Rob, your living every pilots dream! Nicely done.

Very nice, looks like a fly-in Christmas party this year!?

Wow! Congrats Rob! Nicely done.

Hey you guys: it will be pretty cool when done. I still have farmer issues to deal with, but I will get through them. Probably be 2017 before it is 100% perfect. In the mean time I'll just have to deal with some mud. Them 35s might come in handy.

Congrats on the strip Rob. Having your own is awesome!
On the tire note, how do you like the 29x11x10s? Are they fairly cushy? The old plane had 31s, and waiting to see if the one I'm looking at has bushwheels, otherwise I'll be putting some on, and cheaper the better.

A1Skinner wrote:Congrats on the strip Rob. Having your own is awesome!
On the tire note, how do you like the 29x11x10s? Are they fairly cushy? The old plane had 31s, and waiting to see if the one I'm looking at has bushwheels, otherwise I'll be putting some on, and cheaper the better.

Hey Skinner: Nothing really compares with the real Alaskan Bushwheel. The 29X11X10 are pretty good around 10-12 pounds. They will take a hell of a beating too.

You are a lucky man. Congratulations!

Cool deal! Congrats!

OregonMaule
In that last pix is the left main tire flat or had you just hit a big chuck hole. Looks too soft.

Doug

DRLpatrol wrote:OregonMaule
In that last pix is the left main tire flat or had you just hit a big chuck hole. Looks too soft.

Doug

I don't think it was a badger hole, more like a 10,000ft mountain!

robw56 wrote:

DRLpatrol wrote:OregonMaule
In that last pix is the left main tire flat or had you just hit a big chuck hole. Looks too soft.

Doug

I don't think it was a badger hole, more like a 10,000ft mountain!

Hey Doug: that was about as ugly a land as I can do without bending it. The tire had 10-12 psi which is normal.

Cheers

OregonMaule, You did not have to say that. You could have just said it was flat and nobody would have known.
BTW, Your place is going to be great, I'm jealous. I found it on Google earth and was surprised to see that I used to drive by real close (Lusted Rd) very often.

Doug

DRLpatrol wrote:OregonMaule, You did not have to say that. You could have just said it was flat and nobody would have known.
BTW, Your place is going to be great, I'm jealous. I found it on Google earth and was surprised to see that I used to drive by real close (Lusted Rd) very often.

Doug

hahaha there were to many witnesses to say it was flat. Nobody was to hard on me. They had either done a landing that ugly themselves or they know they are in line for one.

Cheers

OregonMaule wrote:

DRLpatrol wrote:OregonMaule, You did not have to say that. You could have just said it was flat and nobody would have known.
BTW, Your place is going to be great, I'm jealous. I found it on Google earth and was surprised to see that I used to drive by real close (Lusted Rd) very often.

Doug

hahaha there were to many witnesses to say it was flat. Nobody was to hard on me. They had either done a landing that ugly themselves or they know they are in line for one.

Cheers

The saga continues. The farmer originally said he would let me do north-south east-west and now he says no airplane at all. So it's time to lawyer up and go to court. Have had three lawyers tell me his lease is not properly written and either party could cancel the lease each and every year. I hope the judge agrees.

ouch - that sucks - good luck

Damnit! Good luck with it what a pain in the ass... see you at Reds tomorrow

The saga continues...
2007 earn my private pilot license
2007 buy the Maule. M-7 235HP Lycoming B4B5, I run Mogas STCed, 3 blade constant speed McCauley prop, carbureted. Weight 1687 on 29s.
2010 realize maybe I could land in my hay field, someday when I develop the skills.
2012 cut about 8 big trees that are in the way.
2012 The wife doesn't want me to cut 5 big trees in the back yard that are in the way. The dream stops.
2013 We buy 22 acres across the street with the condition that a nursery tree farmer, with a lease, will allow me to put in a 1700' strip.
2014-15 Farmer backs out of letting me put in the strip. We sue in court. The farmer prevails. That strip is on hold till the lease runs out 2023
2016 do nothing.
2017 Tim from Australia gets me inspired about a Quicksilver LSA. This will work at my home hay field. Also it is something my son can learn in.
2018 September I find and buy a Quicksilver. I convince the wife to let me cut the trees in the back yard. I put in 60' of 18" culvert. I rough in a 850' strip. October I make the first landing in the Quicksilver. The Quicksilver needs work so no more flying it.
2018 After 10 low passes and a few touch and goes I decide I'll have a go with the Maule, when the right conditions happen. I'm 100% sure I can land no problem. I'm 99% sure I can get out light.
2/28/2019 8AM When I look out at the strip I just know this is the day!! I have a mud issue that needs fixing. But this day it is all frozen. The Maule was left with 20 gallons of gas from the last flight, in hopes of this day. She has been on the heater for 5 days.

Landing conditions 2/28/2019. 10 AM, calm wind, field elevation 613 MSL, over the trees at 700' MSL, 50 MPH, 31.10 alt, 37°, mostly frozen ground, DA -1997, Landing weight approximate 1837 lbs. The pilot is 60 years young, 1970 hours total time, 1870 hours in this Maule.

Landing to the east. From the trees to the threshold is 400'. To the sweet touch down spot 750'. From the sweet touchdown spot to the property line is 500' 1.7% up hill. No fence, over run is a rough field with a bunch of holes from digging nursery stock.

The stage is set. All that's left is man up, and do it! It is a short 3 minutes from Troutdale airport to my place, so I head out aways and do some slow flight. Making sure the 235 is all the way warm, and everything else is up to par, it is time, I turn for home. 4 minutes later as I come over the trees and the moment of truth is up on me, I have a surreal calmness. I've done this 10,000 in my head. The cameras are rolling. If I mess this up I'll never live it down. Even worse, it will mean I made poor decisions. I'm guessing my heart was thumping 140 BPM though. I do 2 landings and 2 take offs. No problem, not even close to a problem.

That being said, it is a serious landing spot. Not much room for error, landing to the east. Next I'll experiment with low passes and touch and goes to the west. Safely getting over the trees is a serious concern.

I have been asked, when is the fly in? No one is invited! But if you have an emergency and have to land I'll help you fix your plane.

Cheers...Rob
To be continued....

Very Nice! Congratulations! Definitely short, very respectable. That practice at Simonds had to help..

Nice work Rob!