My lovely, young wife and I just returned this afternoon from a 4-day cross-country flight in N3378H to visit our daughter and son-in-law in Gresham, Oregon. We are expecting grandbaby #4!
We left Fallon Southwest Airpark (1NV1) Friday morning at 7am to Alturas, CA (KAAT) for fuel; via Crater Lake to Roseburg, OR (KRBG) for fuel & lunch with relatives. On to Portland-Troutdale Airport (KTTD) at 4:30 PM. Saturday morning I took the son-in-law on a 1.5 hour flight up the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River, OR and back. Sunday morning I did the same with my daughter. Lovely flyin' weather both days!! We left Troutdale this morning at 7:30 AM, flyin' up the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River for the wife to enjoy the view, then turned south for Redmond, OR (KRDM) for fuel. On to KAAT again for more fuel and quick lunch. Finally on the last leg and landed at 1NV1 at 3:15 PM! Most of the high desert and mountain flying was hot and bumpy, with density altitudes ranging 2-3,000 feet higher than indicated MSL. As we were always at max take-off weight, it was always a long, slow, bumpy climb to 7-8,000' MSL 9,000' - 11,000' DA), which was usually 78H's max altitude. Each leg we took off with 6 gallons in the fuselage tank and 5 gallons in each wing tank for the less than 2-hour planned legs. We had shipped our required items, so only had a few things with us. Winds at altitude during flight up were minimal, so flight was mostly pleasant, but warm & somewhat bumpy over Cascades after departing Alturas. On the return flight today it was just HOT! and BUMPY! from the Columbia River south! Also had 40 - 45 mph easterly winds at 7000' MSL (9000' DA) mostly direct left cross-wind, so not much headwind or tailwind! TAS was mostly 105 - 110 MPH, so had good ground speed. All in all it was an enjoyable flight up and back. Long & tiring, but better than the 12 - 13 hours driving! For the flights up and back (not counting 3 hrs of Gorge flying): 1107 statute miles, 52 gallons of 100LL, 11.9 flying hours = 21 MPG, 4.37 GPH, and 93 MPH average ground speed! How was your weekend? AIM HIGH! FLY SAFE! Willie Topken N3378H '46 ERCO 415-D Ercoupe @ 1NV1 http://www.airnav.com/airport/1NV1 <http://www.airnav.com/airport/1NV1> 6965 Cox Road Fallon, NV 89406-7380 Home (775) 867-3069 Cell (775) 338-5717
