My kids are 6 and 3 1/2 now and we went through the same difficulties with headsets when they were younger. I think your daughter grow into wearing a headset shortly. Our trick with my daughter, the 6yo, was to buy her a purple headset for a Christmas or birthday present, I don't remember which. We made a big deal about how special they were and that did the trick for her. My son, 3 1/2, still is 50/50 on wearing his red headset. He just doesn't like any headset really. My wife's car has a DVD player with wireless headsets and he will sit and watch a movie with no sound rather than wear the earphones. I do make him wear ear plugs in the plane if he chooses not to wear his headset. When your daughter gets a little older, soon, she'll understand that there are rules and choices and she will make her choice of headset or ear plugs.

Upon arriving at the hangar, the car seats come out of the car or truck and go straight into the back seat of the plane and the kids load into them just like the car. The youngest is still in a regular car seat and I use the strap that has the clips on it, that hook into the latches in your car, to hook it into the airplane. I connect those clips directly to the bracket that the seat belt mounts to the airframe with and don't actually use the seat belt to secure the seat.

The combination of the headset and car seat become a pain for the kids on long trips. When they fall asleep in their car seats they have a tendency to turn their head to one side but the headset doesn't allow for that really. I'll have to look and see if I can find some pictures of the contortions my daughters been in. She always finds a way to sleep though.

Keep taking your wife and daughter with you. We use the plane to travel a lot and the kids love the journeys. My 6yo probably has 300 hours or a little more and the 3 1/2 yo probably has about 200 hours in the back seat. One of our frequent trips is a 2.7 hour flight or 8 hour drive. We've had to leave the plane and drive home one time because of weather. The kids understand the travel time difference between the airplane and car now very much and always question why we cant take the airplane everywhere.

We have a portable DVD player but honestly never use it or even take it with us in the airplane. The oldest has a Leapster game that she'll play sometimes. They both like to color/draw on the knee board. If they're not sleeping and there's something to see we try and keep their heads out the window. We look for deer, bears, moose, farm animals, farmers working their fields, and whatever else that might be interesting that we can point out to them.

Hey man, I got two Cosco car seats that I just keep in the plane/hangar. They're cheap and light. I'll bring one up for you to the fly-in at the end of the month...kids are getting bigger.

Hey, put a litespeed or Bose on her...one of the really nice ones. The comfort factor is so huge for them. And, you can pipe in whatever audio they like - iPod, DVD, etc. either with Bluetooth or a solid cable in. I started him in his regular car seat, and moved up with the growth .

My three year old loves it, and doesn't ever complain (at least about that!).

P.s.... Winters Comin', bulk up!!!!


Karl

Thanks for all the great advice for the little one! She has been wearing her headset in the house the past few days asking to go see the airplane so I guess thats a very good thing!

Really wanted to fly with OregonMaule yesterday but daddy duty was front a center.

Went out today and returned to "The Island". Ever heard the saying. "This is my Island.There are many islands like it but this one is mine". I think thats in a movie. Its what I think about when I am out there.

This is truly one of my favorite spots. Its about 250-300' useable, a little bumpy and a very slight off camber strip. Of course you need to utilize a little H2O when getting in...




And then over to Stampede #2


And then to the "Bumpy Barn" ...and my battery was dead. There were 8 barn owls in there. Pretty cool site. Landed here at what you see. Low approach over the fence with a slight left turn mid field and then prepare for the jump and stop. I really like this one and have not landed on this side for quite some time. The normal landing is on the other side of the barn with a slight left turn mid field. If you look close you will see it. Both technical landings and a lot of fun.


That was my day

AKT

Flew the North Circuit today with a friend (need to get him to post here) that has several airplanes and knows several ranches that could be added to the "West Circuit" (That I have yet to fly). A 185, a Wilga along several others.

Anyhow, we left KTRK around 10am and went north and then into the desert. Dropped into Stampede for quick touch and go at #1 followed by a 1/2 mile of water skiing, around the island and then off to Totem #2 for our first stop.



From there we flew a few approached into the 2 "Bumpy Barns" with a landing at the "Ranch". Grass was deep!


