Bob's Ramblings from the PB.
- Thread starter Bob Bement
- Start date
denverpilot
Tied Down
My kinda peeps. 
That lever action in the middle has seen better days.
That lever action in the middle has seen better days.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
A number of years ago I got a call from a cowboy friend of mine. He couldn't find some of his cattle he had pastured out in the range land south of my home town. He wanted to know if I could help him find them in my plane. I said sure and so we met at the airport and he had another cowboy with him to help him look for the cattle. We went about 40 miles south around what they call Dry Creek and found his missing cattle. We headed back to Vale and that is when this story gets exciting. You see a few weeks earlier I had taken a BFR and this instructor was showing me how he made a canyon turn and after we got through with the turn, I couldn't get the flaps to come back up and I pushed and pulled to no avail. I had to fly the last ten miles or so back to Ontario with all 40 degrees of flaps down. When we got on the ground we found that I had a crushed flap roller. So I had my mechanic come over to my hangar and replace rollers on both flaps. Now back to my story. I had two notches on and was on final approach and went to get 3 and 4 when the flap handle broke and the upper part of the flap handle went over into the back seat. Since I had my thumb on the button on top of the flap handle all of the flaps went up to 0 degrees. I said a naughty word thinking I wonder how much that is going to cost, and my friend said what can you do. I said nothing we will land without flaps. Old airplanes didn't have flaps. We will just land a little long is all. And we did. I thought of this when I heard that there was a lot of FLAP over on the Red board going on now. We landed half way down on a 4500 ft. strip. So it was longer than most of the back country strips I land On. I got a used flap handle from Redmond used Cessna place and John came over and re-rigged and installed the new flap handle. He told me to start checking things a little closer. So I try to do just that...
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Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
I think I wrote a story one time about a boy scout project I was involved in. The scout leader had me teach a little session on flying. I did a walk around with them and then I was supposed to give them a ride. This is the article and picture out of our local paper that a family relative had, and when she passed away her daughter sent me this clipping:.
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Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
July 25 2014, I flew into Sulphur Creek with my friend Carol Skerjanec and her brother in Law Ray Landau. Ray is 83 and started to get his pilots license when he was younger, but never finished it. Sulphur Creek is in the Frank Church Wilderness Area in the Idaho the back country. It is just a few miles off of the Middle Fk of the Salmon River. It is an 88 NM trip from my home airport of Vale, OR. and takes about 45 min. in my 1959 182 Cessna. The route takes us over Payette, ID. just a little south of Cascade, ID. between Warm Lake and the Deadwood Reservoir. I go over one more ridge top and Sulphur Creek Lodge shows up. I have to go up the 8500 to be over the top of everything on this route. I know I should be up to 9500 going this heading, but I am not 3000 ft off of the ground. There is a bonaza landing ahead of us, I smile when he announces " bonanza landing on runway uh uh to the west. You see on these back country strips the numbers are not marked in the gravel. So he hadn't studied to know the runway was 28 - 10. We flew down over the Morgan ranch which is on the Middle fk and turned back up stream and announced on short final to 28. Before we were through eating breakfast there were 7 planes landed for breakfast at Sulphur Creek Lodge. Ray loved the place and couldn't thank me enough for giving him this great experience. We ate our breakfast inside but took our coffee cups and moved to an outside table to finish. We all noticed the ice on the ground where the sprinklers had been over night. Did I mention the strip is over 5800 ft ASL. We had to get Ray back as he had a Class reunion dinner he had to get to. So we flew back home and all was good. He looked me in the eye as he shook my hand as he got out of the plane in Ontario, and I could tell he really meant it. He told me he envied me getting to fly into places like Sulphur Ck. and I know I am very lucky.~~~~
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Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
We made another flight to day only Ray took his 83 year old wife along. She wasn't sure she wanted to go, but was a good sport and agreed. We went to Rome, OR. for breakfast. We went over Jordan Craters, Owyhee Dam, The Owyhee Canyon, and the Pillars of Rome. I have a few pictures Red Team Carol took on the flight. It was a great trip and we had a good time. Life is good.
