Skybobb's Minam Lodge Project report.

[Bob Bement]

We arrived at Joesph, OR at about 8:00 after flying up the Snake River and around the Eagle cap mountains. We had a general meeting and Bill Ables gave us a good briefing and a map of the check points going in and out of the Minam and back to Joesph. We got the frequencies and the location to switch from Joesph 122.8 to Minam 122.9. They were hoping for 10 -12 pilots showing up and had over 20. However some of them never left Joseph. I took Mary Rosenblum, the newly elected President of the Oregon Pilots Assoc. with me as she had never been in and was flying a Cessna 150. I unloaded every thing out of the plane and started hauling. I made a total of 4 round trips carrying every thing from old tractor and plane battteries, to old seats and bags of I don't know what. I went back sunday the 15th but only had to make one trip from the Minam to Joesph. We landed up river and took off down river until we had a 10KT.. up river wind come up. Then we landed down river. and took off that direction.
We had a great group of pilots and a lot of different airplanes. Mostly Cessnas and Maules, but we had some others I saw a Stinson, and a Airknoche chief. We only had one close call when a plane turned around on the runway to taxi back and he had a plane landing right behind him. I wasn't there but I heard about it.
Picture #1. Loading 54N for a run to Joesph, #2. landing down river on a return trip to the lodge, #3. Taking off over the trees on a trip to Joesph with another load. Let me know if you want to see other pictures as I have about 300 of this project

 

[Henning]

I always wished I had been able to buy Sheri Marlin's 182A off of her. It was a life long dry country hangar plane as well and it performed admirably and impressively with the STOL cuff. Carb it up and turn it up to 2625 and get 250-260 out of it, no sweat, it'll be happy to make more than 230 without a problem. Just use the extra power as a 5 minute duty cycle for take off and performance maneuvering.

 

[denverpilot]

Nice Bob. Pilots are great people.

Also, were all your personal fuel expenses covered?

 

[Bob Bement]

Nice Bob. Pilots are great people.

Also, were all your personal fuel expenses covered?

Yes on the fuel expenses. I came out just fine. And a second on Pilots being the best of the best.

 

[Henning]

So was the airlift fully successful? Did all the supplies get there? Pretty cool deal.

 

[Bob Bement]

So was the airlift fully successful? Did all the supplies get there? Pretty cool deal.

We got all of it hauled out and some back in There were also two hughes Helicopters bringing in and taking out. The www.theraf.org was there shooting video of the operation. There was some propane tanks that still needed to be hauled in.

More pictures, the loading crew, part of the things to load, and an over head shot of the Minam Landing Strip. Minam International.

 

[denverpilot]

Yes on the fuel expenses. I came out just fine. And a second on Pilots being the best of the best.

I asked because I honestly forgot to donate. By the time I circled back around to the reminder I'd set for myself, you'd posted the second update. Felt bad.

Don't hesitate to ask again if you find yourself on the short end of the fuel stick and such a worthy project as keeping an airport alive!

 

[Bob Bement]

I asked because I honestly forgot to donate. By the time I circled back around to the reminder I'd set for myself, you'd posted the second update. Felt bad.

Don't hesitate to ask again if you find yourself on the short end of the fuel stick and such a worthy project as keeping an airport alive!

Thanks Dave I couldn't believe in the response I got. It brought a tear to this old mans eyes, when the money started coming in. But you are right this wasn't just a project for Bob Bement this includes all Pilots. They may never get to the Minam but I hope the chance for them to, is there.

Some more pictures. #1. Meeting and planes and pilots and copilots, #2, Helicopter dropping in a new little tractor, #3 a broken tail wheel part on a 180 Cessna, ( I had to say something to him about training wheels on my airplane.)

 

[Bob Bement]

1. Imnaha River as we were flying in from Vale to Joesph, just over the ridge from Halfway, OR.

Planes lined up ready to load at the Minam Lodge.

54N clearing the trees on takeoff from the Minam. Heading down River.

 

[Everskyward]

Glad the airlift was a success!

 

[ajstoner21]

Glad it worked out! Cool pictures!

 

[Jim Logajan]

I'm just close enough that I considered flying in to help, but too many errands to run that couldn't be put off another weekend.

I considered sending money, then remembered what a cheap tightwad I am.

Glad to see it worked out for Minam Lodge. But most of all, best wishes for your wife.

 

[Bob Bement]

I'm just close enough that I considered flying in to help, but too many errands to run that couldn't be put off another weekend.

I considered sending money, then remembered what a cheap tightwad I am.

Glad to see it worked out for Minam Lodge. But most of all, best wishes for your wife.

We had pilots from Lebanon, Albany, Troutdale, Canby, Washington state someplace, and a lot of local pilots, it was a fine project and one of those win, win type of outcomes. No accidents, No one hurt, only one broken tail wheel, and a lot of happy people.

Thanks for the good thoughts though.

 

[Bob Bement]

They had thought that they might get 10 - 12 planes and when 20 -25 showed up they were pleasantly surprised.

They thought of everything even had Valet parking.

 

[Threefingeredjack]

Bob - please keep us posted on future Minam support missions. If not for a previous commitment, I would have been there with bells on. Thanks for your tireless efforts.

 

[Bob Bement]

Bob - please keep us posted on future Minam support missions. If not for a previous commitment, I would have been there with bells on. Thanks for your tireless efforts.

As I have mentioned before I had pilots from N. Y., Texas, Illinois, Montana, and some southern state with no other addy. It was a great outpouring of support for me. And not just for me, those pilots couldn't get there but wanted to lend their support to keep this treasure open to the public. Maybe they will never be lucky enough to use it. But, just maybe their sons, or grand sons/daughters. will someday land at the Minam Lodge, because they send me $50. or $100. I wish to thank all of you for your support, and wish I didn't have to ask you to help me so I could do what I said I would do. My father taught me to be a man of my word, and I have tried my damnedest to not disappoint my dad. Thanks again.

 

[Bob Bement]

There is a nice article in the www.theraf.org website about the Minam project.

 

[kimberlyanne546]

Thanks for pointing me towards this thread. I thought we had "back country flying" here but now I think not after looking at your pictures.

 

[Bob Bement]

Thanks for pointing me towards this thread. I thought we had "back country flying" here but now I think not after looking at your pictures.

That is why I was so determined to help with this project to insure that this treasure remains open to the public. It is a road less area that is one of a kind in Oregon. I was trying to make sure it was there for future generation of back country pilots to use.

 

[Threefingeredjack]

Thanks for pointing me towards this thread. I thought we had "back country flying" here but now I think not after looking at your pictures.

For a taste of backcountry flying go to: http://www.backcountrypilot.org