I've got to make a trip to Colorado in the next month or so. We're heading out so my girlfriend can visit some grad schools around Denver and Fort Collins. I like to fly and it sounds like a good reason to fly to Colorado......but it's 90 degrees! Is the density altitude going to make it no fun in a 90HP J5? We're coming from Ohio. I guess I'm looking for some high DA Cub pilots' opinions. 2 of us and a little gear in the plane still leave us about 150 lbs under gross so that is good. I want to be able to play around, not just get there and back!

We may be leaving in a few weeks so that being said if the whole thing does push through I'm going to be exploring some back country strips in the area. Would be good to meet up with some others flying around Colorado!

I wouldn't worry about it, use some common sense of course. Do your flying in the morning when it's cool and before the thermals get going. It'll be a fun ride. Low and slow!

I'll second what GBFLYER said, use some common sense and stay under gross weight, it's no big deal. I've been to plenty of high altitude/high density altitude places in an 85 hp. Ercoupe, it's no problem if you pay attention to what you're doing

If you really want to find out what your airplane will do before you leave let me suggest loading it up one warm Ohio afternoon, climb to 9000', slow down and pretend to takeoff and time a climb to 11,500. If you really want to get realistic tape some pictures of the Rockies up in the windows.
I've heard there are some backcountry pilots in Ohio, they would have some insight as well.

I'll go for it! Just needed a little affirmation. I'll keep the good stuff posted on here. Lucky my passenger is only 120lbs as well! We've got to go to Denver and Ft. Collins but other than that the airplane is our home.

Agree with the others. You'll be just fine. We have a bunch of cubs around and they apparently didn't get the memo about high DA's... Swing by KFTG when you're out here.

I'm a transplant to Colorado from Ohio, so I'm glad to hear of another Buckeye heading this direction! Just keep in mind that our DA isn't always bad in the cool mornings out here. But, a 9,000 ft DA is easily attainable out here in the heat of a summer's day. I do a lot of long range precision shooting, and we use a range that is very close to KDEN. We use DA in our ballistic charts, and I've routinely seen 9,000ft+ density altitude readings on our equipment during the heat of the day in the summer.

I live here in boulder and fly my 85hp j3 all the time. 2 up is not as much fun but perfectly fine. Fly earlier in the morning to get the hang of it. Let me know when you are here and let's meet up.

Yet another reason that I LOVE this forum! Some other forums if you would have posted this the responses would have been....No way it's possible and if you try it you will DIE! The amount of experience here is mind boggling.

Don't shut the engine off if you land on one of those 14,000 footers.

On April 12, 1951, Lieutenant John W. Hodgkin, age 42, a pilot stationed at McChord Air Force Base, flies his ski-equipped Piper J-3 Cub from Spanaway Air Strip to the top of Mount Rainier (14,410 feet), establishing a new world record for a high-altitude landing. However, when Hodgkin prepares to leave, the engine will not start in the rarefied air...

the rest of the story
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?di ... le_id=8469

soyAnarchisto, will let you know when we arrive, it would be good to meet up. We'll stop by Front Range as well if there's some action.

I'm leaving Ohio around the 11th of Aug, picking my girlfriend up in Chicago. We got a few days in Lincoln, NE visiting some family then onwards to Colorado. We should be out there for about a week before heading back so plenty of time!

The road back should take us through the Rans factory and who knows where else.