140eagles wrote:Great post and video - and just in time to put the Idaho strips on the list of places I definitely want to visit.

I hope to be there in about two weeks and will review info on the RAF Airfield Guide and youtube videos.

Anything else I should check out?

Pacer_ar wrote:Quick question. What weekend is the Skywagon fly-in just to be aware of the traffic at JC.

Dog is my Copilot wrote:What an amazing summer it has been for me. Just got back from my third Idaho trip. Had a wonderful time camping at Johnson Creek with several friends. Weather was awesome. No smoke. Some scattered T storms to make it interesting and not too hot.

I flew my 180 one of the days I was there but the other two days I flew with my friend Sonia in her C170 with a stock O-300D engine. She put the Mac 8042 prop on it a few months ago which made an improvement in the climb performance. I have to say - I was impressed. We landed at Wilson Bar and Cold Meadows on Friday and did Indian/Thomas and Mahoney Creek Sunday. Now the C170 is not going to win any speed contests but it climbed reasonably well for having 2 adults, some flight bags and near full fuel. Camping gear was at 3U2. I am sure it would perform better solo. Now it was not particular hot this weekend in Idaho. Highs in the mid to upper 70s but the lows were only in the low 50s but still not super cold either. Really got me thinking what a great airplane the C170 is for just an all around fun airplane. I will be headed back to Idaho the following weekend for the Skywagon fly-in. Don't get me wrong either - I still love my Skywagon and can't think of a better plane for Idaho but if anyone is on a budget and wants to fly tailwheel airplanes the stock C170 with the right prop gets the job done. It really can do most of the strips in Idaho. The IO360 mod would be cool but is super expensive and if the mission is just 2 full size adults and camping gear why not just go stock C170 and feel the love. I am stoked for Sonia. She has a beautiful airplane that is really not that expensive to own. We flew back to Portland. I flew direct and made it back in 2:14 in the 180 going about 20 nm further. She stopped in Baker City and it took her about 1.6 hours longer. I used 29 gallons. She said she burned 20.

Here is a video of one of the videos and some photos of the weekend.

Josh

140eagles wrote:Great post and video - and just in time to put the Idaho strips on the list of places I definitely want to visit.

I hope to be there in about two weeks and will review info on the RAF Airfield Guide and youtube videos.

Anything else I should check out?

Scolopax wrote:

Dog is my Copilot wrote:What an amazing summer it has been for me. Just got back from my third Idaho trip. Had a wonderful time camping at Johnson Creek with several friends. Weather was awesome. No smoke. Some scattered T storms to make it interesting and not too hot.

I flew my 180 one of the days I was there but the other two days I flew with my friend Sonia in her C170 with a stock O-300D engine. She put the Mac 8042 prop on it a few months ago which made an improvement in the climb performance. I have to say - I was impressed. We landed at Wilson Bar and Cold Meadows on Friday and did Indian/Thomas and Mahoney Creek Sunday. Now the C170 is not going to win any speed contests but it climbed reasonably well for having 2 adults, some flight bags and near full fuel. Camping gear was at 3U2. I am sure it would perform better solo. Now it was not particular hot this weekend in Idaho. Highs in the mid to upper 70s but the lows were only in the low 50s but still not super cold either. Really got me thinking what a great airplane the C170 is for just an all around fun airplane. I will be headed back to Idaho the following weekend for the Skywagon fly-in. Don't get me wrong either - I still love my Skywagon and can't think of a better plane for Idaho but if anyone is on a budget and wants to fly tailwheel airplanes the stock C170 with the right prop gets the job done. It really can do most of the strips in Idaho. The IO360 mod would be cool but is super expensive and if the mission is just 2 full size adults and camping gear why not just go stock C170 and feel the love. I am stoked for Sonia. She has a beautiful airplane that is really not that expensive to own. We flew back to Portland. I flew direct and made it back in 2:14 in the 180 going about 20 nm further. She stopped in Baker City and it took her about 1.6 hours longer. I used 29 gallons. She said she burned 20.

Here is a video of one of the videos and some photos of the weekend.

Josh

I flew my old 170B around the Idaho Backcountry for a decade. It worked well, but when takeoff and climb performance are factored into the equation, greater margin must be built in to planning your moves than in a 180.

They really suffer at high density altitudes, and with anything but the lightest loads on board. I would park it by nine in the morning during the summer and keep it light, carrying partial fuel loads, and never more than two people.

I took my 170 into Vines, Dewey Moore, Mile High, Wilson Bar, Lower Loon, Salmon Bar in Hells Canyon, and many others.

It never let me down, but I nearly hit trees on departure from Stehekin once when the book numbers presented the departure plan as quite comfortable.

One thing that I can say is that the 170 is one of the nicest handling airplanes that I have ever flown. I loved spinning it and it was easy to put it right where I wanted it on every landing.

Scolopax wrote:
I flew my old 170B around the Idaho Backcountry for a decade. It worked well, but when takeoff and climb performance are factored into the equation, more margin needs to be built in when planning your move than in a 180.

They really suffer at high density altitudes, and with anything but the lightest loads on board. I would park it by nine in the morning during the summer and keep it light, carrying partial fuel loads, and never more than two people.

I took it into Vines, Dewey Moore, Mile, high, Wilson, bar, lower loon, salmon, bar in Hells Canyon, and many others.

It never let me down, but I nearly hit trees on departure from Stehekin when the book numbers looked quite comfortable.

One thing that I can say is that my 170 was one of the nicest handling airplanes that I ever flew.

Scolopax wrote:

140eagles wrote:Great post and video - and just in time to put the Idaho strips on the list of places I definitely want to visit.

I hope to be there in about two weeks and will review info on the RAF Airfield Guide and youtube videos.

Anything else I should check out?

Do you have any mountain/canyon flying experience? It’s not a great idea to head out in to that country without some previous experience or instruction specific to the area.

Dog is my Copilot wrote:

Scolopax wrote:

140eagles wrote:Great post and video - and just in time to put the Idaho strips on the list of places I definitely want to visit.

I hope to be there in about two weeks and will review info on the RAF Airfield Guide and youtube videos.

Anything else I should check out?

Do you have any mountain/canyon flying experience? It’s not a great idea to head out in to that country without some previous experience or instruction specific to the area.

Scolopax is right in recommending some mountain/canyon flying instruction if you've never flown in those kind of environments. Some simple advice - fly in the early mornings with no winds. Stick to the easier strips at first. Maybe read a few books. Amy Hoover's book on Mountain flying is well written and a good place to start. I will out there Sept 8-10th. If you are around be good to meet. The Skywagon Fly-in is Sept 7-10 at 3U2. Should be a little cooler in early September and make for some great flying. Glad to hear you decided to head further west on the trip. Should be an epic trip for you.


Josh

Dog is my Copilot wrote:..... Maybe read a few books. .....