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CaptLabrador said:
Anyone here about A-Hart locking its doors and dissapearing the other day. Used to be a good school, got sold and the new owner turned it into a 141 style international school. The other day people showed up for work and training. doors locked, phone disconnected, website gone...sucks for the guy I heard about who had a checkride in 5 days. Ugh...people are bastards sometimes.
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I did my private there in 2007. The "new" owner (Bill) sold it a couple of years ago or so. I haven't used them for 5+ years as I was no longer getting good customer service. Last week, many of their planes suddenly appeared across the airport at Attitude. Can't believe how they treated their employees and customers by just shutting down with no warning. Your description is apt.
 
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So apparently it gets worse (I just asked someone I knew). The planes were sold at a big discount (even planes not legally owned by them). Students and instructors money stolen, and the owner left the country.
 
I just discovered this thread... I fly out of rdd and my wife and I like to make frequent ski trips to tahoe (bought a heavenly pass this year--last year we did squaw). I have landed in trk but never south lake so I'm looking forward to it... If any of you skiers/boarders want to join us for a weekend or something it would be fun -- I think as season pass holders we get discount tickets for friends
 
Jeff07W said:
I just discovered this thread... I fly out of rdd and my wife and I like to make frequent ski trips to tahoe (bought a heavenly pass this year--last year we did squaw). I have landed in trk but never south lake so I'm looking forward to it... If any of you skiers/boarders want to join us for a weekend or something it would be fun -- I think as season pass holders we get discount tickets for friends
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I usually pick up the Epic pass, but I have been a little spooked this year. I just got an email saying three more days...

If you are going up, post. Northstar is only an hour and forty-five minute drive for me, though I have flown it a couple times. There is a shuttle and Northstar is the first stop both ways.
 
I did the shuttle to squaw last year... We had to change busses so it took us longer to get to the airport than to fly home ... I'm curious to see how we can navigate heavenly & North Star...I like trk
 
I have been wanting to take kids to lake tahoe.

will appreciate any tips on timing, navigation and landing.

I have cessna 172 based at RHV
 
rhvpilot said:
I have been wanting to take kids to lake tahoe.



will appreciate any tips on timing, navigation and landing.



I have cessna 172 based at RHV
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It is high DA, so stay light and pick a cold day. I had two people in my Cherokee and it was low 30's and I still had to circle to get over the ridge and head home from Truckee (150 HP). There is a bus that runs from the airport and Northstar is the first stop. Follow 80 and you can do it under 10k, but do climb up and see the lake before you land. It is a great view.
 
rhvpilot said:
I have been wanting to take kids to lake tahoe.

will appreciate any tips on timing, navigation and landing.

I have cessna 172 based at RHV
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I can't count how many times I've been there. A 172 will do just fine, but as John says pick a cold day. Winter is a great time to fly there, as long as the weather is clear and relatively calm. Best thing to do is plan on coming over Echo Summit and you can keep it well under 10K, plenty doable in a 172 (I've done it.) Plan on circling over the lake to gain altitude on departure, and then just head back over the same pass.

A couple years ago I did the trip in my present Arrow (Arrow II) and the Other Guy was PIC with me in the back and two other people. We were at max gross. We were able to get in there no problem on a 100 degree day (density altitude well over 10K.) I flew the next leg out of there and back home. Study your performance tables, watch your DA, don't be in a hurry to tackle the terrain, and use the thermals and upslope drafts to your advantage. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, it would be worth your while to get a mountain checkout.)

EDIT: We didn't take off with the two extra people. We dropped them off for their honeymoon vacation.)
 
rhvpilot said:
I have been wanting to take kids to lake tahoe.

will appreciate any tips on timing, navigation and landing.

I have cessna 172 based at RHV
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Carry minimum fuel. With a 172 I flew out of South Shore we used a pipette to count gallons carefully, it's that important.
 
Fly up I-80 even though it's longer from RHV. Many more good emergency landing spots than other routes, including an airport halfway up (it is NOT plowed if snowy, but I believe the snow level is higher than that now).

