The "Final Chapter"

November 05th, 2011

Well, ...when we tied N500ME down at the hangar at Oroville, WA and made our way north to Kelowna, BC (on June 22nd, 2011) and even when I posted the last blog shortly thereafter, I thought we would be back at OS7 and fly the plane home within a couple of weeks. And that was allowing a bit of extra time for the FAA paperwork. I would like to explain a few points on importing an aircraft into Canada and also how little mistakes can add a lot of time (and money) in this endeavour. Flying between the countries is easy and here is your 155 page guide on how do, compliments of your AOPA/COPA Organizations. But don't despair it is all summarized in a one page checklist, however I do recommend to get the whole document titled "The AOPA/COPA Guide to Cross Border Operations (United States / Canada)" 28th Edition - July 2011from either website.
You can download it and print either the one page check list or the whole thing (recommended) punch holes and place it in a three ring binder, which I did and brought with me for the final leg from OS7 to Pentiction (clear customs) to Kamloops and up to the 108 Mile Airport (South Cariboo Regional).

About a month later, having the CofR filed for a third time and finally corrected initial and subsequent mistakes we received the proper documentation from the FAA. For your info there is a 24hr comply period in place with international operations on CofR transfers at the FAA. Unfortunately by the time this came about Hans was off on another trip attempting to climb Mt. Huascaran in Peru. So we got all paperwork in place ahead of time including a letter allowing me to import the aircraft and fly the aircraft as a non-owner. On August 22, Carolyn and I, set out to the Okanagan to FINALLY bring it home. Arriving late we only had time to wash, repair a broken P-Lead and do a quick run up and test flight. All checks out ok, including the guy driving the thing. By the about 22:00 PST I place the phone call to the Canadian Border Service Agency to organize the first step of our flight. You will have to file for your flight with them, CBSA, at least 24 hours but no less than 2hrs prior to your flight. Fine, try to take off at about 07:00 tomorrow and it all should work out. While on the phone with a very pleasant female officer she explained to me that the aircraft still shows as a DC9 with that ident and also that all taxes, in this case the HST, has to be paid in full. Ooops, OUCH, and $$$$ all at the same time and with Hans out of reach on some High Camp my frustration level is hitting yet another high mark. How hard could it possibly be???

Carolyn ready to go! 

OH, WELL! Enjoy a sleep in at the "Oroville Hilton" with a relaxed breakfast and off to the airport for a little flight. Might as well enjoy the airplane on this side of the line. Fukeneh! And besides it is good for the aircraft to be flown after sitting for two month. And that's my story and I am sticking to it!
Carolyn beside me with the camera we take off south towards Tonasket for our little local VFR trip. Orchard after orchard and the most beautiful August Day one could possibly order for flying.

 Off on 15 and south bound from OS7 - Oroville, WA

 Orchards and more Orchards! 

 Okanagan - Summer Playground

On Final for 15 - OS7

After about an hours worth of enjoying "Hans' Toy" and the Okanagan's Scenery from above we find ourselves back at the airport tying down N500ME once again south of the line. Now, it will have to wait until Hans is back! 

Fast forward to October 04th, 2011 with Hans back in the Country and assuming we have all the paper  work sorted out and in place and a binder full of documentations with us we set out once again to Oroville. As we are crossing over the Coquihalla to Kelowna we get a taste of the coming winter with the first snow blanketing the highway. Yup, August would have been a great time to finish this, I am thinking to myself. Days are much shorter and the first pacific storms add a bit more "Umph" to the local climate, as in winds and turbulence. This time, even though we arrive three hours earlier than in August it is nearly dark and no sign of the aircraft on the airport. Not where I tied it down, nor in any of the open hangars! HMMM?? "It is fully insured, right Hans?" "Not Funny" comes the teeth gritting reply as he makes his way to the other hangars. Okay, time to phone Stephen the airport manager to solve this puzzle. And so it does about a minute into the phone call. "YEAH, after you left I had an opening in my private hangar and knowing Hans would like a Hangar I moved it in there!" A few minutes later he rolls in and we have just enough time for a quick wash and stash on the flight line. By now it is also out of Annual, hence the August Attempt to fly it home. 

Luckily there is a local AME on the field, Bill, and we pre-arranged with him to help us with the Condition Check the next morning. Arriving after another restful night at about 09:00 and ready to "lend a wrenching hand" to Bill we get the cowlings off and start with an oil & spark plug change. By 13:00 we are outside again, ready for run up and once again finds me filing an Arrival Report for Pentiction with the CBSA and a flight plan including Transponder Code with the US Flight Services. So far, easy breezy, I can handle this. 14:30 sees me off OS7 Pentiction bound into gray, drizzly fall afternoon. 0.5 hrs of flight time I am down in Pentiction and directed by the tower to the CBSA Office parking. Now that was easy and walking into the office they are fully prepared to import a DC9  ... "NO, it is a CH 701 SP, and YES it is an LSA and only holds two". "I already explained this to the lady on the phone in August." "What Lady? I don't know, ...the pleasant one on the phone in Winnipeg!" "Sorry we have no record of that, but do you have all the paperwork with you?"  ..."HMMM, No, BUT..., ... Hans should he here any minute and he is the 

owner!" "...and it is all in his truck!" 

