Hi everyone. I'm fairly new to back country flying, but I've been into some fields in Idaho (Moose Creek, Chamerlain Basin, Smiley Creek). I have a 1970 Turbo Centurion and I'm very interested in flying into Schafer (8U2). Can anyone give me a description of how "rough" the strip is? Do you you think a Centurion could land there? Thanks to anyone who can help.

You probably already have info on the strip but just incase you don't. I got the following information out of Galan Hanselmans Fly the Big Sky book (Pub. 2000). You can call the USFS for more info at 406-758-5376.

Field El. 4855'
RWY: 7/25 They recommend land & take off 25 when wind codition allows. And it mentions for experienced pilots only!
Runway length is 3200'x60'

Under the remarks it say to be coution of gopher holes, horses, deer, and moose .

Looks like a really neat place to go!!

CenturionRS wrote:Hi everyone. I'm fairly new to back country flying, but I've been into some fields in Idaho (Moose Creek, Chamerlain Basin, Smiley Creek). I have a 1970 Turbo Centurion and I'm very interested in flying into Schafer (8U2). Can anyone give me a description of how "rough" the strip is? Do you you think a Centurion could land there? Thanks to anyone who can help.

Pretty sure a centurion can get into most strips in Idaho if it is done right. Saw one in Cabin Creek once. The three strips you mensioned have wide open approaches and long runways. Not usually the plane that is the limiting factor but the person in controle.

I recomend some instruction at this type of flying.

Tim

More info at http://airnav.com/airport/8U2

I would take Tims advice, too. Schafer sounds kind of tricky to me. Looks easy, just wondering why the book say to land 25 which is downhill.

The limiting factor for a Centurion is tire size, one of the main reasons I never considered one. It's a bad airplane if where you're going has gopher holes. However the aircraft itself is perfectly suitable for Schafer. Even though the book says to be careful of gopher holes there are few, if any, at Schafer. I go every year for the work party and we don't have to fill in holes. There's some uneven terrain near the campground in the parking area that will be far more of a problem. What's your prop clearance? I have more than a foot with my Bo and have no problem there. Mooneys land there although they have to be really careful. The book says to land to the southwest, why they say that is a mystery. That makes it a downhill landing. Land to the northeast and it is a lot easier landing than even Moose Creek and tremendously safer. Land where the cones start for the smoothest part of the runway.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/287 ... bfbd_b.jpg

That is a great pic BM... what time of year was that taken?


[airport]8U2[/airport]

Bonanza Man wrote: The book says to land to the southwest, why they say that is a mystery. That makes it a downhill landing. Land to the northeast and it is a lot easier landing than even Moose Creek and tremendously safer. Land where the cones start for the smoothest part of the runway.

Galen,

If you are still lurking around here, jump in and add some input.

1SeventyZ wrote:That is a great pic BM... what time of year was that taken?

That was July 06. We always go up the Thursday before the work party and this is what we find.

Grassstrippilot wrote:

Bonanza Man wrote: The book says to land to the southwest, why they say that is a mystery. That makes it a downhill landing. Land to the northeast and it is a lot easier landing than even Moose Creek and tremendously safer. Land where the cones start for the smoothest part of the runway.

Galen,

If you are still lurking around here, jump in and add some input.

I think Galen is simply stating what it says everywhere else. There's a sign on the field that says takeoff and land to the west. It says so in the Montana airport guide. But the question is why. Most, if not every, airstrip in Idaho it is recommended that you land uphill and takeoff downhill. The only argument they make is in case you have to go around, an argument they don't make in Idaho. If you're flying a 172 near gross then you probably wouldn't make it but your average 182/Cherokee 235 should go around easily.


http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery/displayimage.php?album=192&pos=18

Well, it sure looks like a pretty cool strip to visit. After watching the video, it doesn't seem to challenging . But what's on video and then in real time is two completely different things .

Also about landing 25. That's just there "Reccomendation, conditions permitting".

I went in there 2 years ago with 6 guys in a 206 with no problem. Of course we were dropped off and the plane left with only the pilot but I don't remember the strip being that bumpy at all...in fact, it was one of the nicer strips around. It sees a ton of traffic during the rafting season (May - August) so it stays pretty nice. I think a Centurion would have no problem there. I took pictures of a Piper Seneca that was there when we arrived...if that can go in, a Centurion can do it. Here is a pic of the Piper

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... 0323&pos=0

Darinh wrote:I went in there 2 years ago with 6 guys in a 206 with no problem. Of course we were dropped off and the plane left with only the pilot but I don't remember the strip being that bumpy at all...in fact, it was one of the nicer strips around. It sees a ton of traffic during the rafting season (May - August) so it stays pretty nice. I think a Centurion would have no problem there. I took pictures of a Piper Seneca that was there when we arrived...if that can go in, a Centurion can do it. Here is a pic of the Piper

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... 0323&pos=0

The plane in the picture is a Cessna 310. One of my favorite twins .

Darinh wrote:I went in there 2 years ago with 6 guys in a 206 with no problem. Of course we were dropped off and the plane left with only the pilot but I don't remember the strip being that bumpy at all...in fact, it was one of the nicer strips around. It sees a ton of traffic during the rafting season (May - August) so it stays pretty nice. I think a Centurion would have no problem there. I took pictures of a Piper Seneca that was there when we arrived...if that can go in, a Centurion can do it. Here is a pic of the Piper

http://www.backcountrypilot.org/gallery ... 0323&pos=0

There's never a ton of traffic. The strip is limited to 550 operations per year. The Forest Service keeps the traffic count.

A 210 at Schafer would be no problem. Personally I'd rank it about equal to Chamerlain in difficulty, slightly easier than Moose, not quite as easy as Smiley.

C.

Hey Skylane_Guy, cool pic!!!

What's really cool is to be sitting on that hill as aircraft pass over on short final. Those pics are great.