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JoseCuervo
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JoseCuervo
Sounds like a great way to spend a couple of days showing the best of Idaho, and, maybe not the best of Oregon, but a pretty unique part of Oregon.
I was in Vale the other day, thought about using the gravel runway, but not sure if that was encouraged or discouraged.
I was in Vale the other day, thought about using the gravel runway, but not sure if that was encouraged or discouraged.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
We have 3800 ft of it paved now so stop any time. We haven't got the tie down area paved as yet though. We tried for a grant but was denighed.
kimberlyanne546
Final Approach
This reminds me of the time that my flap motor failed on a rental and I had a fellow Pilots of America pilot on board as my passenger.
That person had thousands of hours and since this was on our way home, I knew during my preflight that I would have to land back home with no flaps.
I was a new pilot with very little no flap landings, but the more experienced pilot reassured me and then we landed just fine.
Love to hear your stories, Bob, keep them coming! Sorry we could not fly to Gastons together that one year in your plane from OR - it would have been fun.
Kimberly
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
I have about run out of my stories, plus I can't remember which ones I have already told, without reading them all. I don't want to tell the same story over. I am already accused of that at my coffee shop in the mornings.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
A gal reminded me of a quilt that my wife Essie had made for a fellow worker of hers at the post office. His name is Tim McPheeters and he was a great track runner for me and I have mentioned him before in my ramblings. Well he and Essie had a love - hate relationship and this is a story that I wrote for another venue earlier. Now Tim was our mailman and had a great sense of humor. So here is the story:
When Hell Freezes Over
Many people think the neighborhood mailman is a friendly, dog-loving man who is part address expert and part public relations expert. In the beginning, Essie thought those were great descriptors of Tim. Her opinion quickly changed. The first time Essie began to see another part of Tim was when the doorbell rang and Tim stood there with a letter for Essie. He told her the address was to The Crazy Lady at 477 Bryant Street. Tim told Essie that whomever sent the letter did not need to included the 477 Bryant Street part. He knew exactly where the “crazy lady” lived.
Later, Essie broke her ankle and was using a walker to get around. Bob took Essie over to a doctor’s appointment and when they get got home Essie noticed her walker had been equipped with training wheels. Essie only made one phone call as she knew exactly from where the wheels came. Legend has it she used words like,” breaking and entering,” “felony charges,” and “trespassing.”
Time went by and eventually Tim noticed the beautiful quilts Essie would be busy working on. The more he saw, the more he was impressed. One day Tim politely asked Essie if she might think about making him a quilt. Essie looked at Tim and responded, “When Hell Freezes over!”
To Tim’s delight one day he found a picture that he thought would be helpful. He quickly went over the showed it to Essie. It was a picture that showed Hell, Alaska had been especially hit by cold weather and was frozen over. This was Tim had waited for…..Hell had froze over!
Unbeknownst to Tim, Essie began to work on Tim’s quilt. She contacted family members, looked for just the right icons and carefully crafted something special for Tim.
One day Bob and Essie contacted Tim and asked to take him out to dinner to pay him back for taking care of the Vale house while they were in West Linn. When Tim walked in to meet for dinner, he was surprised to see many of his relatives also sitting at the table waiting for him. Essie presented Tim with his quilt, and indeed it was a special day, because Hell really had Froze over
When Hell Freezes Over
Many people think the neighborhood mailman is a friendly, dog-loving man who is part address expert and part public relations expert. In the beginning, Essie thought those were great descriptors of Tim. Her opinion quickly changed. The first time Essie began to see another part of Tim was when the doorbell rang and Tim stood there with a letter for Essie. He told her the address was to The Crazy Lady at 477 Bryant Street. Tim told Essie that whomever sent the letter did not need to included the 477 Bryant Street part. He knew exactly where the “crazy lady” lived.
