Met up with ZZZ and ZPilot at the Columbia Sea-Plane annual meeting at Lenhart's in OR on Sat., of Memorial Day Weekend.

Flew up to Kern Valley (L05) on Friday and liked it so much I went again today.


Strip hiding in the hills above Lake Isabella


Approaching Kern Valley through the glare of a windshield.


Passed by the Kelso Valley airstrip on the way back to Tehachapi

Gold Beach after getting annual done. First time at a beach where the ocean wasn't frozen in about 15 years.

Gump

Little John wrote:

Met up with ZZZ and ZPilot at the Columbia Sea-Plane annual meeting at Lenhart's in OR on Sat., of Memorial Day Weekend.

What floats are those?

Debated whether to go for a flight tonight or not, it was a gorgeous evening, but then a good nights sleep before work is always a plus too. Finally decided to go for the flight. Glad I did. Got to witness a little wildlife drama unfold. While flying down a slough of the Tanana River I spotted a young moose standing in the middle of it. He kept turning back and forth like he couldn't make up his mind. As I went past I spotted a second much larger moose standing on the bank with a tiny calf. As I swung back around for a second look, the larger moose charged the one in the river, sending it running. But as I circled overhead, the young moose started slowly moving back toward the larger one, only to be charged again. I watched this play out once more before continuing on my way. I'm guessing mama just dropped her new calf and it was time for the 2 year old to be on his own. Caught the yearling in the river on the video camera, but I wish I'd had my still camera with me. Might have got some great action shots of this little family drama. I'll post the video in a few days after I get it edited.

Little John wrote:

Met up with ZZZ and ZPilot at the Columbia Sea-Plane annual meeting at Lenhart's in OR on Sat., of Memorial Day Weekend.

Hey John, did you and the "crew" go to McKenzie Bridge last weekend too? My friend Kevin stopped by the airstrip and said he met the group and talked airplanes a bit. He's a neat guy and I get to fly his airplanes . Wish I could have been there. Next time!

CW

Yes we did meet him, I guess he has a cabin near by. the bike ride down the trail was a blast!

Down to RANS dealer Mark Pringle's operation south of SLC, the West Desert Airpark. In 1400 hours of totally trouble free operation I had done NOTHING to my gearbox or carbs, no problems whatsoever in the meantime, but I finally made the time to get caught up on the maintenance of these somewhat important parts of the airplane It continued to run so glitch and vibration free I just kept putting it off. I have never had any kind of powerplant that trouble free for that amount of time, and upon Mark's tear down of the gearbox and both carbs, it would seem my confidence/ignorance was well placed. Keep this in mind the next time someone says the Rotax is a maintenance hog, ain't so.The biggest glitch was a worn throttle return spring, the gearbox showed very little wear and no built up gunk from burning leaded av gas, (it shares oil with the crankcase) because I don't.

Like my trip to Elko for my BigBore engine mod last week, it was a weird feeling to fly in and have others tear my plane totally apart, especially as, like the Elko trip, the plan was to have all those little parts back together so I could fly it home (across the Great Salt Lake it turns out) later that day. Also like Elko, the WX turned to crap once I arrived, and then miraculously got better late in the day, the worst of the winds from a passing low pressure system having died out, down to the mid 20's to maybe 30 as compared to the earlier winds.

Before the test flight, there was some discussion as to the wind strength and gustiness, and some guy from Kansas it turned out kept saying "THIS isn't windy, you want me to fly it?" Being from Kansas his opinion was discounted as skewed regarding safe wind flying conditions It turns out head RANS honcho Randy Schlitter was in the area for the weekend, demoing the new S-20. Once wing walked in the cross wind out to the runway, the test flight went fine, though my 5 mph ground speed made me glad home was in the opposite direction, later I was making 130 over the ground, nice. A bit south of Malad the strong TW turned into a slight headwind, within a 1/4 mile stretch, I never have figured out how that works, that sudden direction change, it keeps things interesting anyway.