Okay, we were not as organized as we thought and I will spare you the conversation until Hans arrived with the rest of the documents, but like to add a few points that will help you cross or import your aircraft. 

1.) Be organized and if you are "only the Pilot and not the Owner", let the the Owner do it! Much less paperwork. Or at least have the owner present to answer possible arising questions you can't answer.  

2.) Assure that besides the standard aircraft documentation you also have all the proof of purchase, such as the listing, the bill of sale and a copy of the form of payment for the aircraft and of course sufficient funds to cover the taxes. For forms of payment you can visit their website. 

3.) Be on time, while the guys and gal's at the CBSA are usually ready and prepared for your arrival, leave at least an hour or two if this is an import and not only a border crossing. And this includes making sure all the paperwork is in the vehicle that arrives at the office first, be it the aircraft of the car. 

4.) If you are flying back and forth more regularly between the US and Canada sign up with the CANPASS program. It will expedite your crossings and allow you to use some alternate airports. 

5.) Absolutely get a copy of the above mentioned Guide for Border Crossings and flick through it. 

And last but not least, remain patient and pleasant to the officers and their efforts and you will be done in no time. However in our case and no fault of the CBSA, it was too late to carry on towards Kamloops, so Hans dropped me at a close by motel and he carried on driving home. 

October 6th, 2011 - Pentiction

A glance out the window at 06:50 into a somewhat dreary morning with the last bit of darkness still hanging in confirms a VFR flight to Kamloops. A quick and what should really be a soul warming Coffee from the hotel turns more into a yet another repulsing dark brew that barely substitutes what the early morning pilot needs for fluids. Anyone ever had a great hotel/motel coffee? Maybe someone will upgrade to a Tassimo system one of these days? Being in walking distance to the airport I stroll over and try to get onto the airport without having to put in the extra mile up one side of the fence and than down at the other side. Have we slightly overdone airport security? Anyone still walks? Anyone up yet and in the office? Make that a NO on the first three tries. Finally at Demel Aircraft I am able to sneak through their office and out to the flight line saving me from the extra hike up to the Terminal and back down to button of 33. 

08:20 off at CYYF and northbound towards Kelowna. As expected a bit lumpy, cloudy, some fog, bearable but with out a doubt the worst start to a day since trying to find Dyersville in the Tennessee Fog. Memories are seeping in as I am cruising above HWY 95 north. Yup, the trucks are once again faster than me! A short while later I call Kelowna tower for a Clearance through their zone, get to Squak 7010 and carry on over Westbank north. West of Vernon about an hour into the flight and looking north towards Salmon Arm it is not looking great. Fog, dark clouds and I am trying to make up my mind between going through Falkland and probably getting pummelled (as usual) or attempting the Shuswap route. And against my better judgement I turn NW towards Kamloops. Not 10 minutes later, and just behind the ridge from Falkland, I am starting to severely pay for my intrepid spirit. We are getting not only pummelled, we are getting hammered by winds and turbulence. Never fails! Behind a passing cold front, venturi effects of valleys, altitude, everything comes into play.  Bullshit, like I didn't know any better! Chalk that one up to to poor decision making and a slight case of "Get-homeanitis".
The poor 701 is getting tossed from side to side, wing venting, rattling, bucking and buffeting, power back, slow her up, not much better, how much slower can you go... and now the the sink is starting. Power back in, slow the descent, hold her level. "What you mean hold her level?" I can barley hold on to the throttle without bending it, it being halfway out. Is that why Zenair's have that "Holy Shit Handle" welded to the door post? Well, it is getting real good use right about now, trying to stop me from vacating the cabin in almost any and all direction. The fasten your seat belt sign came on some time ago, reset the headsets from hitting the ceiling, hold'r steady and ride it out! At this point I am really starting to dislike the MGL Mini Extreme with is flickering arrow indicating the wind direction and it's pulsating numbers between 25 and 37. Like you can't feel what's going on, now we need fancy gizmo's to confirm your worst fears! Breathe, breathe deep, we love this sh..., we love flying, we love airplanes,  we love what we do!! With all due respect your honor, it feels more like impending doom and divorce than love. Besides, if this is what love feels like I have had just about enough for the moment.
Slowly as we are creeping into a major westerly now towards Monte Lake things calm down somewhat.  At least to the point where I can pry my death gripped fingers off the youknowwhat handle and back down towards the controls. Coming out over LaFarge, just east of Kamloops I get a hold of the Airport and  latest weather. Clear and winds at 260 @ 15 gusting 22. The last five miles take nearly 10 minutes and if you've ever wondered if CH 701 hovers  ...they do, ...somewhat! With the given winds we would have certainly been contenders for the next STOL competition in Valdez looking at our roll out. Knowing this might be a bit of a challenge to taxi, landing close to Bravo and taxi off for the apron made life easy. Over to MountainAire we go and 2.1 hours later, I am treated to a real brew. 