Later, Essie broke her ankle and was using a walker to get around. Bob took Essie over to a doctor’s appointment and when they get got home Essie noticed her walker had been equipped with training wheels. Essie only made one phone call as she knew exactly from where the wheels came. Legend has it she used words like,” breaking and entering,” “felony charges,” and “trespassing.”
Time went by and eventually Tim noticed the beautiful quilts Essie would be busy working on. The more he saw, the more he was impressed. One day Tim politely asked Essie if she might think about making him a quilt. Essie looked at Tim and responded, “When Hell Freezes over!”
To Tim’s delight one day he found a picture that he thought would be helpful. He quickly went over the showed it to Essie. It was a picture that showed Hell, Alaska had been especially hit by cold weather and was frozen over. This was Tim had waited for…..Hell had froze over!
Unbeknownst to Tim, Essie began to work on Tim’s quilt. She contacted family members, looked for just the right icons and carefully crafted something special for Tim.
One day Bob and Essie contacted Tim and asked to take him out to dinner to pay him back for taking care of the Vale house while they were in West Linn. When Tim walked in to meet for dinner, he was surprised to see many of his relatives also sitting at the table waiting for him. Essie presented Tim with his quilt, and indeed it was a special day, because Hell really had Froze over
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
This isn't a flying story, it has to do with my co-pilot Ron. We were headed down to town on the bicycle built for two and the bike started to slow down. I looked back and Ron had his head down and he wasn't saying anything. I thought he had a heart attack or something. But when I looked closer I saw what the problem was. His loose shoe string had gotten caught on the bike pedal and each time around had wound it just a little bit tighter. Finally dragging us to a stop. That was now presenting a bad situation as he was stuck up on the bike and I had to get off some how and cut him lose. It is hard to get off of this bike because of the handle bars just behind the front rider. I got him to hold the bike up right while I got around on the right side where he was attached to the bike. That shoe string was so tight you could of played a tune on it. My pocket knife was the only method I could see to fix this problem and so I cut him lose. He loves to ride on the bike but his reflexes and eyesight prevent him from riding alone. I like to ride with him too. I tell him left or right and he gives the arm signals. Did I tell you I love my brother! ~~~
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Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Don’t judge a book by the last Page!
by Bob Bement.
I wanted to write this article while I still could. On my next birthday, in December I will be 80 years old. I wanted to tell my three children, Diane, Bob, and Beckie, about growing old before I suffer a stroke or can’t remember who I am or who they are. So many times I see where an older person is only known for what they are when they become old. They might of performed great things when they were younger but are seen differently when they reach the declining years of their lives.
So don’t remember: When I can’t hold on to a spoon, or drop my plate, or spill my food down the front of my shirt.
Please remember: When I was the best football receiving end in the Pacific Northwest Conference. That included Linfield, Willamette, Whitman, Pacific, Lewis and Clark, and the College of Idaho.
Yes your father lead the league with 30 catches, 370 yards, and 2 touchdowns. I weighed 158 pounds and played on all teams. Offense and defense. At that time I had great hands. It was 1958 and I was 24 years old.
Please don’t remember: When you get a call and your dad is lost and confused and can’t find his car or his home. You are told you will have to come get me and help me find my way.
Please do remember: When I taught you how to hunt Bob, and how to find your way out of Patrick Creek and back to camp. How to use a compass to help you find your way. Beckie and Diane how I taught you how to drive and Beckie how to drive the Green Jeep, ( when I was around) and how to miss all of those black cows. And Diane how we put the Brown Bomb’s Engine together out to the Major place. And I taught you the ignition firing order of the six cylinder engine. 1-5-3-6-2-4, do you still remember the evenings we spent getting that 1948 Chev. Running. I do. Bob remember the trip to Gastons and back from Bloomington, you with the chart on your lap and me finding our way with the help of the GPS. Yes I could find my way around back in those days.
And don’t just remember: When I need help getting around and my knees and other parts are not working as they should. Don’t remember walkers, wheelchairs, canes and things.