Not so much "minimum fuel" as at least 10% under max gross (2070 lb on a 172N), once past Blue Canyon. And don't go if the wind at 9000 over SAC or RNO is higher than 15 knots. FAR more important is to know how to lean for max performance at run-up. You should never use full rich at Tahoe, except maybe for engine start (and even then, only for priming an injected engine).

Do NOT fly over the center of the lake unless your 172 has floats or you are wearing an immersion suit. A ditching in the center of the lake will almost certainly be fatal otherwise.

There are at least three 182s (two Ps and an N) I'm aware of for rent at RHV. That would buy you a whole lot more margin, though a 172 is capable of it as long as you keep track of weight and wind, and don't try to take off full rich or climb at sea level Vy.
 
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MAKG1 said:
Fly up I-80 even though it's longer from RHV. Many more good emergency landing spots than other routes, including an airport halfway up (it is NOT plowed if snowy, but I believe the snow level is higher than that now).

Not so much "minimum fuel" as at least 10% under max gross (2070 lb on a 172N), once past Blue Canyon. And don't go if the wind at 9000 over SAC or RNO is higher than 15 knots. FAR more important is to know how to lean for max performance at run-up. You should never use full rich at Tahoe, except maybe for engine start (and even then, only for priming an injected engine).

Do NOT fly over the center of the lake unless your 172 has floats or you are wearing an immersion suit. A ditching in the center of the lake will almost certainly be fatal otherwise.

There are at least three 182s (two Ps and an N) I'm aware of for rent at RHV. That would buy you a whole lot more margin, though a 172 is capable of it as long as you keep track of weight and wind, and don't try to take off full rich or climb at sea level Vy.
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All good advice, but...carrying unecessary fuel is to be avoided. The lighter the better. Plan so as to leave there with minimums and sensible reserves, you'll appreciate this in a 172 on the ground run, no matter how long the runway is. At truckee you're in a bowl, circle cautiously. At South Shore it's best to depart toward the lake unless that tailwind is too high.
Do lean for max RPM for take off, forgot that, thought it was common knowledge but it's easy to forget.
 
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Since I've found out in another thread that RHVpilot has a tiedown neighbor with a 182N for rent, frankly, it's a better choice. That aircraft claims a 20,000 foot service ceiling at max gross and even has an extra PLB mounted to the roof. And it's rather sprightly. Just watch your shins. The main gear steps reach out to grab you. And the passenger window doesn't open (not broken, that's just the 182N design). I'd definitely fly this airplane to Tahoe. A 160 HP 172, I'd wait for perfect weather and fly light.
 
Are you guys ready for the storm?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I am catching a commercial flight to Tucson this afternoon, so I'll miss most of it. Hopefully we'll have flying weather when I get back in a week. I should have bought a Northstar pass, but after last year I wasn't sure, as I only used it a few days. Looks like this year is starting to shape up.
 
flyingriki said:
Carry minimum fuel. With a 172 I flew out of South Shore we used a pipette to count gallons carefully, it's that important.
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MAKG1 said:
Fly up I-80 even though it's longer from RHV. Many more good emergency landing spots than other routes, including an airport halfway up (it is NOT plowed if snowy, but I believe the snow level is higher than that now).

Not so much "minimum fuel" as at least 10% under max gross (2070 lb on a 172N), once past Blue Canyon. And don't go if the wind at 9000 over SAC or RNO is higher than 15 knots. FAR more important is to know how to lean for max performance at run-up. You should never use full rich at Tahoe, except maybe for engine start (and even then, only for priming an injected engine).

Do NOT fly over the center of the lake unless your 172 has floats or you are wearing an immersion suit. A ditching in the center of the lake will almost certainly be fatal otherwise.

