Well here we are another year gone by. I just wanted to tak a minuteto wish all you fellow BCP'ers a Happy Hollidaysand safe and fun flying in the new year. This site has been fun this past year and it's the only one,besides JC web cam, that I visit on a daily basis. Hope to make it to more events this year and share some laughs and the good fellowship we have here. So as not to leave anyone out and to be politically correct, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwansaa, Happy Chanukah(Not sure of the spelling on that one) And of course "Happy Festivus for the rest of us" Iceman

Yes, Merry Christmas to all! I am in Reno this year with Erin's family. We flew a smoker down here from Portland, and the snow covered desert at night was really cool looking.

Thanks to all you guys who visit BCP regularly. I think we are 3 years old this December. At first there were hardly any posts, but nowadays we're going strong.

I hope everybody has a great holiday, and I look forward to meeting some of you this year.

Thanks,
Zane

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Birthday Jesus!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Merry Christmas you guys, and have a happy new year while yer at it!

Yule Tide Greetings to my fellow BCP members.

May you be blessed and find what you wished for under your tree.

Merry Christmas to all.

Bob

Bob

You should give up that PCP.

Happy Holidays to all.

Cheers Gary

Merry Christmas from New Zealand to all theBCP'ers.
Christmas starts a little bit east of here in a few hours. Hope you all enjoy what's left of it by the time it gets to where you are!

A very Merry Christmas to all you BCP'ers. This is without a doubt the best website ever.

Kenny Chapman wrote:A very Merry Christmas to all you BCP'ers. This is without a doubt the best website ever.

Kenny, Just toured your Photo Gallery. Great pictures. WHat and where is the flying M. Looks like a great place to visit if it's in THis country.

Merry Christmas all
SD

Merry Christmas, to all my pals at BCP. My wish for you all is that your engines all go max TBO. Cheers...Rob

Merry Christmas

May all of your winds be tailwinds

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays all you BCP folks!

Whew! Flew out to a cabin on a lake on sunday December 23rd for lunch and errands- 50+ mile vis in all directions and forecast to stay that way throughout the day. Flight and landing fine, get out engine blanket and ice screws, anchor plane to lake, put on snowshoes, head for cabin... Great Day! No Problems!

Suddenly, looking back over a shoulder- ground fog looming out from nearby valley, directly for lake Ground fog blanketing lake and swallowing nearby hills Race for lake, rip off engine cover, etc, pile in, taxi down lake, studying sky. Put power in... take power out... put power back in...

Realize homebound flight not going to happen today

Back to end of lake, re-secure plane, put on wing covers, cancel wife-plan on the sat phone, head to cabin for the night to RON

Plenty comfortable night, good eats, crackling fire, lots of provisions- only one problem: Not too cool to be missing christmas back home if this drags on Prepare for early departure, hope for best, and turn in early.

Christmas eve morning: wake up about 6:00 am- still 3-1/2 hours till dawn, but lo- the entire Alaska range is out under the light of the full moon, stars everywhere, not a wisp of cloud in sight.

Hasty breakfast, temps around 0F, hustle down to lake to fire up Northern Companion preheater Oops, fuel knob spins off in my fingers No problem: Needle-nose visegrips that ride along in the tool bag for double-duty as safetywire pliers are found and clamped on bum fuel valve. Stove roars to life

Let's see- an hour and a half of preheat?? Sky should be starting to lighten up around then. Pace laps in yesterday's ski tracks to keep warm. Pace, pace, pace some more. Keep pacing. Some clouds starting to emerge along crest of Alaska range from the south Come on, Preheater Continue pacing...

Alright, getting light enough to see colors. Pull ice screws. Stow random gear in plane. Pull preheater and engine cover. Hop in plane, cross fingers, try not to breathe on inside of windshield too much. Headlamp switch doesn't like cold suddenly. Get flashlight in teeth to watch dials. Pull starter...

Engine purrs to life out on dark, frozen lake in middle of roadless Alaska bush

Oil presure slow to rise, but engine sounds fine. Blame it on cold oil in instrument line on pilot's side of firewall. Need to replace that with kerosene one of these days Lock throttle down, get out, pull wing covers, DO NOT go in front of idling plane on slippery snow in the dark Last look around for stuff, look at sky, clouds still distant, but increasing...

Taxi down lake, start making some power (Dang generator- need to replace that with an alternator one of these days ) Start making some heat (come on windshield...) Keep breathing over shoulder toward cracked open window. Sky looking lighter.

