I decided to take a break from test flying and go have some fun. My test flight area includes what we call the 'desert strips' some of which I had never been to before so I decided to go check them out.

Because of family obligations I headed out early.



First stop Coxs Well.





Next stop was Bear Trap. No pics.

Laidlaw Corrals was a pretty cool place.



Hollow Top




After Hollow Top I touched the wheels at Big Southern then made my way home. Due the the abnormal amount of rain we have been getting the desert is very green. Was a pretty great morning.

Awesome!! Glad you are able to get some time on the plane!

Pics aren’t showing for some reason.

Grassstrippilot wrote:Pics aren’t showing for some reason.

Thanks. I’ll get them fixed. I’m trying to find a new place to store photos and am not having much luck with google photos.

Great to see your post Whee. Obviously you didn't forget how to fly while you were building.

I can only imagine how much satisfaction you must derive from flying a plane you built yourself.

Good for you.

Awesome whee. Those strips are some of the first I flew over and landed. They were the landmarks on my first duel cross country in somewhat marginal VFR. First time I saw time, distance and bearing really worked. I need to get back up and visit them.

Good spelunking near Bear Trap, lava tubes anyway.

Hollow Top's (it may have been Cox's Well...) windsock fell over once, flying over all I saw was the sock stretched out, indicating the wind was north, not realizing it was laying on the ground. It wasn't tell I was halfway down the runway that I started paying attention and then as i flew by the sock figured it out. Wouldn't you know, the wind was the exact opposite direction. No big deal, could have been in a real fast landing plane I guess, but that's what go arounds are for.

Big Southern is my favorite, my old hang gliding site. My ex wife and I have some fond memories of the bushes up on top. We had to do something to do while waiting for the wind to die, and man did we ever! To this day, every time I fly by it, that all comes back Over the decades I've been stopping by there, I've met some real characters who are cowboys, at the French Mans cabin, they are usually glad to see someone as it gets lonely out there. No cell coverage yet either, so dropping off the Sunday newspaper was always appreciated. There used to also be interesting people up at the lookout on top, but it's automated now.

Good to see you out and about in a really great plane that you built. Must be super satisfying. Congratulations.

Thanks guys! It’s great to be back flying. We still have work to do on the plane but I suspect we’ll be having too much fun to finish the details for a while.

This morning I headed north to Henry’s Lake.





I’ve been playing with LOP but it looks like my gami spread is 0.9gph so I guess I’ll have to get tuned injectors if I want to keep doing it. 130mph on 6.5gph is pretty cool though.

Glad to see you are out and about in the Bearhawk!

Looks great!

Looking good, Whee! Congrats!

whee wrote:Thanks guys! It’s great to be back flying. We still have work to do on the plane but I suspect we’ll be having too much fun to finish the details for a while.

This morning I headed north to Henry’s Lake.





I’ve been playing with LOP but it looks like my gami spread is 0.9gph so I guess I’ll have to get tuned injectors if I want to keep doing it. 130mph on 6.5gph is pretty cool though.

How have the strips been? Soft or wet?

Beautiful airplane; I love that big prop! Thanks for showing some strips that are a bit off my radar.

Great job Whee! You should have called me this morning ... I would have flown up to Henry’s with you.

Thanks guys! At present we are quite happy with the plane. I'd really like to get the nose bowl and strips done so the plane looks better but right now I'd rather spend my free time flying. We are still thinking about what do do about the prop. It is still 88" long and it really pulls, plus I like how it looks. Maybe I just need bigger tires to gain the desired prop clearance.

Grassstrippilot wrote:How have the strips been? Soft or wet?

All the strips have been great. Wet but firm. No mud. Bear Trap had a puddle in the vehicle ruts on the east end but they were easily avoidable by not landing in the ruts.

HighCountryIdaho wrote:Great job Whee! You should have called me this morning ... I would have flown up to Henry’s with you.

I thought about it but I left at 6 and had to be home by 8:30. Next time I get out and not pressed for time I'll give you a call.

Congrats Whee! So cool to finally see it flying after all your hard work!

I'm super happy for you! I bet its a special feeling every time you fly in the plane you built!

whee wrote:Thanks guys! At present we are quite happy with the plane. I'd really like to get the nose bowl and strips done so the plane looks better but right now I'd rather spend my free time flying. We are still thinking about what do do about the prop. It is still 88" long and it really pulls, plus I like how it looks. Maybe I just need bigger tires to gain the desired prop clearance.

Absolutely!!!!!

whee wrote:Thanks guys! It’s great to be back flying. We still have work to do on the plane but I suspect we’ll be having too much fun to finish the details for a while.

This morning I headed north to Henry’s Lake.





I’ve been playing with LOP but it looks like my gami spread is 0.9gph so I guess I’ll have to get tuned injectors if I want to keep doing it. 130mph on 6.5gph is pretty cool though.

Your fuel burn, at that speed, coming from a Rotax 912S operator like myself......sounds pretty darn good! Like someone with a Ford Expedition saying they get 20 MPG, all that interior room and hauling ability, but still reasonable, wow

"130mph on 6.5gph is pretty cool though"

With my O-360 I get about 8 gph at 130; 6.5 gph at 90 mph. Thats really good fuel burn rate for an O-470 Whee!