Backcountry Pilot

[Hottshot offline]

Well the TFR has shrunk a little in the Hell's Canyan so off we went yesterday AM, Still pretty smokey to the south as the fire is still burnin' but Dug bar was clear and dryer than heck so we didn't stick arround very long 80* at 8 am you can see the burn and the fire lines, them boys in the whirly birds and the ground crews deserve an attta boy for workin there butts off and keeping the fire damage to as small of a black spot as possible

[OregonMaule offline]

Pacific City, Oregon KPFC 30'X1800" swirling cross wind, and narrow. Good practice. Good restaurants and shops, 5min walk to the beach. Full sun, 65 and a 12Kt. breeze. So nice. Cheers...Rob

[Savannah-Tom offline]

After 15 years, I finally got back to Owahee Airstrip in a plane. Better yet, it was my plane. With me piloting. The last time was in a boat. Flying it is way better. Check out my album for a few pictures.

I flew from Corvallis to Caldwell with nothing eventful to report. A fill up at Caldwell and off to 28U. Did a low pass from north to south to check out the runway. Turned around and landed toward the north. No problem, except I heard this flump flump sound as the mains touched. Crap! Flat tire. I kept it on the runway, but once it came to rest, it would not taxi. I lift/pushed the dead beast off the runway, then got out my airpump. Damn. The valve stem disappeared out sight down the black hole in the wheel. I had to rustle up some boards laying around to lift up the plane and get the wheel off the ground so I could skid the tube inside until the stem emerged. At least there is some advantage to flying a lightweight plane. Filled up the tire and taxied to the nice tie-down area.

The Owahee Hilton was recently refurbished by a generous bunch, and it was a real treat to stay there. Fifteen years ago, there were many un-patched bullet holes, rat turds, and general mess everywhere. It seems folks are taking better care of the place. I swept out a few turds, and picked up some garbage, but the place was nice. Since I was there last, the tie-downs are very nice, there is a pit toilet, and a new porch.

Walking around the point, I found an abandoned quad. It had no gas and I can only guess why it was abandoned. The low water also revealed a carcase of an old wooden boat.

I spent the night in the Hilton and was serenaded to sleep by the coyotes. A little later, the packrats were tearing all around looking for a way into the cabin. Oh yeah, a bat did turns about a point in the cabin before going outside for bugs.

I lifted off at 6:15 the next morning and flew upstream for about 50 miles. Loved seeing stuff I had seen from the ground in the past.

Weather and winds couldn't have been better.

Having to land two more times on a flat to get home was a bummer, but way better than walking. I went to Prinville and landed on the cross wind runway to be out of the way while I refilled my tire and my gas tank. Then, at my home airport, Corvallis, I landed in the grass near the apron and filled up the tire so I could taxi to the hanger.

All in all, a great trip. 760 miles, 9 hours, and 38gallons

I like this little machine.

tom

[Savannah-Tom offline]

A couple of post scripts:

The runway was in smooth shape. Except there were a couple of pretty big gopher holes within 100 feet of the south end. Between the weeds, the runway is about 15 or 20 feet. You've got a few more feet in the weeds before it gets soft and rough, but there could be rocks hiding in there.

There is a log book in the cabin in a tin box. It's kind of fun reading some of the entries.

The silver lining to my flat tire was that I was reluctant to stop for a bio-break. I'm happy to report that I made my first successful in-flight de-fueling. I found a contorted position that worked. You can only appreciate this by knowing that my first attempt left my seat wet. javascript:emoticon(':oops:')
Embarassed

tom

[Skylane offline]

hey Tom,

Nice pictures, glad you made it in and out with the flat. Hey maybe could have used the quad tires?

Hey really, if you ever get over there again and get into a bind, I'm a cell phone call and 30 minutes away.

Hey that goes for anyone too. Get in SE Oregon and need help I'm about as close as anyone.

See ya, Bub

[a64pilot offline]

hey Tom,

Nice pictures, glad you made it in and out with the flat. Hey maybe could have used the quad tires?

Hey really, if you ever get over there again and get into a bind, I'm a cell phone call and 30 minutes away.

Hey that goes for anyone too. Get in SE Oregon and need help I'm about as close as anyone.

See ya, Bub

This is scary, because I just got an idea, maybe it's been done already and CRS is rearing it's ugly head again, because this may have some merit.
Zane, how about a data base of people willing to help, their location contact info and capabilities?

[Savannah-Tom offline]

hey Tom,

Hey really, if you ever get over there again and get into a bind, I'm a cell phone call and 30 minutes away.