End of lake, left turn, mag check: left good, right good, carb heat: tiny drop... sweep eyes over engine instruments- all in the green... One notch flaps, doors and shoulder harness secure, power in, and off into the wild twilit yonder

Circle above lake several times for altitude, fair in the direction of home Raise FSS, file and open plan. File PIREP for added good Karma

One hour en route, with clouds still encraoching behind, but ahead, the beginnings of a glorious sunrise. Smooth all the way to touchdown, like sitting in the easy chair. Close flight plan on 5-mile, straight-in final. Home for Christmas Eve , instead of stuck in cabin on lake hoping it doesn't stay socked in for a week, then drop to -40F

For years my C180 buddy has been after me to get a respectable nickname for 8388A. Looking out the windshield at the red cowl, making the christmas eve flight (with presents on board, no less!), exchanging a Merry Christams with the FSS guy, "Rudolph" suddenly comes to mind. A worthy name for this bird? May have to try it. At least it will always bring happy memories.

Merry Christmas to all you BCP'ers out there!

If you name it Rudolph, then it needs a red nose

Fantastic story with a happy ending. Some of us read good stories and other lucky stiffs live them. I love it! Thanks for posting.

denalipilot wrote:Whew! Flew out to a cabin on a lake on sunday December 23rd for lunch and errands- 50+ mile vis in all directions and forecast to stay that way throughout the day. Flight and landing fine, get out engine blanket and ice screws, anchor plane to lake, put on snowshoes, head for cabin... Great Day! No Problems!

Suddenly, looking back over a shoulder- ground fog looming out from nearby valley, directly for lake Ground fog blanketing lake and swallowing nearby hills Race for lake, rip off engine cover, etc, pile in, taxi down lake, studying sky. Put power in... take power out... put power back in...

Realize homebound flight not going to happen today

Back to end of lake, re-secure plane, put on wing covers, cancel wife-plan on the sat phone, head to cabin for the night to RON

Plenty comfortable night, good eats, crackling fire, lots of provisions- only one problem: Not too cool to be missing christmas back home if this drags on Prepare for early departure, hope for best, and turn in early.

Christmas eve morning: wake up about 6:00 am- still 3-1/2 hours till dawn, but lo- the entire Alaska range is out under the light of the full moon, stars everywhere, not a wisp of cloud in sight.

Hasty breakfast, temps around 0F, hustle down to lake to fire up Northern Companion preheater Oops, fuel knob spins off in my fingers No problem: Needle-nose visegrips that ride along in the tool bag for double-duty as safetywire pliers are found and clamped on bum fuel valve. Stove roars to life

Let's see- an hour and a half of preheat?? Sky should be starting to lighten up around then. Pace laps in yesterday's ski tracks to keep warm. Pace, pace, pace some more. Keep pacing. Some clouds starting to emerge along crest of Alaska range from the south Come on, Preheater Continue pacing...

Alright, getting bright out enough to see colors. Pull ice screws. Stow random gear in plane. Pull preheater and engine cover. Hop in plane, cross fingers, try not to breathe on inside of windshield too much. Headlamp switch doesn't like cold suddenly. Get flashlight in teeth to watch dials. Pull starter...

Engine purrs to life out on dark, frozen lake in middle of roadless Alaska bush

Oil presure slow to rise, but engine sounds fine. Blame it on cold oil in instrument line on pilot's side of firewall. Need to replace that with kerosene one of these days Lock throttle down, get out, pull wing covers, DO NOT go in front of idling plane on slippery snow in the dark Last look around for stuff, look at sky, clouds still distant, but increasing...

Taxi down lake, start making some power (Dang generator- need to replace that with an alternator one of these days ) Start making some heat (come on windshield...) Keep breathing over shoulder toward cracked open window. Sky looking lighter.

End of lake, left turn, mag check: left good, right good, carb heat, no drop... sweep eyes over engine instruments- all in the green... One notch flaps, doors and shoulder harness secure, power in, and off into the wild twilit yonder

Circle above lake several times for altitude, fair in the direction of home Raise FSS, file and open plan. File PIREP for added good Karma

One hour en route, with clouds still encraoching behind, but ahead, the beginnings of a glorious sunrise. Smooth all the way to touchdown, like sitting in the easy chair. Close flight plan on 5-mile, straight-in final. Home for Christmas Eve , instead of stuck in cabin on lake hoping it doesn't stay socked in for a week, then drop to -40F

For years my C180 buddy has been after me to get a respectable nickname for 8388A. Looking out the windshield at the red cowl, making the christmas eve flight (with presents on board, no less!), exchanging a Merry Christams with the FSS guy, "Rudolph" suddenly comes to mind. Worthy of a name for this bird? May have to try it. At least it will always bring happy memories.

Merry Christmas to all you BCP'ers out there!

...and yes, Rudolph would be a good name for the plane.

Unfortunately it's true. The Flying M closed in October of 2006. It was a great place to go for breakfast or lunch. I never did get the chance to camp there as it was an eleven minute flight from home. Really miss it.