I took off this morning at about 0800 and chandelled to the left to get the gale force winds at my back. Looking down to my left I see my neighbor taxiing out in his 180 Cessna, also to be heading for the northern Oklahoma destination. I know it's not much consolation, but he wasn't able to pass me until we actually entered Oklahoma about 15 minutes later, just off the west end of Lake Texoma. I figure with that massive a tail wind, I ought to hang my spare shirt out to catch more wind and power me on my way even faster!. . . .No?
Ground speed indicating a steady 135 mph, encouraged me that the trip would be just under 2 hours for the 240 mile trek. Realizing the 30 mph tail wind would mean a ground speed of around 80 on the way back, was a major extinguisher on the excitement. Flying the GPS track put me over very familiar grounds throughout the trip. 2500 feet cruise to stay below the cloud deck made it also a good day for sight seeing! Everything is very green and lush with all the recent rains through out the area.
From Texoma area the direct course took me directly over Ada, then about a million other Indian named towns. Having flown the airplane now for over 25 hours including the flight home from Youngstown Ohio, I am able to spend more time enjoying the flying, than before. Hanging my head over and studying things on the ground as I go. Did you know that Bristow has a rather large Wal-Mart on the north end of town? They have made the map! Over to the right a care flight chopper passes to the south east. Just beyond Bristow is the Dam end of the Keystone lake. Due to the recent rains, it was in over flow mode, and I'm sure the power plant on the dam was making a watt or two.
It's now about 0930 in the morning and I finally start seeing other airplanes in the air. Problem is, they are two biplanes heading south!? Either very lost, or getting a head start on the wind blowing most of south Texas into the Oklahoma land of red dirt and rivers!
Now only about 10 minutes from Bartlesville, I turn on my Icom static noise enhancer. Not having a shielded ignition system, the had held avionics pick up on any RF available. Through the noise, I report a left downwind and am cleared to land on the grass behind a yellow Stearman. Somebody should have warned me about wake turbulence, that's my excuse for the landing, and I'm sticking to it! As you might have guessed, very shortly there after the "jokes" about my radio controlled airplane started! I could really get tired of this ribbing, but you do have to hand it to them, their right! I think with out a doubt, I had the smallest bird on the field that actually carried a person.
Climbing out, I ran into a fellow that visited our chapter meeting in Denton last month. Talking to him and the many others that had interest in the plane, delayed me getting to the aircraft registration for about an hour. Fuel for bi planes was lowered to $1.00 per gallon! About 9.5 gallons 100LL, and 1 quart of oil was inserted for the 1 hour 57 minute flight. Non stop, 245 miles in all. Guessing at a 80 mph ground speed on the return, I knew I was going to require a fuel stop along the way.
The rest of my stay, I spent with Chapter member and 180 pilot Tom Teegarden, wondering through the airplanes and eating. Just doesn't get better than the Food-Airplanes combination. Walking back to the south, leaning into the wind, I was held steady only by the golf cleats
inserted
in my flight boots! I began to wonder just how much longer I should
hand around.
It's now 1330 and I figure by the time I got suited and chuted up, I would go ahead and get airborne. Being asked questions from behind, I turn and find a couple of 3 to 5 year olds, (with parents within arms reach) sitting on my lower wings, just inside the ailerons! I was so dumbfounded, that the parents saw my pale, but quickly turning red face unable to speak, gesturing to get those hideous excuses for a soon to depart this earth children off my "no step" signs! If their lack of value was still in question, the minute the parents turned their backs, you guessed it! Temporary insanity, due to senseless destruction of aircraft, is my defense! Honest Your Honor, I thought they were Pez dispensers when I ripped their heads off!
Soon I had the engine running after a prop from Tom, and taxied to the departing grass runway. Take off was normal and climb out to 6500 feet was without incident. In fact, even without motion of the GPS map! Ground speed in the climb was anywhere from 40 to 50 mph! Level and power at 2500 rpm gave me about 65 mph ground speed. There went my hopes of a 80 mph ground speed! Maintaining this rpm and speed was taking it's toll on my oil temp, so a shallow decent was set up over the next hour to find a lower wind and temperature combination. Just below the clouds, the air temp dropped and the wind also seemed to lay about 10 mph.
The only problem with flying a GPS reverse track, is that you've pretty much seen it all, just from the other side! Yes, the Keystone lake was still running out the dam for watts, and believe it or not, Bristow still has a Wal-Mart just where it was earlier, only it was going by much slower this time. Checking fuel and distances, I figured that I might better side step over to Shawnee to top off the tank to prevent a very steep decent into a farmers field with no post crash fire. 8.8 gallons later, I was airborne for the remainder of this 4 hours leg! This is killing me, and to boot I'm really wondering if I'm going to need an additional stop on the way! GPS average speed is not just over 68 for the trip home, and home is only 30 miles away. Paralleling I-35 I see the cars gingerly passing me! I keep telling myself, I'm having fun!
On the ground and the feeling starting to run back into my legs, it really was a fun experience. I'm not going to be in a hurry to do long cross countries with out a better back rest. I have time to work on this, since I'm planning on having it at Oshkosh next year. This will be the 25th year since it won the Best in type award at Oshkosh 1975. I figure it would be a fun and fitting return for the plane.
Being in motion for 6 hours today, I still feel the motion sitting at the computer this evening. I thus figure it is time to hit the showers for the day.