There are at least three 182s (two Ps and an N) I'm aware of for rent at RHV. That would buy you a whole lot more margin, though a 172 is capable of it as long as you keep track of weight and wind, and don't try to take off full rich or climb at sea level Vy.
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flyingriki said:
All good advice, but...carrying unecessary fuel is to be avoided. The lighter the better. Plan so as to leave there with minimums and sensible reserves, you'll appreciate this in a 172 on the ground run, no matter how long the runway is. At truckee you're in a bowl, circle cautiously. At South Shore it's best to depart toward the lake unless that tailwind is too high.
Do lean for max RPM for take off, forgot that, thought it was common knowledge but it's easy to forget.
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MAKG1 said:
Since I've found out in another thread that RHVpilot has a tiedown neighbor with a 182N for rent, frankly, it's a better choice. That aircraft claims a 20,000 foot service ceiling at max gross and even has an extra PLB mounted to the roof. And it's rather sprightly. Just watch your shins. The main gear steps reach out to grab you. And the passenger window doesn't open (not broken, that's just the 182N design). I'd definitely fly this airplane to Tahoe. A 160 HP 172, I'd wait for perfect weather and fly light.
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Thanks for the input guys. I greatly appreciate it.

MackG, Is that Coby's 182 for rent you mentioned?
 
Definitely not good weather for flying. I've been flight sim and eating chili until the storm passes the Bay Area. I'd fly a 182 if I was heading out to Tahoe the extra power really helps over the mountains.
 
Not really. The ceiling has been above 3000 over most of the last week, and windy times have been isolated. A 3000+ foot overcast with light rain and temperatures in the high 50s is quite flyable. Right now, the forecast is for light rain, but the ceiling is above Mission Peak with at least 20 miles visibility below, enough to make it through the pass and go just about anywhere.
 
I flew from KWVI to Fresno and another trip to Sac within the last week...all VFR. Just gotta find your windows!
 
Yeah I have been flying here and there with students all week. Even in the light rain visibility has been 5-7 miles. Sunol pass has been open most of the time. Mornings oddly enough have been the better time to fly then the weather moves in midday or evening.
 
I might do a KHAF run tomorrow, weather permitting. Grab some lunch at Princeton Seafood Company.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I might do a KHAF run tomorrow, weather permitting. Grab some lunch at Princeton Seafood Company.
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Damn, wish I had seen this.
I took a friend to Monterey for lunch today, perfect weather.
Lemme know next time you plan to go, I'll meet ya there.
 
Aeric said:
Damn, wish I had seen this.
I took a friend to Monterey for lunch today, perfect weather.
Lemme know next time you plan to go, I'll meet ya there.
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Mezza Luna was excellent yesterday! As always. Miss visiting with Eddie these days...
 
Great weather out there. Princeton Seafood Company was awesome.
 
I am heading to HAF for lunch, but I could probably be talked into LLR. The weather looks great. Anyone else flying today?
 
Good to hear your doing well. I see your working hard, lots of travel. When the time is right it will happen. The important thing is your still flying..
 
Okay people, where you at? I did an impromptu run to O22 (Columbia) today with a homie. Anybody up for a fly in someplace this month?
 
Maybe I'll try to get current tomorrow. I am in town until the 12th. I still haven't managed to buy a plane, but I am thinking about getting checked out at Sunshine Flyers in Auburn.
 
My life of retirement has become hectic but I could be in with a little notice. NorCal flyers have had their wings clipped I think.
 
Dang. Did my IR cross country instead, in the other direction. Went to Ukiah and found out it was the CalFire base for the Lower Lake fire. Constant air tanker traffic. Very impressive.
 
MAKG1 said:
Dang. Did my IR cross country instead, in the other direction. Went to Ukiah and found out it was the CalFire base for the Lower Lake fire. Constant air tanker traffic. Very impressive.
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I was a little bit surprised that there wasn't more air tanker traffic at Columbia. They were prepping a couple as I left a little after noon.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I was a little bit surprised that there wasn't more air tanker traffic at Columbia. They were prepping a couple as I left a little after noon.
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They are operating out of Fresno. No fires around Columbia, but there's one further south, on the other side of Yosemite.

I was up there the day before that TFR looking for a practice ELT in the foothills near Oakhurst. Another CAP aircraft reported spotting the fire, and the Fresno air tankers were already enroute before we got back to base. It's amazing how fast they can get airborne. Fresno was a madhouse after that, combining normal airliner traffic, ANG traffic, and now CAP (12-18 aircraft at a time) and CalFire on top. Really good controllers there… we did a lot of intersection takeoffs and parallel approaches to stay out of the way of the tankers.
 
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