Went for a quick lap this morning and was amazed by the variety of colors. These screen grabs from my video camera don't do it justice.

I was supposed to go fly today. General maintenance test flight.

Somebody didn't pay the heating bill and it started snowing again.

The above has cool written all over it!

Thanks for your service!

it needs big tires.. then it's cool...

Thanks!

I left the ground handling wheels on after I saw the weather brief - no sense pulling them off, hahaha! I was able to get all the ground checks done so on Monday we'll be able to go straight into the hover and in-flight checks.

Iceman, we do fly with Airglas skis mounted year-round... Got my cool points back?

CamTom, is that a giant RAM-mount ball on top of the rotor? Seriously, what is that thing?

It's where I mount my gopro, hahaha

It's a sensor package, visible and thermal with a laser rangefinder/designator. I'm a scout, so it's mounted up there to enable masking behind stuff and seeing over with minimal exposure.

Here's an up close (google searched):

Didn't fly, as it's a lovey rainy day here in Portland, but had lunch with my favorite airstrip database developer today.

Zzz wrote:Didn't fly, as it's a lovey rainy day here in Portland, but had lunch with my favorite airstrip database developer today.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1368917769.841289.jpg

Is that strait up Vodka on the rocks with a straw in it! . Bummer for the rain.

I flew to Burns and back today! Kept it pretty low and had some fun . I took a friend of mine over there to watch his kid play some baseball because he had some other commitments today and couldn't spend the whole day over there with his family. Isn't flying great!

CW

CamTom12 wrote:It's where I mount my gopro, hahaha

Heh heh. Looks pretty stable, unlikely to cause jello.

When cropped like that, it looks like the head of a giant robot.

Clippwagon, you know it-- Grey Goose on the rocks at 1pm on a Saturday.

clippwagon wrote:I flew to Burns and back today! Kept it pretty low and had some fun . I took a friend of mine over there to watch his kid play some baseball because he had some other commitments today and couldn't spend the whole day over there with his family. Isn't flying great!

CW

Did you guys fly over Smith Rock in the morning? There was a plane or two flying low doin' the sight seeing thing while I was working over there... maybe it was you? Since I doubt there where that many people out doing the VFR thing today in Central Oregon...

Went into Bar Ten Ranch on the north rim of the Grand Canyon late Friday afternoon. 10-15 knot tailwind, landing uphill. That was about the break off decision point to land uphill/downhill. What a neat place Twin Otters, Caravans and helicopters bringing in river rafter groups. People spend the night at the ranch. Great food and then get a heli ride the next morning from the ranch at the top of the rim down to the river and do a 2 night raft trip. Slept in covered wagons at the ranch!! The flight between St. George, UT and the ranch was 45 miles of some of the most desolate land in the lower 48. Seen 1 ranch. Plan to go back and do the raft trip. Never been on the Colorado. 15 knot tailwind landing in the valley at the ranch was a cowboy ride Lots of room, just rough.

chosstronaut wrote:

clippwagon wrote:I flew to Burns and back today! Kept it pretty low and had some fun . I took a friend of mine over there to watch his kid play some baseball because he had some other commitments today and couldn't spend the whole day over there with his family. Isn't flying great!

CW

Did you guys fly over Smith Rock in the morning? There was a plane or two flying low doin' the sight seeing thing while I was working over there... maybe it was you? Since I doubt there where that many people out doing the VFR thing today in Central Oregon...

No it wasn't me. I saw a bunch of the same planes from my house not too far from Smith though. I believe they were doing a young eagles event giving tours that morning and that's part of their route. I agree the weather wasn't perfect, but doable. We flew in about 15 minutes of rain heading East toward Burns. Did you fly or drive over? It looks pretty nice out there this morning! And I'm headed to work . Have fun climbing and be safe! (Or when you say "working over there" does that mean something else??)

CW

CamTom12 wrote:It's where I mount my gopro, hahaha

It's a sensor package, visible and thermal with a laser rangefinder/designator. I'm a scout, so it's mounted up there to enable masking behind stuff and seeing over with minimal exposure.

Here's an up close (google searched):

That looks like it would be a very useful moose scouting rig. Can you bring it to SE this September?

gbflyer wrote:

CamTom12 wrote:It's where I mount my gopro, hahaha

It's a sensor package, visible and thermal with a laser rangefinder/designator. I'm a scout, so it's mounted up there to enable masking behind stuff and seeing over with minimal exposure.

Here's an up close (google searched):

That looks like it would be a very useful moose scouting rig. Can you bring it to SE this September?

gb: I don't have the legs for that! hahaha!



Zane I'll have to find a picture of some of my guys - when we take the top half off for maintenance on the components there's always at least 1 Darth Helmet impression!


RanchPilot: absolutely beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing those!


Little John: sounds like a neat trip!

Flew up to my friends to work on his super cub wings

Even got to give his 2 yr old grand son a ride. He loved it.


Despite the headwinds it turned out to be a nice night.

Even got to try out the new airstreaks

Looks like a great day!

"DO NOT BEND OR FOLD"

Just back from Utah and had one of the bumpyest / nasty rain / thunder storms I have ever been through. Diverted around maybe 50 large cells and completly taxed now. Thanks for the T shirt WilgaBeast! Photos coming when my nerves get back to normal...

Glad you made it back safe AKT.