A summer fly-in at Bob Bement's place?

[Bob Bement]

early is good - the 'kota has enough ground role without adding high DA to the equation

Big Creek has a sloping runway and that will help you with the getaway. I will post a couple of pictures of the runway taken from the upper end 01. and you can see the down slope.

 

[Clark1961]

Agree, the Big Creek runway looks good - 3,500' shouldn't be a problem. Minam on the other hand might be a challenge for the 'kota. Definitely want to be light for that one. I'm planning to catch both fly-outs.

 

[Bob Bement]

Agree, the Big Creek runway looks good - 3,500' shouldn't be a problem. Minam on the other hand might be a challenge for the 'kota. Definitely want to be light for that one. I'm planning to catch both fly-outs.

Oh! Great! I am getting excited to meet and greet some of the pilots flying in. If you would want to you could land up at the Reds strip, it is much longer and easier. and it is only a short walk down to the Minam lodge. Up to you on that one. The only drawback on landing at the Reds strip is a slight left turn on short final.

 

[Clark1961]

Looks like Reds may be the smart thing - Minam should be okay though. How tall is the grass? Thinking about my limited grass strip experience, it seems I always use between 1,200 and 1,500 feet for takeoff. You 182 guys do much, much better.

 

[Bob Bement]

Looks like Reds may be the smart thing - Minam should be okay though. How tall is the grass? Thinking about my limited grass strip experience, it seems I always use between 1,200 and 1,500 feet for takeoff. You 182 guys do much, much better.

I will be going in to the Minam as soon as we finish up with my annual inspection the first of June. I will report on grass and runway conditions. I was telling some of the pilots they could land up at Red's which is only a short distance up river. and walk to the Minam. Red's is 2800 and easier to get in and out of.

 

[Jim Logajan]

I will be going in to the Minam as soon as we finish up with my annual inspection the first of June. I will report on grass and runway conditions. I was telling some of the pilots they could land up at Red's which is only a short distance up river. and walk to the Minam. Red's is 2800 and easier to get in and out of.

The last PIREP for Red's (6or9) on http://www.shortfield.com/ was late March so would not be relevant for late June, but for the record the report said:

Landed on 3/22/2014 flying a Super Cub
Visited the strip today. Strip has some standing water on south side. North side better. Landing felt firm even though a little wet. Walking around the area is mostly soggy and soft. Was a beautiful early Spring day. Walked Minam strip also and is in good shape. Look forward to coming back in Summer.
Submitted by Bugs66 on 2014-03-23 20:14:13
​

No PIREPs at all for Minam (7or0) on that website though there are pictures and videos. Of course most of the users of that website land and report on airfields open to the public, with an obvious preference for reporting on back-country fields.

 

[Bob Bement]

Red's always had water on the sw side early spring because the high water runs right down that side of the strip. It should be fine and I am supposed to get my annual started tomorrow (June 3 ) and I will be going up there the following wednesday to check it out.

 

[Bob Bement]

My mechanic promised me 54N will be ready for our fly-outs to the Minam and Big Creek. I had a bad cylinder if I didn't say already. I hope your plans are firming up if you are planning on attending my get together.

 

[Bob Bement]

Jeff Jacobs from van Couver, WA can't make it because of medical problem. A pilot friend is thinking of meeting us at Big Creek, and he lives east of Alburqerque NM.

 

[Bob Bement]

There is a little motel in town owned by Steve Bates. This motel and pizza and sandwich shop has been in the Bates family since the 1950s. Don't get scared away by the name THE BATES MOTEL. It is a nice clean little motel.

 

[Bob Bement]

I finished up with the annual inspection on my plane and it is ready to go.

I need to know who on this board is planning on coming to my fly-in so I can tell John STSflyer because he is bringing some tri-tip steak.

 

[JoseCuervo]

Bob,

I was hoping to have a plane and be able to hop over to Vale and meet you and some of the others. Unfortunately, I am a few weeks behind in my transaction, but I will be down in Calif picking up "suitable" Big Creek / Minimam type of plane.

Hopefully I will get a chance this summer to fly to Vale and meet you and pick your brain on some of the back country strips.

Hope you guys have a good weekend next week.

 

[Jim Logajan]

I finished up with the annual inspection on my plane and it is ready to go.

I need to know who on this board is planning on coming to my fly-in so I can tell John STSflyer because he is bringing some tri-tip steak.

Sounds good! My wife and I are planning to be there. We expect to arrive early to mid Friday afternoon. We'll be around all day Saturday and possibly some on Sunday.

Any idea how many people might show up - and when? Other than the flyouts do you have any other events or get-togethers planned or in mind?

 

[Richard]

I'd been semi-following this thread since the beginning. Now the dates are firmed up and it's getting close I should make my decision.

I'm a renter now. My biggest concern is to find a plane that they'll allow on unimproved surfaces. I'm in SoCal, nearest is KFUL. It's only 600 nm to S49. And I could go visit a friend in Boise, ID after Bob's.

Mark me as maybe at this point.

An alternate plan would be if anyone in SoCal has an empty seat.

 

[Bob Bement]

Sounds good! My wife and I are planning to be there. We expect to arrive early to mid Friday afternoon. We'll be around all day Saturday and possibly some on Sunday.

Any idea how many people might show up - and when? Other than the flyouts do you have any other events or get-togethers planned or in mind?

We have about 30 building size murals, by professional artist, in Vale I thought a tour would be nice. then we are on the old Oregon trail. the first Oregon town on the trail. We have a couple of meals planned. John Gray is bringing some Tri-tip steak. and I plan on cooking on one night. So we plan on that. Those making the fly outs should be back to Vale by early afternoon to do some socializing.