Once again, I am waiting out the winds and by 16:40 I am off to the final leg from Kamloops to CZML. And what a difference from this morning, once out of Tranquil Creek and up into the Highlands the winds subside and we are cruising at 75mph over the forests and lakes that we call home. In the distance the peaks show off their fresh dusting of snow. Ahhh Love, wonderful love at last. Now this is more like the reason we do this. Sunset, silver shining lakes, smooth cool air and the trees below getting into the fall colors. A few swooping turns over Hans's House later to announce finally the home coming of N500ME.  Turning final for 33 at the 108 Mile Airport! What a journey, and kicking back on the couch with a Walmart Road Map in my lap I am retracing our route across the continent. Not bad, not bad at all! The little airplane that could, would, can and will. As long as you have a dream! A CH-701 Dream.

 The Cariboo Mountains

 Beautiful North Thompson River Valley

 Winter is coming - Quesnel Lake

Wonder if he is going to get some skis? A big grin slides onto my face as I am thinking about all the places one could go and all the fun one could have having a CH701 on skis. This would bring almost a whole new meaning to "Plane - Skiing". After all in this country where we have 8 month of winter and 4 month of poor skiing it would only add to "THE POSSIBILITIES"!   :-)  Get the drift?!

"So Hans, are you going to get some skis?" Well, if he does I am certain you will be reading about it right here. If not, well there is always the Yukon come next Spring! Stay posted! 

Signing off for now, Willy T.  

Homeward bound...

Wednesday June 22nd, 2011

All went according to plan yesterday. After checking in and catching up on some sleep in the afternoon, Hans arrived at 21:30 in Missoula. With the plane being flight ready it was a matter of a simple walk around this morning and off we went at 10 to Six. What? No Tower!? Change Frequency, still no answer! All-right than... call the intentions and lets get going before someone changes their minds, picks up the mic, talks back and makes you taxi for ever for no good reason. "Zero Mike Echo is through 4000 and clear to the North West"! Still no answer. Who cares, we are gone!

At about 7 am we are nearing Thompson Falls, MT and Hans' Bladder is once again calling for a stop ...nearest preferred! With being in a Canyon and the airport straight ahead I simply pull power and the 701 slides down like on the rails of a roller coaster, momentarily flashing us a yellow range speed signal from the MGL Extreme. Solid, capable, little aircraft. The more we fly and understand this plane the more we realize the attraction by so many. And we come to question why so many have had to fiddle with this design,  and really none have succeeded. Certainly not by sales numbers, otherwise the flight lines would have to be littered by Pegazairs, and Savannah's, just to name a few.
Our respect goes out to Chris Heintz for his design abilities and to the greater Zenith Aircraft Family for providing a great product from plans to kits, to quick-builds. I'd say we've put it to the test on this trip!

 Coming up on "Thompson Falls"

Looks like home! 

A lazy turn over the midfield and a nice landing into a gentle breeze and this time we are both off for the morning break. 10 Minutes later we are airborne again and heading along the valley for Sandpoint, ID.
Scenery, scenery and more scenery! I have been on the roads below on a Motorcycle Trip a few years back and remember looking up into the mountains. Not sure which one is better, I love riding, but you can't beat the view from a CH 701. It is the perfect low and slow scenery cruiser.
At 07:44 we arrive in a yet still and sleepy Sandpoint. Turn the watches back an hour and we are off again sooner than we landed. Home Stretch...

 Scenery from above! 

Low and slow...

One more little challenge is provided by the Monashee Mountains reaching into northern Washington. But after the Rockies, this is certainly a lesser obstacle and with 5600' we clear through some of the lower passes and are on a zooming descent into Dorothy Scott, speak Oroville, WA. We are clocking nearly 100mph groundspeed on a NW bound track once we reach the Okanagan. YaHoo!!!

On the downwind for Runway 15 we can see the bridge across the lake at Osoyoos, BC but it remains us denied for some unfinished FAA paper work. Mainly a properly filled in C of R. So we have to stop here, park it for a week and hopefully we can carry on soon once more NW bound.
47.8 hrs from Tampa to here in 26 legs in an aircraft that is not known for its cross country capabilities, but rather its off airport use. Well we had some of that too! Hans and I, have come to re-think some of the Ch-701 hearsay. We beg to differ on some of the "not really cross country suitable" and "yeah, but its too small" (...really, I am 6'2" and pack 220lbs with me at the leanest of times) and so many other rumours.  Don't believe everything you hear [...or read ;-) ]!

And yes, there is limitations; weather, timing, season, power, weight, distance and fuel use. Bigger is not always better. It ultimately comes down to a sign hanging in our office, the one and only I may add...       

...Learning to fly takes about 45hrs, learning when to fly can take a lifetime!

As we are strolling across the field my phone message light goes off. It's Russell from Flightcrafters "Congratulations, you made it to Canada!" Well, not quite, but as good as, we are only 2 miles short!!!

I guess the Spot Tracking is still working! Is it?

 Dorothy Scott - Oroville Airport, WA

Awaiting a new C of R and ...

                             ...after all, for Hans and N500ME the Adventure is only beginning!

 To finish off here, we would like to extend our sincerest "Thank You" to all those that we have met on this trip, have assisted us in a time of need and have touched our life's with their generosity! It will be remembered! See you in the Great White North!

With best regards, Willy T.

Solo across the Rockies...

