Trip report: flying to Yellowstone in a Grumman Traveler

3 RAP'rs (in comfortable captain chairs) - each person drives one hour legs.
We tow a small aerodynamic trailer. Hmm? This idea has legs.

One hour legs? Sounds like a slow-motion-Chinese-fire-drill... ;-)

Ok. I'm in.

Careful. You might end up being the "party hauler" again! (There
*are* worse fates, I suppose...)

http://www.yellowstoneaviation.com/
FREE camping on the field - in the trees - 150 ft from your plane. Campsites
have fire pits, showers, bathrooms, picnic tables, the whole nine yards. He
said we'd be pleased with the camping accommodations.

That sounds OUTSTANDING. Better than I expected, by far.

Budget and Avis Rent A Car are on the field.

Fantastic. That makes things much easier, unless we all pile into the
airplane of minivans...

Elevation: 6,644 ft
Runway 1/19 ....8400 ft x 150 ft

Sounds easy. It's certainly plenty long...

This could be a lot of fun!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On 23 Aug 2006 22:09:12 -0700, "Jay Honeck"
wrote:
Elevation: 6,644 ft
Runway 1/19 ....8400 ft x 150 ft

Sounds easy. It's certainly plenty long...

Depends... A few years back, I was departing GCN (9000 ft long, 6609
ft elevation) and wasn't going to be able to clear the trees at the
south end of the runway... It took *forever* to just get into ground
effect and after that, it just wouldn't climb... There was a break in
the trees on the west side of the runway, so I squeezed between them
while still in ground effect... At that point, the ground starts
dropping off a bit and I started catching some thermals... It took
awhile to get the seat cushion unstuck from my butt after that
takeoff... Turns out that after I squeezed through the trees, the
tower issued a warning about a 9000 ft density altitude... That was
when I still had a 150 hp O-320 and as such, the climb performance
with two females and their associated luggage was definitely crap...

In article om,
"Jay Honeck" wrote:

Anyone else interested? Mary and I have been talking about this
FOREVER, and -- with my son a Junior in high school now -- it's next
summer, or probably never, with him.

As I have never flown mountains, I would want to include a stop in
Colorado along tghe way to visit Jer for a class. This could add a day
or two to the trip.

funny that this thread has cropped up while I'm sitting in Grand Teton
and was in Yellowstone two days ago.
The flight out from Wisconsin took us just south of Rushmore and Crazy
horse. Once you hit Rapid City, the trip becomes very scenic and the
country becomes very rugged. got upto 14,500 for a little while (on
oxygen) crossing the mountains east of the Tetons and diverting around
the fire TFR's, then a quick drop down into the Jackson hole valley.

I'd be up for considering a return trip.

Ryan

Jay Honeck wrote:



Okay, for best weather (and not to interfere with OSH) it would have to
be in June, probably mid-to-late June. This is starting to sound like
a crazy idea that might be more than a pipe dream?

Best flying weather out here is September, no question about it. Not
the slightest chance of thunderstorms, not a cloud in the sky and about
80 every day, upper 40's to low 50's at night in that area. Next best
is August. June is only slightly better than May.

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
3 RAP'rs (in comfortable captain chairs) - each person drives one hour
legs. We tow a small aerodynamic trailer. Hmm? This idea has legs.

One hour legs? Sounds like a slow-motion-Chinese-fire-drill... ;-)

You're focused on the one hour driving blocks. I'm looking at the two hours
blocks, used for stretching out and relaxing ....zzzzz.

Careful. You might end up being the "party hauler" again! (There *are*
worse fates, I suppose...)

First things first, was it a black bear or a grizzly bear - you saw walking
off with my camping gear?


Montblack

("Newps" wrote)
Best flying weather out here is September, no question about it. Not the
slightest chance of thunderstorms, not a cloud in the sky and about 80
every day, upper 40's to low 50's at night in that area.


September, you say. Hmm...?

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teamsched?teamId=2294
Jay would have to schedule it between two Home football games.

Does either side of Sept 23rd look inviting? g

Paraphrasing a little:
'Blah, blah, blah ..Atlas stirs restlessly in the hangar, saddled with a
full load of mogas, yearning to be set free -skyward- into yonder wild
blue.'

To be fair:
'Blah, blah, blah ..The airplane of minivans says, "Take the Honda. Take the
Honda ...it's got a CD player in it. Seriously, take the Accord to Montana,
you'll thank me later!"


Montblack
Speaking of...The Hawkeyes play Montana on Sept 2nd. :-)

Mike Adams wrote:
john smith wrote:

Ever think about putting a RAP'er trip to Yellowstone together?
Pre/post-OSH?

Interesting idea! It flight plans out at about 4.5 hours from Phoenix, overflying the Grand Canyon, Bryce
Canyon and Salt Lake. One stop somewhere south of SLC would be a nice trip. I haven't been there
since we took the kids up there about 15 years ago. Let's work on this!


4.5 hrs. from Phoenix? You must be flying something fast. I fly up
there at least once a year and average about 6.5 hrs. in the air.
Spanish Fork, UT (U77, south of Provo) is an excellent fuel stop. Just
beyond the halfway point, not crowded and self-serve fuel.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

("Newps" wrote)
Best flying weather out here is September, no question about it. Not the
slightest chance of thunderstorms, not a cloud in the sky and about 80
every day, upper 40's to low 50's at night in that area.


September would be far better IMO.

Ron Lee

"John Galban" wrote:

4.5 hrs. from Phoenix? You must be flying something fast. I fly up
there at least once a year and average about 6.5 hrs. in the air.
Spanish Fork, UT (U77, south of Provo) is an excellent fuel stop. Just
beyond the halfway point, not crowded and self-serve fuel.


Yep, our old bird moves pretty well. I did a rough flight plan at 145KT, but it would be a bit longer with a
stop. Thanks for the tip on a stop. I was just looking at the map and picked out Delta (DTA), but have
never been this direction, so all advice is welcome.

Mike