Las Vegas
I was lucky enough to spend the summers of 2017 and 2018 living in Las Vegas, Nevada. 2018/ 2019 I began Working for a large Aerospace Defense Contractor in Afghanistan. This meant infrequent time at home and even less predictable windows for finding ideal weather, suitable for adventuring outside the Valley in a marginal performance airplane.
Ginger The 150
I have been lucky enough to have somehow collected a very special little Cessna 150L. The very airplane I used for my Private Pilot Flight Training in 1999, near the city of Charleston, SC.
My 150 is a 1972, Commuter model. Affectionately named “GINGER” for her White and Red paint scheme. It is one of thousands which have been produced since the mid - 1950’s. Nothing Spectacular or outstanding about it; Wearing a bullet proof Continental O-200A engine and a Sensenich Standard pitch fixed propeller, a combo which puts out somewhere around 100 horsepower, on a good day. Not overly impressive by South Western United States aircraft performance standards, but adequate!
Stars aligned...time to go
After an excited and anxious night of sleep, February 27 finally arrived, and it looked like all the stars were aligned – blue skies, unusually light easterly winds aloft, just as forecasted.
I took out all of the usual gear one flies locally with, all the cleaning supplies, tools, tow bar and so on. I ended up putting back in my tool kit and 12v tire inflator. If I was to end up stuck in BFE, I might as well be prepared to deal with a minor maintenance issue, such as low tire pressure or loose hardware. I also took the usual flight bag I always carried, with water, snack bars, and Garmin Inreach satellite tracker/communicator.
I made up a flight log on my iFLYGPS phone app, planning on keeping track of the flight progress and steering me clear of class Bravo airspace and the rugged terrain with ease.
The gravel airstrip at Amboy, CA sits at a 1,800' MSL elevation, just about 100 N.M. Southwest of North Las Vegas. I didn't know how long it would take me to climb 7500' for a safe cushion over the top of the Clark Mountains. My 150L came with standard range tanks, so I figured I would try to fly out with ¾ full tanks or about 3 hours’ worth, departing (0L7) Jean, NV as the last airport with fuel along our route.
Climbing through 7000 feet
Forecast was for a light east wind, and thus perhaps updrafts, so I made large figure eight gentle climbing turns, staying on the West of Jean, and making radio callouts on the local Unicom frequency.
Climbing at 300 - 400 FPM at 65 MPH indicated. keeping my turns gentle, I could not detect much in the way of any outside help, lift or winds.
I reached my target of 7500MSL in what seemed like a fair amount of time, just as I was passing over the small divide of the Clark mountains at Columbia Pass. Over Mesquite dry lakebed and West of the towering Clark Mountain, the air was cool, calm and just was enjoying the vast scenery below. A dog Leg South on track to LUDLOW and a jog to the East around and behind the Granite Mountains. (Side note: The Mojave National Preserve is flat out breathtaking at 85 knots. Fields of ancient Lava and cone volcanoes, flat and then rugged terrain, remind me of pictures of Mars.)
Upon rounding the “corner” around Granite mountain, Amboy was clearly in sight. A moderate decent was established and all eyes were scoping out our destination. It was time to start down, and I set up a normal decent power setting of 2000 RPM, which gave me a gentle let down of 500 FPM. I added a bit to the mixture and started down the West side of Granite mountain.
Not knowing the field condition of winds, I set up for a low approach over the airfield and was pleasantly surprised with the new looking windsock and clean looking gravel. No apparent debris or potholes to dodge. Swooped up for an even 3000MSL pattern and before I knew it was established on a base to final, adding flaps along the way. This was to be a combo short/soft field technique. Full flaps, 65MPH to the flare.
The landing was textbook, not much fanfare, not even sure people knew we landed! I ended up taxing through the driveway that is connected to the airstrip and shutting down, within view of the road, still hidden behind the gas station.
I gathered myself, after what was surely an epic event for me in my flying adventures of nearly 500 hours, never landing at a backcountry airstrip.
I strolled over to the Gift shop within the gas station and quickly found a excited and friendly guy named Manny. He had no hesitation in welcoming me and even suggested that I taxi through the parking lot and into position in front of the motel for pictures. Manny offered to wing walk and shoo the onlookers, who were gathering, rather fiercely.
I had cars driving by, tourist types with DSLR cameras shooting away. Little did I know how big of a deal it was flying into this little ghost town!
Repositioning through the parking lot drew a lot of onlookers. It must have been a spectacle seeing an airplane appear from behind a building and taxing through the gas station and into the car parking lot. No sooner did I shut down, I had tourists walking over and talking to me.
I must have met several couples and several nationalities, all taking pictures and talking me up about the little tiny plane that flew from Las Vegas. It quite honestly felt like I was an airshow pilot and it was a very unexpected, but welcome experience of visiting Amboy, CA
The afternoon sun was warm, and it was just a perfect late Morning. I had a bit to drink and bought a T-shirt as a souvenir. It was time to get going back home. I had about 80 nm to cover back to Jean, NV
I took a nice walk down the strip to inspect for hazards. I estimated the strip to be 3000’ useable. Setting up a textbook departure run, 10deg flaps and nose wheel up, I wheel barrowed down the soft gravel with all the might of that O-200 and gently crow hopped into ground effect at 55MPH. Establishing an adequate 400FPM climb straight out and into the Mojave. Essentially retracing my path that I flew there, with a direct leg on the east of Clark Mountain, past Nipton, Ca and into Jean from the South.
I was back on the ground in Jean, NV (0L7) within an hour, despite the light 10kt headwind. We took on our fuel and departed Jean in short time. The short flight back to North Las Vegas had us Transiting over (KLAS) McCarren International for what made a spectacular ending to the most epic adventure for Ginger and this average pilot!
Amazed with the sights, thrilled with the performance of Ginger the 150, and super appreciative for the help and support of the friends who encouraged me and helped make it happen; Especially to Dustin Mosher the “flying fiddler”.