Tuesday June 21st, 2011

We are three weeks into this adventure now and what should have been a shared highlight of the trip, crossing the Rockies, has left me solo, tired and worn in the left seat. Hans' seat occupied by the iPad in lieu of the Navigator and First Officer.
05:42 sees the wheels leave the ground and I am westbound along HWY 90 now for a little while. In a steady cruise climb I make it up to 6500' and than level off and head for Livingston. Beautiful Morning flight, a few little burbles, but nothing to serious for the first bit of flight. As we are nearing Livingston and Bozeman it is changing and by the time I head into Bozeman Pass the little Rotax is working near full capacity, angrily clawing itself up to 7000' into a buffeting headwind. The foam grip is getting a bit of a squeeze, no doubt.

 The "Big Hurdle"

 The awesome Montana Scenery...

...and still places to put down

No way we could have done this with both of us on board and gear and fuel. The little 701 is steady, although getting closer to the limitations put forth by being set up for sea level operation. Mainly re-adjust the prop to these new heights. Never the less at 07:00 we are passing the first hurdle at 7000' and as soon as we are through the air gets smoother again. Fuel stop in Three Forks and off again for the next Hurdle, Pipestone Pass at 6453' and on via Butte down to Missoula. Climb out is this good and I am glad to be alone, simply for the reduced weight. The aircraft is also a bit lighter in the winds, but you can't have everything. As I am nearing Pipestone Pass the air starts to act up again, buffeting winds coming through the pass and crossing over we find ourselves at 7600', the highest altitude yet for this little Aircraft. And once again, as soon as we are through the pass it gets smooth again. Wow!
Now all that's left is a slow descent into the canyon down to Missoula, talk to the tower, straight in is approved and at 10:50 MST during shut down, we have a mission accomplished, crossed the Rockies.

The local "Northerstar Jet Center" is really helpful with fuel, car, food and getting me lost. No actually, I can do that just fine by myself, getting lost that is. As I am looking for a Pizza Place for lunch and try to follow the little map handed to me by a local flyeress, I am getting lost. Just tired and not with it a 100% i guess. Last night and this flight certainly wore me a bit.

Okay keep driving,  "Well look at that, ...a Subway!" As I pull in, I not only see the Bus Station, but also a small Hotel. Talk about lucky once again, everything in one place. Food, bed, ...get Hans from the Bus tonight ...and carry on tomorrow. Gotta love it when a plan falls into place!

 Looking "downhill" from Missoula

The "Northstar Jet Center" 

HWY 94 WEST...

Sunday June 19th, 2011

The weather is not playing along. Despite our best efforts and early departure from the Motel 6 we find ourselves back there at about 3pm and checking back into our rooms from last nights. Wind, Wind, Thunderstorms and more wind. Time for a rest, and after 8 days of flying, waiting, flying, and a bit more waiting a bit of rest is actually good. Laundry, a bit writing, phone calls, connect with family and hope that tomorrow will be a better day, ...weather wise.

Monday June 20th, 2011

 The Yellowstone River

"Montana"

Airborne at 06:10 and some nice morning flying! Hans is on the first shift and we switch up after about 45 minutes. The Yellowstone River below us and Highway 94 beside us we are cruising west. Not fast, but sufficient at 4500' and a bit of a headwind. After another 30 minutes or so Hans is getting uncomfortable in his seat ....brauch a WC!  or something like it is coming over the intercom. You need a what? ...already! We just took off! Okay, push "Nearest" on the 296 and the winner this time around is Hysam, MT for a brief Morning P-Stop. A quick little snack, granola bar and chocolate served on the cowling and we are off again westbound for Billings. It's again getting lumpy and bumpy and its only 8 am. I somewhat expected this and it is actually not as bad as I recall from previous trips east of the Rockies. The only problem we are a lot lighter than the Cessna 172, 180, Tripacer, etc. that I've been in before. But we are still making good time. Just prior to entering the Billings Zone, we contact approach and get a new Transponder Code to pass by along the north side. About halfway through the zone a desperate look from Hans' face is reaching me ...not again?! Yup, better go right now!!! NOO, you are not!! We can't just disappear of the radar and I am not about to declare an inflight..., make that a "coffee related liquid disposal" emergency. "Hans, you better clench and breathe for a few minutes longer...
And just about that time the controller calls with an "...Frequency Change approved, have a nice day!"
Nice day my ass... Out comes the power, and down we go into a freshly seeded Alfa Alfa field somewhere northwest of the airport. There is no longer time for a nearest search on the 296, nearest right now is right below us! Turn into wind, flare, nose down, stop ...and Hans has already departed the Aircraft and is providing valuable nutrients to the fresh grass. Walking back to the still running aircraft he's got the biggest grin yet on his face. Would it not be for knowing any better, one might think he just picked up and RV10  ...it's that big!!!
Back in and on the Headset comes the concerning question; "We gonna get outta here?" Good Question! With the Altimeter showing 4200', being on Turf, Grass and 2/3 fuel, this might be interesting. And in order to get into wind it is uphill. NICE!
We taxi to the bottom end and attempt the take off into wind diagonally across the field, almost, come one, nope, better abort while we have the room. Back down to the corner we go again, add some flap and bring it to full power on the brakes. Let'r run and the nose comes up and with a couple of hops, a bit of a gust we are flying and barely clearing the fence on the other end. Not much of a climb rate, but also nothing in the way, no trees, no power lines, no houses. Thanks God for that, because the little bird is labouring up to altitude. Finally back up to 4600' I release the flap and there is no gentle way of doing that. No long Johnson bar to release slowly and with my still sore elbow they just plunk themselves up. The according Nose drop sends Hans on a nervous Jump, sorryboutthat... got to get used to them things!
Another half hour of flight gets us in Columbus, Montana and to "Uncle Sam's Cafe", the local hang out, alternate Police Station and "Pilot Lounge".
Breakfast in good company at 10:30 and with the winds trying to pull the sock of the pole, it is time to fill up and await the afternoon. No better place than Columbus for that. It was chosen after a discussion with a fellow Luscombe Owner in Miles City and we have to admit ...great choice!!! Beautiful new airport building (see Photo) and Hardin, the local A&P let us use his internet to see the radar and flight briefings ahead. Where ever we look wind, more wind and a few disturbances, remnants of an unstable airmass. Oh well! Hurry & Wait again!