See ya, Bub

Thanks for the offer. I know that stuff does happen, and it's nice to know there are folks out there willing to help.

thanks again,
tom

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Yesterday we did a quick trip from OGD to U10 (Preston, ID) to deliver some boxes of peaches to my in-laws to be canned. It was the first time taking my sister-in-law for a ride. She thought it was pretty cool. After lunch in Preston, I then took my father-in-law for his first ride with me. We are still working on getting my mother-in-law up for a ride.

All in all, it was a good, although short day of flying. My wife insisted that we do a medium flight for our baby's second flight to see how he does before we do longer flights, i.e. central ID or southern UT. He fared well so now we have the green light to do some longer flights. Now we just need some moisture and cooler temps to make the fires die down up north.

[Zzz]

Topic on preventing puncture flats split here .

[Guy offline]

Had fun last weekend with a couple of friends. We landed at Copalis State Beach Airport. See my photo gallery for a couple of shots of Skywagons on the prowl.

[OregonMaule offline]

Friday TTD around My. Hood, Oregon with my sister-in-law. It was her first flight with me. Just one of those days that was a 8 1/2.

My sister-in-laws husband and I started to get our PPL together about 2 years ago. Three months into the training he had a heart attack and died. 46 years old. Every days a gift! Make the most of em.

Saturday: Slept in 8am. Troutdale to Nehalem Bay 3S7. Walked up the beach to Manzanita, Or for lunch. Was back to TTD in time to go to my buddys 50 birthday party. 35 min by plane 2.75 by car. I love my Mau..... airplane.

Regards..Rob

[iceman offline]

Com on Rob,,,,, Admit it you have a Maule.

[Zzz]

Been flying the last two days locally. Had a great flight this morning around the Rogue, Illinois, and Applegate valleys here in the Grants Pass area. Took my best friend from high school on a flight, and it was quite a monumental day for both of us. We've both flown for years but it was our first time up together.

170 is running great. I love the new 496.

Damn hot here today though.

[GumpAir offline]

I love the new 496.

Did you panel mount it yet???

[Skylane offline]

Nice trip to Northern Idaho. 107 knots ground speed on the way up However made up for with 143 GS on the way back

Clear blue for the most parts. Lot of smoke and haze to the east from fires in central Idaho.

First time I flown North of Pasco. Been in the panhandle a few times, flown in the Beaver at Brooks sea plane. Did some golfing. Para Sailed on Lake Pend Orille? "Pond - er - ay"? All while vacationing up there.

But today was a up and back 4.7 hours on the tach. Over all a great day.

See ya, Bub

[OregonMaule offline]

Just got back from my place by Madras, Or. The bank messed up and sent my debit card over there. So of course I had to fly over to get it.

The visibility was unlimited! The wind at Troutdale was 15G25. After my imitation of a kangaroo I should have stayed and practiced, but I had to get back to work. Good thing for me the wind blows a lot at TTD. I'll practice another day. Rob

[Mr. Ed offline]

Nowhere, dag nabit! Preflight 3 days ago found an exhaust problem. Should be up and running again late tomorrow if the UPS guy shows up as scheduled. Put a mean shine on the ship while I waited though.

[Grassstrippilot offline]

I was lucky enough to get cut loose from work a day and a half early, so I figured that was a sign that we needed to go fly somewhere. I called my neighbor that I taught to fly last year to see if he wanted to take our wives to Smiley Creek for lunch. He was able to get out of work and off we went. Great flight up. Just a little smoke from the Magic Valley northward, but visibility was still good. After a great lunch at the lodge, we took a scenic flight up around Redfish Lake and the Sawtooths and landed at Stanely to give my neighbor some more experience at landing off of pavement. Then took off flying back down the valley and on to Gooding for some "cheap" gas. It is still $3.99 there. Then a nice, smooth flight in some pretty cool air at 9,500 ft on the way home. All in all a great day of flying. Just wish I could have stayed up there and gone further north. Maybe in a few weeks. This was also my 2.5 month old son's longest flight yet. He did well and is ready to do more flying.

[Zzz]

Took my mom flying today!! She loved it.

Buddy and I headed out early this morning to see if the IFR airmet for the coast was actually true....it was.

Dragged the strip at Table Rock near Medford, stopped in at Ashland, and come home.

[Savannah-Tom offline]

Dragged the strip at Table Rock near Medford, stopped in at Ashland, and come home.

How did it look? I've been wanting to go there again.
tom