Today was decision day. I had planned on a trip to Alaska starting next weekend on wheels and then picking up a rented motorhome on June 2nd in Anchorage. However, a landing mishap has rendered my landing gear in need of some TLC and not enough time to get it done, so, tomorrow I will put on floats for the season and look forward to a new adventure flying up and then touring some on the way back home. Should be an adventure.

I am ferrying a 182 on floats around the same time, I had to leave it at Kenmore to get back to work. Where are you planning on stopping on your way up the coast?

Be safe on your trip, old man. I sure would like to tag along but WW is a much more pleasant co-pilot I'm sure.

Now I'm curious about this landing that roughed up your gear.

Trust me Ford u will have more fun in AK on floats...heck u can go see PC (only hour and 20 min from ANC) and land in his bay I would skip the motor home deal and make it a flying vacation Join the AK Airman's Assoc and they will probably let u park on their dock on Lake Hood when in Anchorage.

http://alaskaairmen.org/index.php?pagename=web-cam

Headoutdaplane: I will be leaving from Bridge Lake which is north of Kamloops and fueling at either Frazier Lake or Ft. St. James and then first night in Atlin or Whitehorse depending on wife's desires. So the coast route is safe for the trip north, however, on the way back south I will probably go into SE Alaska and maybe a cabin or two ending up in Port Alexander, just south of Sitka. Got a bud from Baja that owns a fishing lodge there and no clients till June 17. Can't wait.

Z: Sorry you are just sitting in your plane and making "vroom, vroom" noises. Alcohol will have to be present before the landing episode is aired.

Don: Can't afford avgas for that long in AK or Canada for that matter. Motorhome has to be cheaper to run than a plane! We have no schedule after the 10th so everything is possible. I am missing PC by a day in Anchorage when we pick up the motorhome but may plop (there is that word again) in later on Lake Clark. Will have to inquire what vintages of wine he stocks. Have been a member of AAA for about 5 yrs and talked to Peggy yesterday and you are right, she offered parking in front of their office. Had an Alaska Supplement sent to Northway from Northern Lights Avionics where I will pick it up and clear customs. Having it sent to me in BC from Sporty's via UPS had a $55 shipping fee for a $5.75 publication, gotta love.

Don: Will have to inquire what vintages of wine he stocks. Have been a member of AAA for about 5 yrs and talked to Peggy yesterday and you are right, she offered parking in front of their office. .

Airmans facility is my old base of operations. Spent 25 yrs there. Twist PC's arm he has some good stuff (wine) hid somewhere Better yet bring some better wine and steaks to smooth the skids I would suggest u make that trip to PC's for a few days to Lake Clark. Good day trip from ANC fly up to Mt McKinley in your plane from ANC. Only about 2.5 hrs round trip fly up the Kahiltna Glacier to the base camp for the climbers, 7000 ft. Stop at Chelatna Lake lodge and have lunch on the way back. They have cabins also with a wood fired hot tub for over nights. If u go down south east make sure u stop in and see GB at Glacier Bay near Juneau. He may have some old freezer burned halibut for u.

Stop and overnight in Cordova on your way south check in with this guy ....



Re: Your coolest/favorite Aviation/Flying Pic

New postby aktahoe1 » Thu May 20, 2010 9:00 am
Great pic Patrol guy...that beached boat is just south of Cape St Elias...Kayak Island???....We fly our helicopters up and down that section of beach looking for glass balls.... Stop in to Cordova if your around in the spring....back in Tahoe now.

FF,

I don't really know about the fuel burn and cost. I was kinda stunned at the first fill up bill on the RV and quickly decided not to pay any attention to it again. Av Gas in our neck of the woods was nearing 7 dollars American in our neck of the woods last fall. Wonder what it is now. The gas the RV was eating was under $3 a gal.

Wine I stock. Well, we have 10 gallons in the loft ( cab) that is still in carboys and not bottled yet. I figure now that it is about a month aged and worth trying. We have Killer Juice cardboard and a few bottles of OVR #51. It all gets better after you fly Lake Clark Pass.

The IPA beer looked like it was getting good after only a week.

Now that we have water, floats are the way to be up here. I don't know about the way up, North 60.36 West 154 will get you real close.

I monitor 122.9 ( the pass, Lake Clark and Port Alsworth Frequency. Also channel 10 marine band.

The computer was working when I left and I hope when I get back the day after you.

GR

We launch this morning in a light rain, grrrr. First stop is Fraser Lake for fuel and a chat with Jim Danish who is considered to be one of the best float mechanic gurus in BC. Want to quiz him about rigging issues. Next stop is Whitehorse, YT for fuel and will spend the night.