 The "Wolterman Memorial" 

 If you get stuck...

...this is the place to be!!!

By 18:15 and with the winds dropping to a more manageable 10 to 12 knots we decide to give it a try to see if we can get up to Big Timber. We get the answer pretty much one climb out when the winds push us back down into the Yellowstone River and we desperately try to get some heights. This is not going to happen. Full Power, nose up high and I can barely maintain altitude, never mind climb more than a few hundred feet. Time to blow for a hasty retreat out of this mess and return to Columbus. Now this was a horrid 30 minutes of flight. Winds, gusts, up, down and sideways and we are playing with altitude and temperature.
After a brief discussion we decide to check in for the night and hatch a new plan. After some discussion we agree that it may be best to go across the Rockies solo and meet up again in Missoula. Now that only leaves a means for Hans to get to Missoula. No Bus from Columbus, not even a stop, so we drive back to Billings in the Courtesy Car.  Finally and shortly before midnight I am back in Columbus and heading for Bed. Flying by 05:30, this will be a short night! Not really the best plan for the possibly toughest leg ahead, crossing the Rockies!

Into the Dakotas...

Friday June 17, 2011

 The prairies...   endless!

 "IFR - I follow Rivers"  ...in this case the Missouri 

Off at 09:18 into a bit of a headwind and working our way diagonally across the landscape on a heading of about 300. The land below us does not change much, but along the Missouri we can see the flooding, soaked fields and an emergency landing into these freshly tilled, water soaked fields would spell certain disaster. This is looking worse than the Florida swamps, actually not really, no creepy crawlies with big teeth below here. We finally pound our way across to Chamberlain and it is time to stop. Rough, windy, bouncy, just not nice flying anymore. Time for the lunch break and carry on in the evening.
11:16 sees us hovering to a landing in Chamberlain, SD and we are waiting out the winds. Not the best place to hang for a while. So despite some still strong winds we are off again at 18:42 towards Pierre and more of the same below. Field after field after field and we arrive at the South Dakota Capitol at local 20:00. Enough for one day, this was a tough day flying. And we are not sure what happened to all the nice folks, they are certainly not north of Yankton.

"I'll fill you right after the Citation Jet!" 

"Yup, we have a hangar, i'll be 50.- bucks for the night!"

The hotel will pick you up and drop you off in the morning and we arranged transport for you. Hans did you arrange a hotel? No, I thought you did? Noooo, ...well this should be interesting. Hangar Owner owns the hotel here too? Are we being fed down the Aerial Tourist feeder line?
Best Western in town it is, okay? Never mind the bar for a few beers, the bartender wins the all time worst service & personality award? Are we just tired, grumpy, ourselves or what has happened here. Out of a sudden we have gone from Southern Hospitality, followed by Midwestern Charm to northern "donreallycaretoknowandorgiveayouknowwhat"?

Gee, can we just miss these two places next time?

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Back up to the airport with yet another not quite awake and rather cool Dakotan in the Best Western Shuttle. Let's just get out of here! Not sure if 70mph is fast enough for me. Off by 07:36 and nothing too soon, as we are working our way towards the Badlands. Our destination, Buffalo ND, just 25 miles short of Montana. AAAHHH, MMOOONNNTAAANNAAAHH, doesn't that sound nice and almost like home?
Once again, about 2 hrs in, and the Rock & Roll starts in the air. Not a full rodeo, but a steady bucking ride like you would get from Grandma's Milking Cow. Hans is getting a bit of a taste of what I expect ahead and he is not liking it all that much. It is all new to him and I recall my earlier days flying, tight fisted and wondering how hard the next hit will be and if one can keep this contraption flying? It gets better with time, but the question does burp up every now and than on those hard, wing lifting hits.
Buffalo, ND was chosen for the grassy cross runway, just in case. The 701 does not have the best cross wind capabilities, but shines with its hovering qualities in strong winds. The owners manual recommends landing across the runway in winds exceeding 25mph.

