I had to fly over to the Afton Wyo. area to check the access road and work site for a cell tower crane job this week, this means less surprises when I show up(driving the crane, 3.5 hr drive, flying 45 min.) and also makes it real easy to find once I'm driving. This is a FREE service I offer my crane customers, ha ha! After leaving the job site I spotted this great ridge top area, 8600' high. Then I overflew a very active mine site, there was some very heavy equipment working hard, and it was like "big boys with their toys" time, early Sunday morning. Then onto a new site on the ridgeline behind my place, about 3 miles away, it looks smooth and mostly is, where there arn't beachball sized rocks, it took a while to eyeball the best touchdown spot. And finally, a dirt road landing to finish up some details on my latest solar job, I also took some aerials of my customers farm that I will mail him. Again, no extra charge! I sure hope these people appreciate me slaving away on a holiday weekend

Great pics as always CG.

How do you like the new gear? I see you have the "silencer" back on.

Matt,
Yeah the swiss muffler had to be slightly re-routed, but it fits between the cabane struts perfectly! I would have really hated to lose it, as I have gotten used to cattle not looking up, horses not running off etc., and I enjoy laying claim to the quiestest airplane around, and I would like to take on any challengers, in other words get others thinking along the same lines. The new gear is a bit draggier which was expected, but I am currently, in between flights anyway, fairing and covering it, and I think it will be almost as low drag as the original gear. Not a huge issue at the speeds I fly at, and a great tradeoff for the increased capability of the gear.