Welcome from a fellow Alaskan )now living in the “lower 48.”
That round trip to NC must have been pretty incredible!
It was interesting to say the least.
One leg, left U01, American Falls ID, flew to the Tetons, keep flying north to Yellowstone, Right turn to The Devil's Tower, a slight right turn to Mt Rushmore.
Wild fires in Montana and Wyoming were incredible to see.
The next morning got in the air just before sunrise, 200ft agl, couldn't see anything, transition to instruments, continue climb couple hundred feet could see again. Smoke.
Wanted Alpenglow on the faces. If had tried at any other time, would not have found them. The alpenglow on George in the distance was how I found them.
As you can see the camera had issues focusing in the smoke. 270mm zoom lens.
Met some really interesting people, then 2-different moments of meeting people proves the aviation world is small.
One stop was KMEY the Wright Brothers Field in Ohio. Plan stop to see the Wright Patterson Museum. Needed to change my oil. The manger at First Flight was having issues (2021-covid) finding mechanics. He offered to let me change my oil in his cool hangar. June 2021 was hot-I'm from Alaska-it was incredibly hot.
After meeting the crew, they all invited me to hang around for a nightly beer. The boss left early to meet someone. Walking through the huge hangar, could see him talking to someone, but didn't pay attention. Inside the office area, courtesy car to go to hotel for the night.
Next thing I know, the biggest grin you ever saw comes walking through the door.
A new mechanic starting work the following Tuesday, saw my airplane tied down outside and asked, " Where's Mike?"
The manager asks me, " How many people live in Alaska?" My answer was correct census. His new mechanic was a customer to my welding store, AP/IA. Sean was moving from Alaska to be with family, he was the new mechanic.
The next day, museum visit in the AM into afternoon. Took photos of everything there, XB-70 and X-3 were why I visited.
Tired by the time got back to the hotel, long day, plenty of miles covered, had a case of RV -Lag. Fell asleep on the bed early afternoon. Phone woke me up. What is a Tsunami Alert going on in Ohio, the Great lake was at least 100-miles to the north.
Walking towards the phone, thinking phone must be linked to Alaska. It was dark outside, total black out. Must have been asleep for hours.
Picked phone up: "Tornados in the local area"
Okay I'm on the third story of this new hotel. What was the first thing I did? Straight to the windows. The wind and rain were incredible. Cops were directing traffic into my hotel. Cool, probably why no phone call telling me to evacuate, from the lobby.
phone out taking videos of the view. Whole time thinking better get commercial schedules, my RV-6 was tied down 2-blocks away.
The rain, wind stopped, like a switch had been thrown. A couple seconds later, wind 180 degrees opposite, not quite as bad rain. Then it died. Notice I mentioned Tornados in the area? One to the North, one to the South.
People start leaving, the highway has lights on it again, and under the black cloud could see a bright looking sunset to the west.
Airplane was fine, waterlogged, but okay. Bought some super expensive, Spectra, rope for tiedown to take on the trip. Lightweight and strong: super $$$ per foot. All I use now.
Talk about a preflight the next morning, was planning a direct flight to KFFA. Top to bottom, looked at everything. Briefer (I still call and talk) mentioned that my flight path was following those cells to the coast.
Don't worry though, they are dissipating. Call to the hotel desk, full for the night. Had to leave. No way was I flying into that.
Okay picked a place on the map south from Ohio but close enough to get to KFFA the next morning. Several calls to hotels at locations that show a courtesy car in the remarks section for airports. This took time, no early flight today. Close to check out time found the spot. Covid strikes again-some hotels had a 6-day waiting period between guests.
Landed at Rockingham Shiloh airport, Stonebridge, NC. Hot day again, sweating no matter what I do. Fueled up before tie down. Walk inside to get courtesy car. Blind sided: Traveled into a fairly large Liars Club Meeting. Emery asks me, " Boy (I was 60+), where are you from?" My answer Kenai, Alaska. Next question do you know Terry? Yep, sure do, another customer Terry (RV-6a), used to fly C-46 Commandos for Evert Fuel Service. Emery calls Terry.........
The next morning, unfamiliar area, call to a briefer again. Okay my storm was now out to sea and was no factor, great!
However a storm left the Gulf of America (North America, Central America, South America) and was headed directly towards Kitty Hawk and would hit late morning.
Left early before anybody was at airport, turning cross wind one of the crew called to say he headed in early to make sure got off okay. That is just a small example of the people I met, changed his day just in case I needed some help.
Rvs' have the ability to add throttle (130kts average ground speed at 2250rpm for the whole trip), just in case you want to race the weather with a Cloud Chaser to a place called Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hill. ( A logo a former owner applied to the vertical stabilizer).
Yesterday the 10th, returned from a Monday-Friday RV camping trip to PAGK. Puppy dog sit for my son who works a 3-week schedule, sure does like RV camping.
Wrote down the recorded visit of a RV6 underneath mine, wanted to trace the tail number, lost the paper. Sure wish had returned to airplane that night. They were trying to leave Alaska on a return Flight back to Great Britain. Would have been nice to talk with them. Gulkana has a pilot lounge, everything but a shower. Food in the fridge, guest room for sleeping, locals who will help with anything. Fueling point: entering/leaving Alaska to the east.
Mike