 

[Bob Bement]

This is the place I wanted to take some of you that feel up to it on Friday Morning.This is their website: http://theminamlodge.com/

 

[Clark1961]

I plan to be in the area on the 19th and make the two fly-outs. I've got a hotel reservation in Ontario (thanks Fiddle Festival) and will have a car so can help out around the edges if other folks need a ride or we supplies fetched.

 

[Bob Bement]

I plan to be in the area on the 19th and make the two fly-outs. I've got a hotel reservation in Ontario (thanks Fiddle Festival) and will have a car so can help out around the edges if other folks need a ride or we supplies fetched.

So do you need a airplane ride into these two fly in places? Or are you flying in and renting a car. I may have an open seat in my plane.

 

[Jim Logajan]

We have about 30 building size murals, by professional artist, in Vale I thought a tour would be nice. then we are on the old Oregon trail. the first Oregon town on the trail. We have a couple of meals planned. John Gray is bringing some Tri-tip steak. and I plan on cooking on one night. So we plan on that. Those making the fly outs should be back to Vale by early afternoon to do some socializing.

That tour sounds good. Food is always good.

I had already arranged to pick up a rental car at the Ontario airport and have reservations at the Best Western there. We could help chauffeur anyone needing ground transport who is looking to bum rides.

Since we'll be arriving Friday afternoon when y'all may be having your afternoon siesta I'm not sure whether to land first at Vale and wake everyone and say hi, or land first at Ontario to secure the rental car and refuel the plane, then drive or fly back to Vale. Decisions decisions!

Anyone interested in getting a lift (subject to our own late arrival schedule) can PM me and I'll send our cell phone number.

 

[Clark1961]

So do you need a airplane ride into these two fly in places? Or are you flying in and renting a car. I may have an open seat in my plane.

Flying and renting...

 

[Bob Bement]

Will you be alone or will there be two?

 

[Bob Bement]

We will have the courtesy car and my car and I have a ford Ranger pick up truck. I think we should have enough vehicles. Some of my R.E.D. team will have vehicles and can help.

 

[Bob Bement]

I have three bedrooms and two bathrooms in my house. I think the basement two rooms are full but I have a queen left upstairs. First come first served.

 

[Clark1961]

It'll just be me on this trip.

 

[Bob Bement]

It'll just be me on this trip.

Ok just trying to get a count for planning purposes.

 

[Clark1961]

Ok just trying to get a count for planning purposes.

As long as you aren't planning to feed the hogs we're all good.

 

[Clark1961]

Bob, what's your take on the weather?

 

[Bob Bement]

Thursday, Friday and Sat. are all looking good here. I didn't notice Sunday.

 

[Bob Bement]

They are saying possible afternoon Thunder storms. But that is common language here in the heat of the afternoon with clouds in the area. We will be on the ground by noon I am thinking.

 

[Bob Bement]

This is my cell # 503-347-2949 If you have a need to call. I carry it with me and sometimes I can actually hear it.

 

[Clark1961]

Headed that way Bob - may get in touch later today or see you bright and early tomorrow for the fly-out.

 

[Bob Bement]

Headed that way Bob - may get in touch later today or see you bright and early tomorrow for the fly-out.

I like the sound of it and I am looking forward to meeting you. I am getting excited.

 

[Bob Bement]

I'd been semi-following this thread since the beginning. Now the dates are firmed up and it's getting close I should make my decision.

I'm a renter now. My biggest concern is to find a plane that they'll allow on unimproved surfaces. I'm in SoCal, nearest is KFUL. It's only 600 nm to S49. And I could go visit a friend in Boise, ID after Bob's.

Mark me as maybe at this point.

An alternate plan would be if anyone in SoCal has an empty seat.

To bad you didn't get up to Santa Rosa where John was he had an empty seat after his boy decided he couldn't come. I'll bet he would of liked a fly along pilot to fly up with him.

 

[Bob Bement]

I got a call from Clark and he is in Ontario and I hope coming over tonight to BS with us a little.

 

[Jim Logajan]

I'm going to commit a sacrilege and drive to the fly-in. I just got back home today after a 4 hour flight from San Jose. The rental C-172 I flew showed excessive rpm drop on one of the magnetos during runup on both legs of the flight, but I was able to clear it by leaning at high rpm. But it bothers me that it is presumably fouling the plugs when I haven't see that before. (I was also slightly annoyed that they pulled one of the two radios but didn't mention it.) The plane's annual is due in three weeks and it is over its 100 hr inspection so it is probably best to not rent it again till its annual is done.

I'm also more tired from the flying than I thought I would be; I should find it easier to hold altitude in a car over a road better than I can when flying over the mountains in windy conditions. The Sacramento Valley was smooth flying - once I got near Mt. Shasta it got bumpy in spots.

Should see you sometime late tomorrow afternoon!

 

[Bob Bement]

We had three planes into the Minam Lodge this morning Clarke 61 did a great job of getting in and out of the 2000 ft. strip. I hope he got a little green on his prop. So he can show that he is a back country pilot for sure.

 

[Bob Bement]

A few pictures taken on our morning outing to the Minam Lodge with John, Clark and myself.

 

[Bob Bement]

The scenery at the Minam was good to look at.

 

[Bob Bement]

We are going into the landing strip at Big Creek, ID. Sat. 21. They are having a breakfast to raise some money to rebuild the lodge that burned down in 2008. We will try to be safe. there will be a lot of planes landing and taking off in that canyon.

 

[Bob Bement]

Had a great flight into Big Creek, My 182 and two pipers. It was a pretty day and great weather. Two more pilots can mark off back country flying on their bucket list.