Quick background:

My brother would send me trade-a-plane and barnstormers links to Huskies for sale on a weekly basis.

“You need a Husky!” He would say.

“I live in New York.” I’d always tell him. Where am I going to take full advantage of a Husky around here?

Finally, on November 5th he sent me an email. “This one is a smoking deal!”

He had sent me a trade-a-plane link with ALL the Huskies listed.

I started to ask him which one, but then it jumped out at me. Not only was it in my price range, but it was almost exactly the same color as my brother’s airplane, albeit mine would have a friendly dog on the rudder.

I bought it and brought it to Michigan 2 weeks later to join up with Kurt. We managed to get in a day of flying together before I had to leave the airplane with him for its annual. But what fun we had!

Here is the result:

Doing a few takeoffs and landings I found the Husky feels refined, and is a kick to fly. The long, 14-hour trip from southern Florida to Michigan allowed me to discover how well it flew hands off. It ALMOST doesn’t need an autopilot.

Three points were helped with full aft trim, and full flap solo takeoffs were under 200’ which made me laugh with glee.

The useful load is a bit silly on the recent models. Mine is 907 pounds. To use all of that though, a belly pod will allow for 160 pounds and is currently being fitted. As is ADS-B, a Reiff engine heater, oil cooler door, overhauled carb and an annual. So I can’t play with it for a few more weeks for sure.


In the meantime, I just get to stare at pics from that November day:

Kent wrote:Doing a few takeoffs and landings I found the Husky feels refined, and is a kick to fly. The long, 14-hour trip from southern Florida to Michigan allowed me to discover how well it flew hands off. It ALMOST doesn’t need an autopilot.

Three points were helped with full aft trim, and full flap solo takeoffs were under 200’ which made me laugh with glee.

The useful load is a bit silly on the recent models. Mine is 907 pounds. To use all of that though, a belly pod will allow for 160 pounds and is currently being fitted. As is ADS-B, a Reiff engine heater, oil cooler door, overhauled carb and an annual. So I can’t play with it for a few more weeks for sure.


In the meantime, I just get to stare at pics from that November day:

F1937C2D-70DB-4A66-8BBB-DF1530928D18.jpeg

I'm so envious... I keep threatening to come visit MI one of these summers.

There may be a spare Husky waiting for you!

Flew the kids down to the Air & Space Museum annex by Dulles; amazing collection!

Night flight up the Hudson VFR corridor home.




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BITD I flew a rented Cessna over NYC out of Linden, NJ. Pre 9/11.

I'd have thought that trip was impossible now, or very difficult to execute.

IFR on ATC control or VFR with flight following?

Great pics! Thanks for sharing!

Kent wrote:There may be a spare Husky waiting for you!

Freakin' cool to be Zane......

akaviator wrote:

Kent wrote:There may be a spare Husky waiting for you!

Freakin' cool to be Zane......

Pretty sure he earns it running the kindergarten. And he has kids at home:)

Mountain Doctor wrote:BITD I flew a rented Cessna over NYC out of Linden, NJ. Pre 9/11.

I'd have thought that trip was impossible now, or very difficult to execute.

IFR on ATC control or VFR with flight following?

Great pics! Thanks for sharing!

There is a VFR ‘tunnel’ (or ‘exclusion’) that runs along the Hudson River underneath the class Bravo up to 1,300ft. Tends to be pretty crowded on Saturdays - particularly helicopters - but evenings are quieter.


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When I lived in the Bay Area a great pleasure was flying around the SF Bay and over the Golden Gate Bridge. I always regarded it as a unique privilege. You are similarly blessed

Ches wrote:

Mountain Doctor wrote:BITD I flew a rented Cessna over NYC out of Linden, NJ. Pre 9/11.

I'd have thought that trip was impossible now, or very difficult to execute.

IFR on ATC control or VFR with flight following?

Great pics! Thanks for sharing!

There is a VFR ‘tunnel’ (or ‘exclusion’) that runs along the Hudson River underneath the class Bravo up to 1,300ft. Tends to be pretty crowded on Saturdays - particularly helicopters - but evenings are quieter.


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I flew this route a couple of times on a Sunday about 5 years ago (a round-trip flightseeing with a buddy, then my wife and I used it on our return trip South). Started early in the morning and made the last one-way right around noon. It was pretty busy on that last trip though!

Beautiful corridor, I'm glad it's still open!

akaviator wrote:

Kent wrote:There may be a spare Husky waiting for you!

Freakin' cool to be Zane......

It’s freakin cool to be Kent’s brother! I’m a lucky guy in that regard!

Kurt

Been Flying the wagon lately


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Weather finally broke enough to fly late Sunday afternoon! (of course today is perfect, but work...)

Lakes patrol 2020




first ice road of 2020

Only my third time on skis and the first time this winter, so I have a lot yet to learn. But damn, ski flying sure is fun! Got a little chilly on the ground; hit -25F at the last place I landed, so I didn't stick around long. What a beautiful day!

I really like the first one----thought a sail boat was out there with you!!!!

36 - 40 deg this afternoon, great day to fly with Debbie.




The main ice road between the north end of Gull and Ernie's on the south was pretty good. But some of the others were terrible with overflow. There was overflow all over the lakes today.


and home again:

wow outstanding folks, makes me miss the real cold!