Rember back when: I dove out of Jim Coles boat that we were using to water ski on the Snake River at Nyssa, OR. How I dove down until I got the man that was almost drowned. Came to the surface Grabbed the life jacket I had thrown to him and swam with him to shore. The nice letter I got from his wife, for seeing that she had a husband, and their children had a father.
Or remember how I flew to Portland and gave Francis Hoopes an airplane ride for the “Forget Me Not” program of the nursing home in Gresham, OR. How we flew to Big Creek, Beckie, or to the Red’s Horse ranch, Bob, or the trip we made to Salt Lake City, Diane. Yes remember when I was doing these things.
And don’t remember: When I tell the same thing over and over or can’t remember a name, or a place. ( I mentioned this to the R.E.D. team this morning at coffee, and Mike Olsen said I am about 10 years late writing this article!) I love my R.E.D. team. They are trying to keep me young and I know that they are helping.
But do remember: The good times like hunting elk at antlers, the good times around the nightly camp fire. Coming out of Patrick Creek with the old 1954 green Jeep with my 5 point elk and 9 hunters hanging on someplace. The times we got wood and Diane and brother Ron would haul it back to Vale and have to stop for a Hamburg, fries and a diet coke. How we all cried like babies when our old dog Jill passed away. How I took care of your mother when she was sick for several years. It was not easy being the care giver 24/7 all of that time. I know you all helped all you could. I hope my mind is not the first thing to go. I know you worry about me flying at my advanced age but I have a goal to quite flying before I hurt someone, or dent an airplane. And I hope I will know when that time comes.
I see old folks in the nursing home and I know they did some great things in their earlier days, but I only hope that the staff taking care of them know something about their earlier days. My hope is that they are not JUDGED BY THE LAST PAGE!
by Bob Bement.
I wanted to write this article while I still could. On my next birthday, in December I will be 80 years old. I wanted to tell my three children, Diane, Bob, and Beckie, about growing old before I suffer a stroke or can’t remember who I am or who they are. So many times I see where an older person is only known for what they are when they become old. They might of performed great things when they were younger but are seen differently when they reach the declining years of their lives.
So don’t remember: When I can’t hold on to a spoon, or drop my plate, or spill my food down the front of my shirt.
Please remember: When I was the best football receiving end in the Pacific Northwest Conference. That included Linfield, Willamette, Whitman, Pacific, Lewis and Clark, and the College of Idaho.
Yes your father lead the league with 30 catches, 370 yards, and 2 touchdowns. I weighed 158 pounds and played on all teams. Offense and defense. At that time I had great hands. It was 1958 and I was 24 years old.
Please don’t remember: When you get a call and your dad is lost and confused and can’t find his car or his home. You are told you will have to come get me and help me find my way.
Please do remember: When I taught you how to hunt Bob, and how to find your way out of Patrick Creek and back to camp. How to use a compass to help you find your way. Beckie and Diane how I taught you how to drive and Beckie how to drive the Green Jeep, ( when I was around) and how to miss all of those black cows. And Diane how we put the Brown Bomb’s Engine together out to the Major place. And I taught you the ignition firing order of the six cylinder engine. 1-5-3-6-2-4, do you still remember the evenings we spent getting that 1948 Chev. Running. I do. Bob remember the trip to Gastons and back from Bloomington, you with the chart on your lap and me finding our way with the help of the GPS. Yes I could find my way around back in those days.
And don’t just remember: When I need help getting around and my knees and other parts are not working as they should. Don’t remember walkers, wheelchairs, canes and things.
Rember back when: I dove out of Jim Coles boat that we were using to water ski on the Snake River at Nyssa, OR. How I dove down until I got the man that was almost drowned. Came to the surface Grabbed the life jacket I had thrown to him and swam with him to shore. The nice letter I got from his wife, for seeing that she had a husband, and their children had a father.