This is a relatively light load for us as we are not doing any remote hard core camping. Going with our old backpacking tent instead of the 4-6 man tent we usually take. Also giving up the 2 burner stove for a single, no rifle just bear spray and running shoes. Here is the wife test driving the tent and our partial load. TBC

Ford,

Ellen can lend you a 250 Super Duty for that bear problem and give tips on how to effectively use it. You might be a little over weight though. Have a fun trip. Steve

Looks like Ford made it to anchorage

Now that is a surprise!! I can't even hide from you. Must be a good webcam? We got here yesterday afternoon from Whitehorse. Except for the glaciers, not much to see on the route from Whitehorse to Northway and then to Anchorage. However, Lake Hood is one of the neatest airplane areas I have ever seen, as entertaining as Oshkosh but more accesible. Went to the museum today and that was pretty good. Have some pictures but will have to download and sift thru.

Don, do you have an avionics shop here to recommend? How about a shop to check some rigging issues? Ever hear of Butch Cavanaugh in Wasilla?? Thanks, FF

Don't know the guy from Wasilla. Been away for a few years don't know the radio or mech any more. You can stop at Trail Ridge Air just across the road from where u are parked and ask Dan Bale he should be able to help. Also Ak Aircraft Sales has mechs right next to Trail Ridge. Where u are parked was my base of operations for 25 yrs. Alaska Air Guides. have fun in AK

Ford, for avionics use Northern Lights Avionics up at Merrill.

Gump

A second, third and fourth for Northern Lights Avionics. And enjoy the area.

Floats Alaska used to be a great outfit, and on Hood. Don't know who owns it now, though.

MTV

I have bought parts from Floats Alaska on various occasions. The parts department is very service oriented in my experience. I have no idea about their shop, but they seem to have a lot of customers. I have a friend in ANC who is an A&P/IA and likes them, for whatever that is worth.

You could ask Keenan Zerkel at AK Aircraft Sales. Like Don said, they have a shop, and I would trust him to steer you in the right direction if they can't help you.

Both the above mentioned outfits have a fair sized staff, and I would imagine the shop rates reflect that.

I'll bet you'll find someone there to help out. Oh yes, Northern Lights Avionics is still top - notch in my opinion.

gb

Don't know what your rigging problems are but u mention some gear problems a while back. If the floats aren't square will sure effect the take off performance. Atlee Jr. always wanted it square or 1/8 to 1/4 max. measured on the wires. If u tweaked the gear box on the gear it could affect the pork chop or float attachment point which would throw off the rigging....just a thought.

Have been putting many miles on the rental car. Lots of laps around Lake Hood, just a real treat to have acces to all of these planes. Today we drove up to Wasilla and Palmer looking for Butch Cananaugh who was recommended by the BC guru of floats. Finally found him and he is leaving for Ireland and I may be gone before he returns. He gave me more guys to check with, one being "Ski" from Lake Hood, will call him tonight.

Everybody agrees that Northern Lights Avionics is the best, tomorrow they get a call. Tomorrow we also pick up the motorhome and will take off towards Homer and following Portage Creek's advice. Also will be eating at the Mooses's Tooth restaurant tonight. A pilot at Belagua Lake, Keith Forsgren(sp) is suppose to be an expert on 185's. Headoutdaplane will also get a call.

Will probably defer my rigging work till we are done driving around. Gear box is not a factor as I have had these problems since I bought the plane in '04, grrrrrr.

Pic #1, a Skywagon owner from Whitehorse that also has a Fleet Canuck, AND a beautiful Staggerwing. #2 is a glacier on the way to Anchorage, and #3, for you Tea Baggers, mecca. TBC

Small world. And thanks PC for the heads up on the Moose's Tooth. Truly a great local restaurant, and jammed with people. Ate at the bar and sat next to a guy that left the hospital after 3 days to have a couple beers before going back and having surgery on Wed.

Today while driving around Lake Hood, again, I saw a new floatplane parked at the AAA dock. Went to investigate and another Skywagon. Guy from Phoenix who spends a ton of time in the Anchorage area. Named Pat Feenstra, knows PC pretty well. When we went to dinner who taps me on the shoulder but, yep, Pat. Nice guy and good chat. TBC

Ski came highly recommended to me for a pre-purchase/annual inspection when I was up there last winter looking at a rough 205 at Hood. The dealer never came to reality so it didn't happen, but I did meet with him for an hour or so. Very knowledgeable and I got the impression that he is a straight shooter. Pretty sure he's a one man show.

gb

FloatFlyer wrote:
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Ford

For your future reference, your picture #2 is of the Matanuska Glacier just West of Tahneta Pass. Look me up if you and your wife make it out to McCarthy. Also in Palmer, but rarely there in the summer time. Have a great time while here in the "Last Frontier."

Husky 304C
Eric