!

My wife loves to fly so the day after I got the plane to our NV home we had to take a little sightseeing trip.

Climbing up over Spooner Pass



Beautiful calm day over Lake Tahoe



For some reason, I like reflections of my plane in the picture.



South Lake Tahoe and Baldwin Beach

Fallen Leaf Lake



My wife likes to hike up to these high lakes. I like the aerial view.



I'm looking way too serious, she is obviously having a good time!

After wandering down over Topaz Lake and the Bridgeport area we flew back into the green Carson Valley



And landed at KMEV for that obligatory $100 hamburger at the appropriately named Taildragger Cafe.



After eating, a quick 10 minutes up to the hangar and tucked her away until the next flight.

Really a nice day of flying. Perfect weather and got the conversation started about flying to Alaska this summer. About the only things that need attention will be a panel power outlet and a call to Oregon Aero for a little more comfort.

No pics today, but did some air work in the plane. Power off stall in this plane is the biggest non event ever, yoke all the way back and it just settles about 500fpm. Gotta little bit of break by pitching up more rapidly but the nose drops a few degrees and it starts the benign descent again. Burl Rogers had told me how nice the airfoil is, I’m a believer.

Also did a few short field takeoffs and landings. Had two of each right at 350’ at a DA over 6000’. A bunch more landings and tucked her back in the hangar.

Haven't posted in awhile. It's been a hectic summer. I flew the Sedan to Alaska and got some 29-1100x10s on it as quickly as I could as the ribbing and ridicule I was receiving from my so called "friends" in regards to my might 7.00-6s was more than I could bear. It's been an absolutely wonderful plane and I'm starting to get her acquainted with some of the Knik strips and elsewhere.

Upper Yentna River

The Mud Strip and Knik Glacier

Moose camp

Beautiful hunting grounds.

Bold Strip. I sure love this airplane.

Really nice nice pictures. I feel like I will never get bored of flying around the west coast of North America.