Or remember how I flew to Portland and gave Francis Hoopes an airplane ride for the “Forget Me Not” program of the nursing home in Gresham, OR. How we flew to Big Creek, Beckie, or to the Red’s Horse ranch, Bob, or the trip we made to Salt Lake City, Diane. Yes remember when I was doing these things.
And don’t remember: When I tell the same thing over and over or can’t remember a name, or a place. ( I mentioned this to the R.E.D. team this morning at coffee, and Mike Olsen said I am about 10 years late writing this article!) I love my R.E.D. team. They are trying to keep me young and I know that they are helping.
But do remember: The good times like hunting elk at antlers, the good times around the nightly camp fire. Coming out of Patrick Creek with the old 1954 green Jeep with my 5 point elk and 9 hunters hanging on someplace. The times we got wood and Diane and brother Ron would haul it back to Vale and have to stop for a Hamburg, fries and a diet coke. How we all cried like babies when our old dog Jill passed away. How I took care of your mother when she was sick for several years. It was not easy being the care giver 24/7 all of that time. I know you all helped all you could. I hope my mind is not the first thing to go. I know you worry about me flying at my advanced age but I have a goal to quite flying before I hurt someone, or dent an airplane. And I hope I will know when that time comes.
I see old folks in the nursing home and I know they did some great things in their earlier days, but I only hope that the staff taking care of them know something about their earlier days. My hope is that they are not JUDGED BY THE LAST PAGE!
EppyGA
Touchdown! Greaser!
Kirk, Bob is a national treasure and truly great guy. Go YouTube and look at his stuff (skybobb) https://www.youtube.com/user/skybobb
Randy....out (see what I did there)
Checkout_my_Six
Touchdown! Greaser!
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Randy and sixie, I haven't been over here in a while so some of the newer pilots don't know about what Brian got me starting to do years ago.
flyingcheesehead
Touchdown! Greaser!
Best. Thread. Ever.
Of course, that's because it's written by the Best. Guy. Ever. Keep 'em coming Bob!
Of course, that's because it's written by the Best. Guy. Ever. Keep 'em coming Bob!
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Jim Logajan
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I've been guilty of that mistake at times and as I get older I think I'm doing a better job of avoiding it.
Becky
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Thank you for that motto, Bob. It's a good practice to remember the good. Sure fits today ... I went to the nursing home and played piano as I do twice a month ... it is nice to see some smiles when I play the old songs, but today it seemed extra sad for some reason to see so many people in one place whose lives are for the most part over. You can, however, see a lot of their stories in their eyes.
denverpilot
Tied Down
Bob. Loved the "don't remember" story for your kids. My grandfather said something similar to me once as he got older.
The part of the story about the engine rebuild got me. This is a little board he made for me that has two Polaroids and the burnt valve from my first car, a 1976 Toyota Corolla wagon. We rebuilt the engine together when this valve let go, and it's a memory I will keep of my grandpa until I die.
He lived many more years after this was made and the engine was fixed. He outlived his wife, as you have, and made it to his early 90s. Always strong but weaker each year.
But this is my favorite memory of him.
Your story got me a little teary and I had to go find "the plaque", which is currently on my workbench in my garage waiting for a little TLC on the very fine wires he used to attach the valve. They're a little loose and losing the valve off of the plaque, while its hanging on the wall, just wouldn't be right.
He always maintained all his things in top working order, being the old farm kid that he was. If something needed fixing, it made its way to his workbench for the next chance he could get to work on it.
The date scribbled on the back of the scrap wood, in grandma's handwriting, is July 12, 1989. As I recall, it took us the majority of the long July 4th weekend to tear it down, and find out what had happened, parts were repaired and ordered that week, and we put it back together the next weekend.
Be assured, you will be remembered well, Bob.
Thanks for the reminder.
The part of the story about the engine rebuild got me. This is a little board he made for me that has two Polaroids and the burnt valve from my first car, a 1976 Toyota Corolla wagon. We rebuilt the engine together when this valve let go, and it's a memory I will keep of my grandpa until I die.
