Willie
Thanks for sharing and showing us all what this is all about!
Eliacim
----- Original Message -----
From: wftopken
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 10:35 PM
Subject: [ercoupe-flyin] Hot Cross-Country Flyin'
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
6965 Cox Road
Fallon, NV 89406-7380
Home (775) 867-3069
Cell (775) 338-5717
