KTRK

OMGIFORGOTHOWTOLAND

OMGIFORGOTHOWTOLAND

Filing Flight Plan
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Jan 28, 2017
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Dallas - TX
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something witty
Truckee Airport is a bit dangerous at times to get to, however they have an awesome restaurant on field called Red Truck. Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area is also beautiful year round. Just make sure you are familiar with density altitude and mountain flying. KTRK is currently untowered so make those calls!
 
OMGIFORGOTHOWTOLAND said:
Truckee Airport is a bit dangerous at times to get to, however they have an awesome restaurant on field called Red Truck. Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area is also beautiful year round. Just make sure you are familiar with density altitude and mountain flying. KTRK is currently untowered so make those calls!
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Keep your eye on the blue donut.
 
Nobody has any business going anywhere near that area (let alone landing) if you don't know what density altitude is. The terrain around it is another 4000' above the runway.
 
flyingron said:
Nobody has any business going anywhere near that area (let alone landing) if you don't know what density altitude is. The terrain around it is another 4000' above the runway.
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I agree, unfortunately every year we have had accidents at those airports related to density altitude.
 
OMGIFORGOTHOWTOLAND said:
I agree, unfortunately every year we have had accidents at those airports related to density altitude.
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Or misconfiguration. Flatlanders trying to take off full rich, for instance.

Red Truck is that good? I may have to try it. South Lake Tahoe has a nice restaurant, with a view, too.
 
flyingron said:
Nobody has any business going anywhere near that area (let alone landing) if you don't know what density altitude is. The terrain around it is another 4000' above the runway.
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Maybe if you aim straight at Squaw Peak.

The entire flight to Sacramento can be done at 8500. Field elevation is around 6000, Donner Pass is a bit over 7000.
 
Still 8500' is not some place to be screwing around if you don't know about mountain flying.
 
MAKG1 said:
Maybe if you aim straight at Squaw Peak.

The entire flight to Sacramento can be done at 8500. Field elevation is around 6000, Donner Pass is a bit over 7000.
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KTRK has a large LED sign on the runway "Density Altitude NNNNN - Airport Elevation 5900 - For Aircraft Performance Consult Your Operators Handbook"
 
citizen5000 said:
KTRK has a large LED sign on the runway "Density Altitude NNNNN - Airport Elevation 5900 - For Aircraft Performance Consult Your Operators Handbook"
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Virtually all airports with any traffic at all at even moderate altitude have those signs. I've even seen one at Columbia. That's 1500 feet. And in summer, at Fresno. 300 MSL (but the DA can get over 3000 -- enough to need to lean for takeoff in a Cessna).

The sign doesn't make much difference. At lower altitudes, density altitude is reported on AWOS if it differs from field altitude by more than 1000 feet, sometimes even less. People still try to take off full rich or with poor technique, and crash with alarming regularity.
 
The sign was put there by KTRK airport authority after a number of airport fatalities occurred where density altitude was a contributing factor. The airport is in a small valley surrounded by 9,000 foot Sierra peaks. During the summer it is routine to see that 6,000 MSL at the airport become 9,000 density altitude.

Another airport famous for such conditions is S. Lake Tahoe airport KTVL on the opposite end of Lake Tahoe.
 
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As an added bonus, there is a bus stop right outside the terminal. The very next stop southbound is Northstar. Just download the "NextBus" app on your phone and time things appropriately. Makes for a great day of skiing. As an added bonus, you get to fly over all the traffic on I-80 on the way back to the bay area!
 
citizen5000 said:
The sign was put there by KTRK airport authority after a number of airport fatalities occurred where density altitude was a contributing factor. The airport is in a small valley surrounded by 9,000 foot Sierra peaks. During the summer it is routine to see that 6,000 MSL at the airport become 9,000 density altitude.

Another airport famous for such conditions is S. Lake Tahoe airport KTVL on the opposite end of Lake Tahoe.
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At KTVL, straight-out departures on 36 have no terrain and no obstructions for 20+ miles. People run into trouble there when they take off on 18 and assume they have to cross Echo Summit without turning.
 
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