 Into the Badlands...

and another look from above

Coming in on Buffalo is simply a no go. The X-runway is not mowed, not that it matters, since it is out of wind too. As we are circling the airport to the north I notice some fields mowed and nearing the runway to taxi onto it. Okay, fine, turn her into wind, hover down, land, roll out.
But what's this? A little flag with a number 6? F...? Whatta F...? "Zero, Mike, Echo, is down and clear on the sixth Fairway on the Buffalo Golf Course!?" Good thing, no one is around, probably too windy for Golf? Only Problem, we are about 50' short of the runway and fenced out, fenced in, depending which way you look at it. "Hans, you better get out and I'll see, if I can't grind her onto the runway by myself?!" No need to tell him a second time, he's "plane happy" to have solid ground under his feet and departs the plane, headset and all! Woaah, hold on a second and let me disconnect you!
Now, turned into wind, with one person on board and low fuel it launches into the air like no other. It surprised me and for a moment I just hung on, laughing my head off, watching this thing perform. UNREAL!!! Nose way high, skyward we go and slip & slide across the fence over onto the runway for an okay landing. Hans said it actually looked good, ...it just didn't feel that way from where I was sitting! But no harm done, no drifting, no hard landing. All's good!
Hot, high altitudes and cross winds! Gotta love it!
Upon back tracking the runway I pick up Hans along the way and we taxi over to the pumps where some onlookers are awaiting us. Well, Buffalo might have just had its own little air-show. Glad I could help, ces't mon plaisir! Nice Golf Course by the way! Got a lot a guys "FLY IN"?

The local airport manager is Will and fuels us up. Nice Kid. During the week he delivers the mail to the outlying area and rolls on about 700 miles a week. Hans is paying for the fuel and trying to figure out if he should use his credit card or cash. Suddenly a frantic look on his face, as his hands slide from pocket to pocket, another pocket and than allpockets again ..and NO CARD! Oh no! The way home just got a little harder. Out comes the luggage, no card, check all pockets again, no card. No internet, no cell phone, no phone, no card, ...and suddenly a moment of no fun! We can't let that happen!!!
Okay, time to get organized! Phone the Hotel in Pierre, last place used, wait for a call back. No luck in the room, no luck in the Van, no Card. Twice back and forth with Will from the "Tipperary Motel" the only place with WIFI, phone and a very helpful owner (we should have stayed here!) and out for a walk on the sixth green, onto the runway, retracing every step ...no Card. Meanwhile, Will, is still assisting us all along. Great Guy!! After another trip to the local corner store and the only ATM, Will drops us at the plane and we are off again ...into the afternoon heat over to Miles City, MT.

Hans (note the smile) and our tireless helper Will

Arriving there at 14:16 ...make that 13:16 aaahhh back on Mountain Time! Big Party tonight, Football Game, street dance, and every hotel room booked minus a couple at the local Motel 6. Seems to go with the day today, 6th Green, Motel6, any other 6's? Oh Yeah, 06:00 departure tomorrow, can't wait!

Getting closer... 

In the footsteps of Amelia...

Thursday June 16, 2011

I am in a bit of a bind, literally speaking, and it comes from trying to find the beginning and the end of a story that revolves around life, or more so days, hours, minutes ...fraction of life really where once again you meet people in the passing of the moment.
Upon our late arrival here in Kansas, Russell a local pilot, was nice enough to call the FBO to get us gas so we can leave early morning on our way NW. That was the plan anyway, but as Robert Burns put it so nicely in his Poem ...the best laid schemes of mice and men gang oft ugly and leave nought but grief and pain, for promised joy! Well the pain started not with getting filled up by Leta late at night but about ten minutes into breakfast the next mroning when I decided to check the radar and noticed the big blobs of orange all around us. Hans was in the process to check us out, when I hollered and asked him to maintain the keys for a few hours. That was at 06:15 local time and we both decided to head back to the room for a bit more rest. Come 08:00 the power went out and looking outside the sky has turned dark with big looming clouds ...Tornado Alley here we go!
We expedited our departure for the airport and good thing we checked out after six, because everything was down and not about to come back on for a few hours. Hurriedly, not to say speedingly, we drove back to the airport in fear of a Pell City repeat. Blustering winds greeted us and the 701 was dancing in the ropes. Time to retie, strap it down good, and about that time the rain hit. Back into the rustic old airport building of Atchison, Kansas.

AAAHHH ...maybe not!!!

