Hello All,
Today was once again a great day in Alaska. As the day got going I found myself alone...as the family went to Valdez...so I loaded up the Cub with all the necessary gear...fishing Rods included...and off I went. My goal was to look for the plentyful King Salmon...As I entered the Wrangel Mountains I observed the the many great things around...a few swans here, a cow moose with her new born calf...buffalo and numerous eagles...wow what a great back yard I have...As I passed by the Chitna Airport...I saw the Turbine Otter from the Ulitima Thule's Lodge loading up...WOW what a bush plane...That thing can really perform...As I approached the fishing hole...I noticed the water really has come up...so landing areas were limited...I did finally find a small spot and put the little cub down...Fishing was slow...so I departed and into the wind I went...I climbed and decided to search for some rainbows...in a few minutes I approached a nearby mountain lake and and prepared for a landing on the southern end...Everything went fine here and trout fishing was great... As the day wound down I departed for my return trip to Copper Center... The flight homw was fast as the southern wind scooted me along at about 105...fast for my cub...Thought I woud share a day in the back yard ...

Ron

Wow! I want to play in your back yard.

sounds like fun!
i flew a cub into lake hood last night with no radio. that was interesting.
on my way south i was noting aircraft parked at the end of peoples driveways. it looked like they used a gravel area just off the side of the public road for a strip....only in alaska!

If your reference is to a gravel strip near Lake Hood, that would be Lake Hood Strip. It is an "official" airport, complete with Tower control (Hood Tower controls both the lake and the strip).

If you're flying into and out of ANC airspace, get a copy of the Alaska SUpplement, and pay careful attention to the section on Special FAR 93 airspace. There is special airspace around there, that can get you in big trouble, and it's not the same as the Class C airspace.

Don't cross up SFAR 93 airspace--they can violate you on that one. You can, however, ask for a deviation from 93 airspace rules, if you don't like flying low over water. The controllers are pretty good about approving deviations, traffic permitting.

THe reason for the 93 airspace is crossing heavy aircraft (C-5, KC-135, E-3, and fighter aircraft) going to Elmendorf. If you're going to Hood, those guys may be RIGHT over your head by a few hundred feet.


MTV

mike,
we did indeed go into the hood gravel strip. and we did establish telephone contact with ANC tower (hood tower was closed-it was late). we entered at the appropriate altitude from the boat hull to avoid elmendorf and ANC traffic and hood seaplane traffic.
the battery died in the pa-11 i was flying, and all turned out well.
just thought i would share a fun AK story with the lower 48 guys without getting tooooo technical.

Yep, however the point is that Anchorage airspace is some of the most technical airspace in the country, combining several class D areas, a Class C area, and very specific arrival and departure procedures for all the airports in the bowl area.

And there ain't nobody parks their airplanes in their "driveways" around Lake Hood. Just try getting one of those parking spaces.

Just nit pickin,

MTV

Mike-

I think you miss Alaska too much. I don't think he was suggesting that people park their planes in their driveways at Lake Hood. Rather, on his way between PATK and Z41, he noticed some planes in driveways and wondered if they landed on the roads. Just a little nit pickin of my own

CEZ

Ron,

Your backyard sounds like my dreamscape. I spent a night in Cordova a couple years ago and flew around the copper river just to look around then flew along the beach all the way to Yakutat (spellcheck?) and can't wait to get back up there. Maybe next summer.

Dave

CEZ,

Yep, probably isn't the first, or the last, thing I've misread.

MTV

My Girls and I, Linnea 6 and Zoe 8 took off this evening for another adventure in the back yard...The Rain stopped and to the Copper River we headed...my girls really wanted to find a spot land and play in the sand...We foud a spot not far from Copper Center...it was rounded island sandbar...with large rocks at the begining...with roll out into the sand...Landing was uneventful and we stopped in 200-300 feet turning to the right as we did...it was now 10:00pm...we searched the beach for some river rocks...then ran bare foot in the sand...rocks we found and 11:00pm approached..still lots of light....we loaded the little cub...rocks included...as we took off the girls gigled with excitement...it was a short flight back to Copper Center...what fun....Five gallons of gas...$16.20...watching my girls play where no else can...PRICELESS...

Into Alaska,
Ron

J5Ron wrote:My Girls and I, Linnea 6 and Zoe 8 took off this evening for another adventure in the back yard...The Rain stopped and to the Copper River we headed...my girls really wanted to find a spot land and play in the sand...We foud a spot not far from Copper Center...it was rounded island sandbar...with large rocks at the begining...with roll out into the sand...Landing was uneventful and we stopped in 200-300 feet turning to the right as we did...it was now 10:00pm...we searched the beach for some river rocks...then ran bare foot in the sand...rocks we found and 11:00pm approached..still lots of light....we loaded the little cub...rocks included...as we took off the girls gigled with excitement...it was a short flight back to Copper Center...what fun....Five gallons of gas...$16.20...watching my girls play where no else can...PRICELESS...

Into Alaska,
Ron

That's great Ron! Did you get any photos?

Well my vaction to SD is over...I'm out of the heat and have spent the last week once again playing in the Backyard...First to a small remote lake in the Wrangles to catch some rainbows...what a time...my brother-in law DC form Valdez flew in a boat from Valdez and we simply slamed them....

Next I planned a family trip...off we went on a north wind day to McCarthy. The trip was fast as the tailwind pushed the heavily loaded J-5 Cruiser to record breaking speeds...109...made the trip there in 58 minutes...Hiked around...a a great burger at the Potato in McCarthy then we caught a shuttle to Kennicott...As the day was approaching its end we went back to the McCarthy R.W. and went of to look for a camping site...We ended up staying at a cabin site called Peavine...one of my favorite sites...Camping was good and bears this time were not a problem...Morning came and we made a plan...return home via the Chitna River. We made a muddy landing on the Chitna as my girls spotted what looked like a great place to swim...we landed...got the plane VERY muddy...the girls swam....I washed the plane....The return trip to Copper Center was great....

Happy Fliing...


Ron

I will try to post some photo's in my gallery....