My new ride is a Murphy Rebel O-320 on floats. I need to bring it home. The trouble is that it is on straight floats in central British Columbia, and I am in southern Manitoba. There's pretty much nothing in terms of float bases in the southern Canadian prairies. I know that I can fly north to Dawson Creek and cut across that way arriving somewhere around Bakers Narrows or Grace Lake in Manitoba and from there it is straight forward.
However, I was wondering if anybody has flown on floats from somewhere around northern Idaho to northern Minnesota and stayed state side? Is there a reasonable route one could take and be able to get fuel at water bases? My a/c will burn ethanol free Mogas and/or 100ll. Any advice? Thanks.

What kind of range do you expect to get before you need to refuel?

My bladder's good for only 3 to 4hrs or 3 to 400 mi , but the plane will do better than that. At least by the book. I never seem to get the book range out of my aircraft, I'm probably a little too conservative on the leaning.

Thanks,

Andy

Andy, that should be a fun plane. I never get west of Lake of the Woods, but have read about people that have done that trip, just don't remember how they did it. If you don't get an answer here, someone on AvCanada in the Bush Flying & Specialty Air Service forum will know, http://www.avcanada.ca

Steve

Thanks Steve,
I'm looking forward to getting up to some good walleye lakes in eastern Mb and NW Ontario. Are you planning on getting to the Norseman Festival this summer? I didn't make it last year, but hope to get there again this year.

Cheers,

Andy.

Andy, they cancelled the Norseman Festival this year, but said they hope to have it again in the future. I hope to spend a couple of days in Red Lake the first week of September, to pre-fish with a couple of friends that are entered into the walleye tournament. Just got the plane out of winter storage and flew it home from Park Rapids, Mn yesterday. When you get the plane back and are looking for a destination to fly, come on over and I'll buy lunch.

Steve

Wow, I see that now on their website. Wonder why?
Where are you based in the summer Steve? I'm always looking for destinations to fly

They just did not have the funds to pull it off this year. Check your PM's and I'll fill you in, as to location.

Steve

Steve,
I was wondering if that was your plane sitting out in front of PR Aviaitions shop the last time I was at the airport. At least I thought about you when I saw it.
Sorry I missed you. Would have been nice to just say hi. Unfortunately I wasn't there when you came down, I am back in the DC area for my wifes retirement ceremony. 24 years in the Army and time to get out.

Andy,

It is possible to fly across the prairies in the northern tier of states. From Idaho you can find fuel at Polson, MT, and can also find lodging at Seeley Lake, as well as food. I suspect the good folks there can help you get fuel from the airport also. Good docks at both.

From there, if you have the range, go to Fort Peck in eastern Montana, on the north side of Fort Peck Reservoir. If you can't make it that far, it's possible to get fuel at Fort Benton, just north and east of Great Falls, MT. That's a landing in the Missouri River, and it is really ripping right now. That place is okay when the water's high, but there's going to be a lot of current and trash in the river right now, and for some time this summer.

From Ft Peck, you can also get fuel in Bismark, ND, again on the Missouri River, but it's not as hairy as Ft Benton. From there you should be able to reach home plate. Alternate to Bismark is Jamestown ND, which is probably easier than Bismark, but further south and east.

Let me know if you need contacts for those spots.

MTV

Thanks MTV. That's some great information.

OK, thanks guys. Another question I should have asked in the initial post. Now that I know I could fly this route, I'm going to consider it. Now I need to know where I can clear customs into the USA near my departure point. Can I do this at Polson, MT? If not is there another water aerodrome in the vicinity that I can do this at. On the return trip, I think I've got it covered. There's a number of options for Cdn customs near my home base. Thanks again.

Andy

Keith,
That may have been my plane, they would have dug it out and un-pickled it on Thursday or Friday, they pulled it out of the main hanger on Monday morning and towed it to the float pond, so I could head out. Ellen and I went to the Chicago area to pick up a boat this weekend and so we ended up coming in from the south. Glad to hear your wife is able to retire. Does that mean finishing the log house is now priority # 1?

Steve