Not much we can do now, but hang tight, watch the winds and the plane. As the minutes turn to hours I am walking through this old building, with single pane glass windows, crackling paint and a smell of history in every corner you peek. Amelia's photo hangs on the wall and below it proclaims proudly, "How can life grant us boon of living, ...unless we dare!"
We can really relate to that, halfway across this mighty land in an awfully small, but also very capable little aircraft. As I am taking the memory lane tour down the row of pictures I also notice the plans to upgrade the airport. Bigger runway, E-W facing, aprons maybe a new building and probably bring it all "up to standard". Good thing you might think, but is it? Here you have a classic old midwest terminal, a relique to aviation days gone by, a small scale museum and most likely it will be traded off for yet another nice, new, clean and sterile Jet Center with the accompanying personality of a Coke Machine. Through in money and you will get service. Too bad the "personality part" is disappearing from a lot of airports and being replaced by 24 hour self serve fueling station, which will give you gas, but never any local knowledge of the next "best place" to land on your journey.
And it is also becoming harder to seek out people like Leta that have made Aviation their life, or maybe Aviation made their life? The kind of people that go out of their way to help you along on your trip, come in late to fuel, recommend the best deal in town to stay and hand you the keys to the Courtesy car. The kind of people you wonder if they have blood running through their veins or Aviation Oil? And I am not talking about synthetic oil here either, but straight 100, kind of the way they live their lives, pretty much 100% all the time, exception might be on a Sunday or Christmas. Midwesterners, pioneers, a hardy punch! From Clyde Cessna to Amelia, from Spatz Sr. to Leta, so much history in one Place. Do people realize what is here? I wonder? Hans and me are certainly seeing the Midwest with new eyes.
Time for a snooze on the classic 70's couch in the lounge. Wind in the trees, the rain steadily drumming on the windows, moving further and further away as I doze off.
A slamming door rattles me back to life and finds me about 6" above the couch..."Get up and come to town for a history lesson!" "Can't just lay around here all day and do nothing!" Leta proclaims with a big smile on her face. Talk about the proverbial human Kansas dust devil rolling into the lounge here.
"Sure, sounds good, Hans you go! I'll keep an eye (meaning one) on the plane, just in case the winds pick up any more!" ...and off the go!
Me, back to work on the couch! Listening again to wind and rain battering the old windows. The roof is creaking with every gust and I am thinking to myself of how much a feel good place this old building is and how many pilots might have been stranded here before us waiting out a storm. Once again, I am beginning to drift off and my mind starts wandering ...What ever happened to Amelia? Will they ever find her or will the mystery continue? But then I have to agree with Leta, what would life be without a bit of mystery, without a bit of dare, without a bit of adventure while it is still there to be had?

 Overlooking the Missouri River from Amelia's House

 Amelia's Earhart's House, now a Museum

 The Aviatior's rocking the deck...

Walk of Donations leading up to the House...

Finally, after the "Been there, done that" photo session in front of Amelia's House, a nice lunch at the haunted River Restaurant overlooking a very full Missouri River we get into the air at 16:16 ...pushing north! First stop, Wahoo, NE after 1.6 hrs of flight and stretch our legs. Squirt of gas for the little Rotax and off again by 18:36 with a final destination in Yankton, SD with an arrival time off 20:06. We finally got some tailwind and hoofed it North real good.
Jake Haffner, a local Ag Pilot rolls in about the same time and lets us park the 701 in his hangar and offers us a ride to the Hotel. I am wondering if my rear end hurts from the seat or the horseshoes on this trip?

Northwest bound...

Wednesday June 15, 2011

Hans' Toy is soaked in morning dew. It is dripping off the trailing edges and slowly rolling down the windshield. A thin layer of fog covers the lengths off the river that we can see if front of the Lodge. Hence the name, White River. During breakfast we met another fellow 701 builder and he joins as out in field during the walk around. We are wiping off as much water, dew and steamed up windshield as we can, but it seems to build as fast as we are wiping. Okay, better get the windmill going and see if we can blow it off.

 Tied down at "Gaston's Lodge" 

 Runway looking east

Another Sunrise beckoning us to go flying!

The little Rotax comes to life on the first try, and after a warm up and systems check we line up facing east. It is a bit of a oneway runway unless you're STOL equipped. Hans takes the honors of first takeoff of the day and we bumping down the runway to about 45 and up we go...
A little mix of canyon surfing and pylon racing finds us doing turns around the trees on the east end of the runway, OHHH YESS, this is a great little airplane. Grinning, smiling laughing we are climbing out along the north side of the canyon and a wide 180 back over the lodge NW bound as we bid our farewell to one of the really cool places in North America. Gaston's Lodge you will be remembered! And maybe one day "YA AWL CUM BACK HIR, YA HIR!" Who knows, but love too?!

 White River looking east...

 As serene as it gets!!!

