For the Pilot Sportsman.  Make your vacation days count!

Latest News...

I-Da-Ho.....
...sent in by Rob 'Smokey' Ray
Did a whirlwind trip out west with a detour to AK a couple of weeks ago. Took the Bandit into all of my usual places, even with only 3 days off to enjoy it. The new 180 HP 0-320 runs like a watch and burns less gas, go figure.
  

Camping Trip Report: Idaho Backcountry (opens new window).
(56) pictures and 25 minutes of audio to play while looking at the pictures.

Completely Revamped Aircraft Camping Database
  I'm starting to get revved up for some aircraft camping and because a viral infection took me out of work for several days I've been planted in front of the home computer for TOO LONG.  I tend to code when this happens.  Long story short I converted the old, spreadsheet-based aircraft camping database into a database-driven ASP page.  Now I can EASILY and QUICKLY add listings.
  I'd like to offer a special thank you to John Galban, a guy Jay and I met up at Johnson Creek last year.  He sent in several of the listings currently in the database.
  This list will grow.  dr
  [related: Aircraft Camping forum]

Aircraft Camping Forum Link Added
...in the menu at left. 

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June/July Wallpaper Calendar
  

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Aircraft Camping Update (w/RV-10 Slant)
[from fellow aircraft camper I met at Johnson Creek, ID: John Galban]
   One of the camping gadgets I used for the first time last year was Travel Space Bags. You may have seen those things on TV where you suck the air out of a storage bag with the vacuum. Well, these are the travel/camping version. I'm amazed at how well they work. Two bag sizes are 13.75" x 19.5" and 17.75" x 23". Several of the smaller ones are best for light camping. You fill the bag with clothes, seal it, then roll from the bottom toward the one-way air valve. The air is removed and the bag will compress to about 1/4 it's normal size, or less. These are great for bulky items like clothes, jackets, or blankets. I was able to pack all of the clothes I needed for a 10 day trip into a tiny carry-on. I didn't have to do any laundry on the road, everything was sealed and waterproof, and the sealed bags made great diry clothes containers as well. See them HERE.
   In other news, I've been using a very cool new 3-LED flashlight since last year. It's very light, uses no batteries and has a hand crank generator built in. Crank for 60 seconds and you get up to an hour of light. You can switch between 1 or 3 LEDs. These LEDs are extremely (hurts your eyes) bright. Much brighter than the LED flashlights I've seen on the market.  It's a steal for ~$20. See it HERE and/or HERE.
   As I was resurrecting pics off the hard drive, I found an interesting one from the Johnson Creek webcam that I captured on April 1st of this year.  It's attached as JCreek1.jpg. Who says spring starts in March?
   I'm in the middle of putting a new engine on the Cherokee (web) and it's not expected to be done for another couple of weeks. If I can get some hours flown off on the new engine, I might make an Idaho trip in mid-July. Other than that, the only firm plans are for the Harmonica Fest. I'm bringing my sister Ceci and we are going to attempt to play in the Crowd Pleaser Contest on main street.
   Since I'm out of cargo room, our full size guitars will be transported by Doug Peterson. Yes, (his) RV-10 will be making it's backcountry debut this August. We're starting on 7/30 in West Yellowstone and looping around Northern MT and ID to finish up the following Friday at Johnson Creek. Right now the -10 has been sitting at the airport, ready to fly for 3 weeks. Unfortunately, the FAA registration paperwork got screwed up. Doug is chompin' at the bit to fly it (his web site).

See 'ya,

John Galban
jgalban 'at' cox.net
N4BQ (PA28-180)
web
    [related: RV-10 Forum | Aircraft Camping Forum]

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Camping Pics
...fwd'd to me by Rob 'Smokey' Ray
"Another cool RV4 dude who flies ID with a woodie out front (sts)...no metal props required..."

Have You Seen The Johnson Creek, ID Webcam Lately?

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Camping tools
...sent in by Bill Repucci [one4fun at mindspring.com]
   Love the camping site! As an avid backpacker and RV-9 builder, my wife and I plan on combining both hobbies once the -9 is finished. Yes, it will be a -9 and not a -9A.  Anyway, some of the tools I have discovered along the way to help aerial campers are in the list below:

Survival rifle:
Kel-Tec Sub 2000. I bought mine in 9mm because I have a Glock but wish I had bought the .40 for bear country. Still the energy out of a 9mm carbine is supposed to equal a .357. (web site)

Survival knife:
See the Glock web page, (web site), best knife I have ever owned and recommended by a US Marshal friend. While you are there, check out their lightweight entrenching tool.

Pocket knife:
Leatherman Squirt P4 (with pliers, not scissors) (web site)

Tents:
I have had great luck taking my Eureka tents all over the country. My wife just gave me this 3 lb 14 oz Eureka Zeus 2 Exo Tent for Christmas: (web site).  It is light, easy to set up, and very dry. For a ground cloth I ordered some Tyvek 1443 from www.kitebuilder.com. The stuff is light and works as well as a plastic sheet.