Before leaving I got a ride in the S-20, (flies just like my S-7, same wing, huge baggage area, bit faster with that low drag gear, and of course the side by side seating) Randy and I played around on the nearby ridges looking for some soaring time, but they were pretty much parallel to the wind so no go. This of course led to me telling him I get several hours a year in deadstick ridge soaring behind my place, it's rare the subject comes up with other pilots, and I told him to keep my excellent site in mind if ever up in my area. It would be very cool to have both our planes up deadstick, and reminiscent for me of the shared flying done hang gliding, where being up on a ridge line with others was common.

Randy S. will be at West Desert (U99) this weekend, for anyone wanting to eyeball the new bird. Eyeball and get a ride maybe. Mark got all the springs, diaphragms, gears and other unidentifiable small parts apparently back in their proper order, the Rotax is smoother then ever and now I am good to go for a bunch more hours

A buddy and I went and played on some sand and gravel bars last weekend. Was a nice day to get out and enjoy the spring time sunshine.

The flight was about an hour due West of the home airport and it took me clear of the smoke from the local Forest fire that is now up to almost 200,00 acres.

Headed west across Cook Inlet looking at a few of the platforms in the area



on the white sands of the McArthur River



Headed up and over the Bench to the Beluga river area. There was a strip on top we wanted to land, but it was still 2/3rds covered in snow so we left that one to bag another day.


landed at the strip at the head of Beluga lake



Playing on a gravel bar just below the glacier.









headed up the river to the glacier













After the flight over the glacier it was 9:30 pm and time to turn East nd head for home. I left at 2 and told the wife I would be back in 3 or 4 hours so it was time to get back into cell service and check in to let her know I hadnt wrapped it up around a tree some place.

The forest fire when it was around 70,000 acres





as I was tying down there were 4 heli's flying out of the airport scooping water



A huge thanks to the firefighter on the ground and air who are putting in long hot days trying to get this fire under control. As of last count its just under 200,000 acres and 46% containment. Due to a HUGE amount of effort on their part, only 5 structures have been lost so far. It should have been hundreds of homes lost by all rights.

Great pics and I second your comment on the firefighters!

Was supposed to be in a meeting today with my business partner, but he has come down with pneumonia. The most sympathetic thing to do that I could come up with was to go flying and check out how high the local lakes have gotten with all the rain we've had over the last two weeks. My close in practice area that did have about 20 places to land is down to maybe a half dozen. Here are two I landed today.

Barnstormer wrote:

now that's a nice shot!

the red prop really adds to the effect....

(couldn't resist)

Yea, still flying the loaner. Called Whirl Wind today and my new prop is still at the paint. Might be ready for shipment middle of next week they say. Not holding my breath. At least I'm flying!
)

To be honest, at this point it's really grown on me.

Like a fungus!

CamTom12 wrote:To be honest, at this point it's really grown on me.

Like a fungus!

I hear ya! I find some solace in knowing the plane it came off of:



Hoping somehow I become a better pilot because of it.

Barnstormer wrote:

CamTom12 wrote:To be honest, at this point it's really grown on me.

Like a fungus!

I hear ya! I find some solace in knowing the plane it came off of:

Hoping somehow I become a better pilot because of it.

Ho-

Lee

Cow.

That was the coolest video I've seen in a little bit!! I don't think I've seen a normal airplane fly like that, only RCs!!

Stayed current tonight.


Cambridge, oh


Noble County



The glare was awful from the instruments. Gonna have to do something about that.

I've landed with no landing light in a Cherokee before but the combo of no landing light and instrument glare made depth perception a bitch.

Last saturday(Memorial weekend) the local 180/185 club landed some Idaho strips: Copper Basin, Twin Bridges, Smiley Creek, Sulpher Creek(breakfast) and Warm Springs..............Good times............more to come, thanks Brian and Kevin. FYI Copper Basin 0U2 is unbelievably gorgeous this spring.

I went flying yesterday from New Hampshire down to my old home in Marblehead Massachusetts and here are a few pictures.

I apologize for the fuzzy pictures.

They were clear prior to uploading them to photobucket

The picture below is of Plum Island airport in Newburyport MA.



Below is Ipswich MA.



Below is Marblehead MA. I used to live on the island on the left.



Below is the Crane Estate from the 'toilet dynasty'.



Below is Gloucester Harbor home of the 'Perfect Storm' crew.



Below I am heading home to Portsmouth New Hampshire.