From there we headed NE over the "Chillkoot Ranch" and out to "Dead Cow" lake bed for some slow flight work and high AOA landings. Aaron was landing tail wheel first. Mine is landing at and easy 36-38mph with 30 gallons of fuel, no wind and just me. She is a dream. I continue to be amazed with this wing combo.
Desert is in great shape. This lake bed is a great place to play and hone your skills..


Here is Aaron landing and doing a fly bye. Notice the tail wheel dust..




My 180 and his 185. We both have the Sportsman with the WingX. We both also have the 520. He however has VG's on his. Mine is lighter by 100 lbs or so... He can carry more... I have BW's...He has Air Hawks. Both very good aircraft.


And then we left and headed back toward KTRK as we both had wives to get back to. Along the way (Yes that was us Chance... ) we had to fly past our buddies ranch here on the BCP forum "Chance". Man he has a great spot!


And then over what I call "1.5 Mile High" (this photo is from last summer)...it was much to windy (gusty) for it today given it was now 230pm. Its a fun spot, uphill, short and bushy... . One way in and one way out. Dont mess it up.



It was a good day!

AKT

Very nice! Can't wait to get up there in 2 weeks!!

Any headway on the props?

Hey Jeremy- Prop test I am hoping to do in the am but really need to just find the time. Flying has been way to good as of late. Also going to Utah on Friday and looking at weather trying to decide on staying or not. We are supposed to have snow and 100mph winds here Sunday/Monday and then returning back to nice weather. Really looking forward to our fly in! So again, the MT test needs my time...I will get to it soon as I too am anxious.

Today was a quick run with Lowrider out to show him the fish. Its such a fun place to land...Low approach down a canyon, low airspeed with a slight right turn then slip hard for 100 feet as you come over the tree tops, through and additional 20 degrees of flaps in as you now make a very slow left turn to line your self up and stick the bumpy landing at the waters edge. AWESOME! Can you visualize it?? Its the kinda landing I day dream about...Lowrider can elaborate.. Here is a photo of the approach.



Some fish


A Snake


A beautiful parking spot


AKT

Went east today to check in on the "High ones". Found some beautiful foliage and then found some very gusty winds up high... ...that means no landings for me at that altitude with winds like that. It did however make for some good up drafts and fun flying as long as I was on the good side. Flew around looking at a bunch of our landings on the "East" circuit. All of these are above 9000'.

"High Boy Ridge" Some of you have been here


"High Boy Ridge Eastside"


Some good color at Stampede


The trip east bound over Lake Tahoe


My favorite "MPS"


"Tail wheel ridge" Many of you have been here


"Land of Plenty"


Tools for all seasons... 29's, 31's, 700's and a tail ski...Lowrider has my 850 x 10's


And its my birthday...it was a good day

AKT

Have you tried the 31's yet?

Happy birthday Kevin.

I would have contacted you if I had known that you would be up today. Thought you would be busy with the SLC trip. Don't let the little one near the 180 while you are gone!
Got some questions about next week end.
Great photo of Rancher Dave.

Happy Birthday! I love that California/NV Sun in the pictures!

Hey you got that MT prop on yet the troops are waiting for results

Great thread!!
Living the dream.

Looking like the MT test will be in the am....If anyone is around, feel free to fly up to Beckworth / Nervino.

Will be there early...

Stay tuned

AKT

hot damn cant wait to hear the results

So how did the prop test go!?

We had heavy fog here until 230 today...monday

So I had a great day today with my sister. She also turned 36 today so I figured she would get the tour of our north circuit.

Lots to do in the north. Photos will tell today's tale.

1st landing "Stampede #1"


#2 was the "Bumpy Barn" She started collecting things the second we arrived


Still collecting old stuff


Two beautiful owls..actually saw 3 of them


I could sure make a lot of stuff out of this...


#3 was up to "Flat top" or "Robs Flyby Stacey"...the view is always great up here




And then to "Dead Cow"...or maybe we should now call it Dead Coyote



And some target practice since we have something to shoot at


She is a pretty good shot...check out the skips


Yeah, I know, you got it


And then she flew us home


It was a good day!

AKT

Cool! Sounds like my kind of girl

Man, that beautiful weather and country is a sight for sore soggy rain soaked eyes. I could feel your joy of an adventurous day.
Looked up the website on the side of the plane. You are quite the dude who doesn't waste's any of life's precious time. Enjoyed watching the ski videos on your site.