He lived many more years after this was made and the engine was fixed. He outlived his wife, as you have, and made it to his early 90s. Always strong but weaker each year.
But this is my favorite memory of him.
Your story got me a little teary and I had to go find "the plaque", which is currently on my workbench in my garage waiting for a little TLC on the very fine wires he used to attach the valve. They're a little loose and losing the valve off of the plaque, while its hanging on the wall, just wouldn't be right.
He always maintained all his things in top working order, being the old farm kid that he was. If something needed fixing, it made its way to his workbench for the next chance he could get to work on it.
The date scribbled on the back of the scrap wood, in grandma's handwriting, is July 12, 1989. As I recall, it took us the majority of the long July 4th weekend to tear it down, and find out what had happened, parts were repaired and ordered that week, and we put it back together the next weekend.
Be assured, you will be remembered well, Bob.
Thanks for the reminder.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Bob. Loved the "don't remember" story for your kids. My grandfather said something similar to me once as he got older.
The part of the story about the engine rebuild got me. This is a little board he made for me that has two Polaroids and the burnt valve from my first car, a 1976 Toyota Corolla wagon. We rebuilt the engine together when this valve let go, and it's a memory I will keep of my grandpa until I die.
He lived many more years after this was made and the engine was fixed. He outlived his wife, as you have, and made it to his early 90s. Always strong but weaker each year.
But this is my favorite memory of him.
Your story got me a little teary and I had to go find "the plaque", which is currently on my workbench in my garage waiting for a little TLC on the very fine wires he used to attach the valve. They're a little loose and losing the valve off of the plaque, while its hanging on the wall, just wouldn't be right.
He always maintained all his things in top working order, being the old farm kid that he was. If something needed fixing, it made its way to his workbench for the next chance he could get to work on it.
The date scribbled on the back of the scrap wood, in grandma's handwriting, is July 12, 1989. As I recall, it took us the majority of the long July 4th weekend to tear it down, and find out what had happened, parts were repaired and ordered that week, and we put it back together the next weekend.
Be assured, you will be remembered well, Bob.
Thanks for the reminder.
Nate,
I am glad that my article gave you a push into your past and brought back some memories that probablly needed to be remembered. I wrote that article to my kids, but so many others said how it spoke to them that I felt impelled to share it. I being an old teacher, it seems I share everything I have. Thanks for the good words you threw my direction and take care of that plaque it is a great trophy.
1RTK1
Pattern Altitude
Great words for all to live by!!
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
I joined a new club just a while back and it made me feel good when I got a call from one of the members telling me thanks for joining up that they sure needed some young blood in the organization. It is called the UFO which stands for United Flying Octogenarians. To join you have to have a valid pilots license and be 80 years old or older. So when I turned 80 on Dec. 20 i soon started the process of joining. I don't thing I am dangerous and I think I still do a fair job of flying.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
I was just back to the Wright Brothers Memorial in N.C. and it helps me really appreciate more my chance to learn to fly and my love for flying, and the knowledge that Orville and Willbur gave to us. I hear pilots on here saying the wind was blowing 20 miles an hour so I couldn't go flying.
Orville and Willbur didn't have a license, had never flown anything but their gliders, Were flying a so called airplane they made out of things found in their bicycle shop, and they flew in 27 knot winds their first time.
So a licensed pilot that is trained and has a production built airplane can't fly in 20 MPH winds. Get out there and do it.
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TangoWhiskey
Touchdown! Greaser!
^^^ This is awesome. You rock, Mr. Bob!
denverpilot
Tied Down
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Heh. Very cool Bob. But I had you pegged more as a QB type?
No Nate I didn't have an arm to throw the ball. But I was able to catch the ball I wish I could copy this Oregonian news paper article about the TD, I caught against Linville college. But it is in my scrap book and to big to get im my copy machine. It was a catch like the one Clarke of the 49ers made of Joe Montana's throw. High in the air way over the top of my head on my finger tips. on the 11 yard line and on in for the TD. We lost the game however 19 -7.
flyingcheesehead
Touchdown! Greaser!
