To echo Scolopax: This looks like fun!

I want to do my bi-annual ride with that dude if he is a CFI. Control! Wow!

Was that a 172 Conversion?

Nevemind went to youtube and answered my own question..........Durrrrrrr

Shit! It even says it at the top of the screenshot before starting the video!

Dumbass

This is a gravel bar on the Big River about 25 miles East of McGrath. 800-900 feet useable depending on river level, it's one-way, land downriver and depart upriver (the direction the 185 is pointing) with a pretty good curve to it to avoid the stuff that can hurt (logs and water). It's fun stuff!

Hi Born to Fly AK,

Are those 8.5s. I can really respect that! Nice photographs.

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Just did one of those today although not on a beach, and thankfully not in a 172 Would have never made it out

Wind was calm so I tried it both directions. First one to the right went good, left wing came up nice and up I went soon after. Second one curving to the left had a little more excitement as I realized I wasn't getting as much left aileron deflection because of the bleeping flap handle in the super cub. Not that aileron has much to do with the turn itself, but its nice to get that bank started so you know you'll be flying soon. Yet another lesson learned

bart wrote:Just did one of those today although not on a beach, and thankfully not in a 172 Would have never made it out

Wind was calm so I tried it both directions. First one to the right went good, left wing came up nice and up I went soon after. Second one curving to the left had a little more excitement as I realized I wasn't getting as much left aileron deflection because of the bleeping flap handle in the super cub. Not that aileron has much to do with the turn itself, but its nice to get that bank started so you know you'll be flying soon. Yet another lesson learned

May I ask where in California? River, desert ?

8GCBC wrote:

bart wrote:Just did one of those today although not on a beach, and thankfully not in a 172 Would have never made it out

Wind was calm so I tried it both directions. First one to the right went good, left wing came up nice and up I went soon after. Second one curving to the left had a little more excitement as I realized I wasn't getting as much left aileron deflection because of the bleeping flap handle in the super cub. Not that aileron has much to do with the turn itself, but its nice to get that bank started so you know you'll be flying soon. Yet another lesson learned

May I ask where in California? River, desert ?

More like a dry creek/gravel pit. It's in a place far enough from the general public

I'm fortunate to have a nice little playground around here, just try not to play in the same place for too long

There's a spot in this video of the place I'm talking about and the takeoff described, although its kinda hard to see with the camera angle. Starts at around 2:00

I landed the 207 on a gravel bar on the Koyukuk River between Coldfoot and Bettles last summer. I was on a charter returning to McGrath empty, landed for no reason other than it was there. I landed upstream curving to the left, departed downstream curving right. No more of that! This particular 207 was wrecked in Hawaii in a former life (took a swim in the Pacific Ocean as a matter of fact) and had the rest of it beat to death in Alaska since then. It takes full right rudder to maintain centerline taking off on a straight runway, I don't know what I was thinking.

Thanks GCBC. I've only flown 8.50's on Cessna's, flew a PA-12 on 29x11s for a few years, but as long as we pick the landing sites carefully, 8.50's are just right. Here's a picture of the 180 on a neat bench up above the Cheeneetnuk River 65 miles southeast of McGrath. Pea gravel and smoother than a lot of maintained runways! The Cheeneetnuk has some great salmon fishing further downriver. My cousin and I are taking the wives out camping here with the 180 and 185, as soon as this lousy weather lets up.

Hi Born to Fly AK,

The size of the surface media ( pebbles? ) the 207 is resting on is larger than sand, but.... Do you run tracks first or can you just tell from experience the surface consistency from the air? Thank you.

8GCBC wrote:Hi Born to Fly AK,

The size of the surface media ( pebbles? ) the 207 is resting on is larger than sand, but.... Do you run tracks first or can you just tell from experience the surface consistency from the air? Thank you.

If it looks at all soft or the roughness of the surface is questionable I'll do a touch and go before committing to full stop. Growing up here and having covered on foot most every type of surface I fly over helps a lot in judging surface conditions. Snow still scares me as my ski experience is pretty low, but give me 8.50's in the summer and my confidence is pretty high. Probably too high, but I haven't bitten off more than I can chew...yet.

Thank you "Born to Fly". I appreciate your comments and photographs. Also, you seem like a cool pilot to know and fly with!

Hey Bart,

Cool video. Along, with all the posts from Idaho, Nevada and Utah, it's nice to see your California Cub doing some desert work.

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8GCBC wrote:Thank you "Born to Fly". I appreciate your comments and photographs. Also, you seem like a cool pilot to know and fly with!

Thanks, likewise! If you find yourself up this direction, bring the floats, I'll get the beer! I only have a floats-wheels flight time ratio of 1:100, but it's my drug, and I know all the coolest places and best fishing spots. Still trying to convince the boss that the 185 belongs on floats. I got the new float training module in the training manual approved with the Feds this spring, just need to get a set of floats ($$,$$$).

born2flyak wrote:

8GCBC wrote:Thank you "Born to Fly". I appreciate your comments and photographs. Also, you seem like a cool pilot to know and fly with!

Thanks, likewise! If you find yourself up this direction, bring the floats, I'll get the beer! I only have a floats-wheels flight time ratio of 1:100, but it's my drug, and I know all the coolest places and best fishing spots. Still trying to convince the boss that the 185 belongs on floats. I got the new float training module in the training manual approved with the Feds this spring, just need to get a set of floats ($$,$$$).

"Roger that". I must say I would be happy to say hello in person and take you flying on floats. Floats are wonderful for me. I only have about 140 hours of SES, but Wow! Hope your boss sees the "light" (and water), you guys will have much fun on floats.

8GCBC wrote:Hey Bart,

Cool video. Along, with all the posts from Idaho, Nevada and Utah, it's nice to see your California Cub doing some desert work.

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Thanks! I guess I didn't answer part of your question, I'm on what many call the central coast of CA, sorta by Monterey. There's lots of good areas to fly around here...notwithstanding the legalities of landing in any particular spot, it's more than likely privately owned, so you run the risk of getting yelled at or worse.

It's a calculated risk, and one I'm willing to take...at least until I get caught...easier to ask for forgiveness

Hi Bart,

Attempted once to touch down in San Luis Reservoir. But, it was way to windy. So I went to Merced (amphibs) and spent the night. This was '09, July. Then back to Oregon... It was fun.

8GCBC wrote:

born2flyak wrote:

8GCBC wrote:Thank you "Born to Fly". I appreciate your comments and photographs. Also, you seem like a cool pilot to know and fly with!

Thanks, likewise! If you find yourself up this direction, bring the floats, I'll get the beer! I only have a floats-wheels flight time ratio of 1:100, but it's my drug, and I know all the coolest places and best fishing spots. Still trying to convince the boss that the 185 belongs on floats. I got the new float training module in the training manual approved with the Feds this spring, just need to get a set of floats ($$,$$$).

"Roger that". I must say I would be happy to say hello in person and take you flying on floats. Floats are wonderful for me. I only have about 140 hours of SES, but Wow! Hope your boss sees the "light" (and water), you guys will have much fun on floats.

I try to get a new rating every year, a few years ago I got my SES, and my boss thought that was a waste of money since we don't fly anything on floats. A friend stopped into McGrath not long afterwards, and let me borrow his 206 on amphibs. So, I took my boss for a ride in it. He went and got his float rating a few months later. He knows as well as I do what fun it is and what a great toy it can be, he just hasn't viewed a set of floats as a business investment like I have, yet.