Float Plane Country - Southern Missouri

The scenery from yesterday continues for another hour, our ground speed dropping to a mere 40mph..., this is going to be a long trip home and my rear end is already at full complaining stage. We are slowly working our way north towards Sumners our next planned fuel stop. Finally getting there after 1.8 hours we are faced with a stiff, gusty crosswind. Time to put the 701 to the test. Line up into wind and aim for the grass, stick back and we are settling, hovering, descending, trying to look for the right word here, maybe "zen-air-ing" it into the grass with the roll out being a mere dropping of the nose wheel. We are both amazed what this plane can do.
Fill up, weather check, talk to the local flight instructor about the route ahead, and we are off again by 10:00. Taking off on the pavement and facing the cross wind is less than enjoyable and in the heat we settle back down twice, before finally getting into the air. Bloody Rotors behind the trees lining the runway. Climb out is mere 180 feet per minute with the full load and the 85 degree temps. There is a huge concrete building in front of us and we are clearing it, not above, but off to my left. A little too close for comfort. Maybe half tanks and more stops are in order if we are working in these conditions. Climb out continues to 4500' and again we are only moving about 40mph. Forget it, this is only burning gas with no place going. 1.2 hours puts us into Lamar, KS. Again we are looking at a straight out windsock right across the newly paved runway. The old one is into wind, put supposedly XXX off. Yet another somewhat unconventional approach into wind over the old runway, touch down on the new runway at a 60 degree angle lining up with the taxiway (old runway again) for roll out and we are stopped right before the hold line. Now, what did the old folks know when the build the first runway? Hello? Is there an orange hint fluttering in the wind?
"Zero Mike Echo down clear in Lamar", and hoping no one saw this one, as we taxi to the flight line. Man, If I'd do that in Kamloops I'd be in for yet another "Leslie Spanking", but that's why we try to use smaller fields, the ideal being a nice patch of grass with no runways for this aircraft. Just face into wind, zenairing to the ground, roll a bit, let the nose drop and a 100' later it is all over. Love it, but not something I would want to do at a big and controlled airports, with controllers peering through their binoculars wondering what the hell he's doin, ...but than that is not the idea behind flying an aircraft like that anyway, RIGHT?
Snooze in the rustic airport building for about 3 hours, time to catch up on sleep since we snore each other awake constantly when rooms are tight and we need to share. Waking up a bit drowsy and dizzy, Hans the same, in the heat of the afternoon we head across the bridge into town where a large Golden Arches sign beckons us for a cold drink and some lunch. As we descend the other side of the bridge we notice a truck stop, Dairy Queen and what else, a Walmart Super Center. Big Blue Cornerstore we love you... Shopperama, Americana, Canadiana...time to deal with my complaining rear end. Yes Siree, and you will find even a cure for that at your local Walmart. Let me sell you this 20 dollar gel seat and your hurt'n A.. will love you forever on a long flight. Back to the airport after a bit of food, ice-cream and loaded with a few apples and fruit bars.
Now let's see, gel seat on top or under the cushions? HMMM? Decisions, decisions! Let's try under. It adds about an inch to the height and me, being 6'2, it still leaves sufficient head room.
Off by 17:30 into a beautiful Kansas Evening and we are finally cruising at 70, 80, 70, 85 ...aahhh, what a difference. Field after field after field flows by below, fields as far as the eye can see and as Hans put's it ..."what does it take to feed a nation?" Well the answer lies below, literally. Great flying, my A.. is finally gellin, now if we could only find a cure for Hans' knees!
We arrive at sunset in Atchison, KS and the Birthplace of Amelia Earhardt. The runway is placed on a slight ridge and overlooks the countryside in the setting sun. The Midwest, the Heartland stretches out before us, lit up golden by the setting sun and all is still...

Take a moment and reflect, we have come long ways, ...got long ways to go!

Missouri denied...

Tuesday June 14, 2011

Up at 05:00 and 10 minutes later out the door into a still dark and humid Tennessee morning. A few birds are singing other than that it is still. Hans and me driving back to the airport in the Courtesy Car and with our eyelids still at half shutter trying hard to find the right way back in the mist.
A last weather check, file a flight plan, get the radar and all this from the back of the car. We are getting into the flying/traveling mode. I have to say, not being a geek, that all the little electro gizmos for sure ease the surprise factor in Aviation. The Ipad with fore-flight is working really well, even for the occasional cockpit use.

 iPad with foreflight showing the radar

 Tennessee Morning Mist 

Taking off at Sunrise!

Only about an hour in and the weather in front of us is getting less and less to our liking, time to divert. Click nearest on the Garmin 296 and the winner is...: drumroll please. dyers burg,TN off to our SW by about 2o minutes. As we are closing it is getting foggy below and we are only at about 2500', by about 3 miles out we are still looking for the airport. Trust your instruments, in this case the 296 which brings us dead smack over the runway. Awos 3 tells us the wind is favoring 16 and three minutes later we are rolling up to the terminal. Tie down and off to Breakfast. It's only 7:15.

 Dyersburg ...where are you?

Somewhere in the Mist...

Yet another courtesy car and a quick drive down to Huddle's for a real breakfast. Finally not a bagel. We both chomp down on some eggs, bacon, beef, ...toast and Jelly, aaahhh!
Off again by 09:00 with a new plan to head west instead of NW, weather being the issue. Next planned stop Walnut Ridge Regional, AR and we crossing the Mississippi after about 20 minutes in. Still smooth flying but by about 1/2 way in we are getting serious headwinds and our groundspeed drops to 48mph average... Time to divert again, this time it is almost off our nose in Paragould, AR. We line up for the main runway, but the crosswinds (about 10mph) are drifting us slightly too much, go around and head for the grass and into wind. AAAHHH, grass runways, soft, no brakes needed for roll out.

The "Glass Cockpit" at work...

After a bit of snooze and some Quizno's it looks like the winds are shifting. At 17:30 it is finally in our favor and we are off again from Paragould to the west. Next stop, Gaston's, a grass strip in the Ozarks near the Arkansas and Missouri state line. A local lawyer gave us the rundown on how to use this "wilderness strip" with trees, and canyons and all; ie. trying to scare the crap out of us. I guess he hasn't seen Nimpo, the Penfold and or Silvertip International. Love to hear his story on those ones!
At least we are making good headway, doing little spurts of 90+ ...finally. Flying on a westbound track just south of the Missouri Stateline is cruising over God,s Country. This is really, really nice and one can see why folks head this way. Landing at Gaston's is a real breeze in a 701. No worries for us, gears always down and we are pretty slow by the time we hit the soft grass. 20 minutes later we find ourselves sitting on the shores of the White River and debating how cool this place must have been a couple of hundret years ago. One starts to understand the love people have for this place, he connection to it is easily felt even for a first timer. It is an amazing place, and Hans and me agree, one could easily fall in love with this area and live here.