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Good Morning all, I just got back from a flight to Caldwell ID. and back to take Al and Vicki to breakfast. They are the couple that drove Mid Life Mark's car to Rome so Mark and Terri could fly down there with me. They are so good to me and Al loves to fly and Miss Vicki is fighting lung cancer. So to bring a little cheer to their faces makes me feel good. R.E.D. team Carol rode along and that is always good as she has a bucket list and puts a few $$$$ in the bucket for AvGas.
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denverpilot
Tied Down
I think Nate was referring to Quiet Birdmen, not quarterbacks.
And Bob was responding appropriately.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
Becky, I would really like it if you would take a few minutes and go to :
www.youtube.com/skybobb and watch a video I posted called: HIS LAST WISH- AN AIRPLANE RIDE. I am especially proud of this video and it goes along with what we are saying here.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
On the 11th of this month (June) I am going to fly over to Hamilton Montana to a UFO meeting. It will be my first time to meet any of these pilots. I remember way back when I had my 170 Cessna I flew this same route over to Hamilton to get an annual done. The Ap and AI there owed me and said he would do my annual if I could get it over there. It is a great flight from S49 Vale Miller Menorial to 6S5 Hamilton. It will be about a 200 mile flight. I remember how rugged the country was as I flew toward the continental divide and the top of those Rocky Mountains. a lot of stuff sticking up almost 10,000 ft. My course will take me, on a direct route, over Weiser, Id. south and west of McCall, ID, and about half way between,a couple of my earlier destinations, Warren and Big Creek. I will be a little south west of Mackay Bar, and once I cross the main Salmon River it is wild wilderness from there to Hamilton. ( about 50 miles of nothing but 9500 ft peaks.) Then I have to start losing altitude like crazy to get down to a pattern altitude of 4400 ft. as Hamilton is nestled up at the foot of those 9500 ft mountains. I remember the first time I landed there they were working on the runway and I had to land on a narrow taxiway.
The Second time I landed with Essie when we were flying back to IL. and on to Oshkosh back in 2003. I am looking to returning to Hamilton once again. ~~
The Second time I landed with Essie when we were flying back to IL. and on to Oshkosh back in 2003. I am looking to returning to Hamilton once again. ~~
Becky
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Becky
Thanks, Bob! Wonderful.Becky, I would really like it if you would take a few minutes and go to :
www.youtube.com/skybobb and watch a video I posted called: HIS LAST WISH- AN AIRPLANE RIDE. I am especially proud of this video and it goes along with what we are saying here.
Bob Bement
Pattern Altitude
I was working on my airplane replacing a small jockey box my mechanic had taken out to replace my old style DG with a new one. I told him I can put that back in. Anyway this friend of mine came in and wanted to know if I would fly to Grangeville, Id. and pick up his brother in law. It seems like his big truck had broken down on top of White Bird Hill and he has limped into Grangeville with it. I said sure as I needed to go flying anyway. I cleaned the window, pumped in some 100LL and headed to pick up Kenny Tucker. This was a very pretty flight as the route takes you right over the Seven Devils, a bunch of 9500 ft. mountains between the little town of Riggins, ID. and the Snake River. I wound my way through these tall peaks and over the ridge that is the top of the highway that goes over White Bird. I made a cross wind approach for runway 07 at KGIC and rolled to the second turn off and to the ramp where he was waiting. Grangeville is 3313 elevation so not a high elevation Airport. It was cool so no DA problem on this airport at this time. I had a good visit on the way back to S49 and in 1:11 we arrived back in Vale. It was a good flight and the weather was just great.~~
TangoWhiskey
Touchdown! Greaser!
Excellent! Get any pictures?
P.S. - I have a GoPro-like knockoff I should send to you so you can suction-cup mount it and post more videos of your flights.