Just some more products for you to check out. BTW, my main web site is www.repucci.com/bill. There are links there to my RV-9 and a few of the backpacking trips I've taken.

Bill Repucci

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Some 'Googled' Aircraft Camping Stories
...to keep the motivational fires going
 - Camping w/Your Airplane (SW Aviator article)
 - Sleeping w/Your Airplane (Avweb)
 - Camping Under a Wing (Fly-Low.com)

Dec 04 - Jan 05 AircraftCamping Wallpaper Calendar
  

Custer State Park
Fellow Campers,
I just noticed a post on the Black Hills of SD and couldn't resist sharing some tips. I lived in Sioux Falls from 92-96 and took my Tcraft into Custer many, many times while my RV4 was just an empennage. The real "Goo" though is to stay at the Custer State Park Lodge and land at the state park strip there. There is also a beautiful State park Lodge near Harney Peak (7320') The public strip at Custer is also nice, higher than Denver at 5720'.There are several great B&B's in Custer and you can rent cars there and visit all the sights (Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Deadwood and the Sturgis motorcycle Rally). I have flown my 65HP Tcraft all over the area and recommend visiting several dirt strips near the Wyoming border north of Newcastle. Also, you need to stop into Spearfish and see the picture of Clyde Ice's J-3 cub parked on top of the Devil's Tower (he landed there and took off again on a bet). All in all, a great place to visit, and you can ski there in the winter...Never a discouraging word..
Rob Ray
FMI: Custer State Park Web Site

Added Some More Webcam Links in Menu At Left
...to give you some ideas on where to travel to.  dr

Puffin Kayak Review Started
   www.PakBoats.com is letting me review their 12' Puffin Kayak.  It fits in a bag that *easily* fits in the baggage compartment of an RV-anything.  I've placed several pictures of my first attempt at putting it together (easier than I thought).  Tate and Audrey got a kick out of sitting in it.
See Pictures

Squadron Freedom Fly-Out Planned For Next Summer
Freedom Isn't Free.
...from Rob 'Smokey' Ray in the AircraftCamping Yahoo Group
Fellow Aircraft Campers,
   I just got back from Iraq and am very happy to be here.  My F-16 Squadron was flying combat patrols and strikes for the brave young troops on the ground in the "three bad neighborhoods". I realized again and again how blessed we are in the USA.  We have the freedom to pick up and go anywhere we want in a light airplane without talking to a soul, land, throw out a bag and stay. With that said, I decided to have a "Squadron Freedom Fly-out" to Idaho this summer to the very strip pictured (at right).  I have invited all my F16 brethren with RV's to go, but anyone out there is more than welcome. Yes, there will be some flying, noise-making, story-telling (real, CURRENT War stories) and maybe even some picking (guitar, nose or otherwise).
   Anyone interested is welcome, email me at smokyray at yahoo.com
See ya there!
Rob Ray

Related Links:
   Smokey's RV Trading Card
   AircraftCamping Yahoo Group

Johnson Creek Comments
...from Jason Anderson [tinman875 at cableone.net]
   Hello, my name is Jason and live here in Idaho. I ended up at your site and looking at all the pics and reading the story, what a nice trip for you guys!! Did you see the salmon in the river? If not you may have been a little early. Salmon make it all the way up there from the ocean- can you believe that! That stretch along the strip is usually closed during spawning season because they like to spawn along there.
   When I was in high school, I had a job driving a "pilot car" leading a group of semi's with supplies into (the) Stibnite mine which is to the north east of Yellow Pine. Every day I would pass that strip and wonder how often it got used, thought that the forest service used it the most. Now that I have been into airplanes (but not yet had the chance to get my license) I find myself reading these stories and knowing now how popular Idaho is for the back country.
   There is mail service out of McCall that for $50 you can ride along for a day. Well, if you would like a more challenging strip and are up to steelhead fishing you can land at the Slate Creek strip north of Riggins, my parents own a motel in Riggins called the Salmon River Motel and could hook you up as far as picking you up at the strip, fishing trips, etc. If you just want to bank fish, I will be more than happy to show you around. Keep up the good work on your site and safe flying!!
Thanks,
Jason Anderson tinman875 at cableone.net
srmotel at ctcweb.net (salmon river motel)

Review: Chris Reeve Shadow III Fixed Blade Knife
  

New Travel Story: Northern BC and the Yukon
    http://www.rvwoody.com/Yukon.html

Fishing Pole Holder For RV-8
    http://www.rvwoody.com/FishingPoleHolder.html
 

November Calendar Wallpaper Now Online
  

Doug's Basic Survival Gear: A Visual Tour
   I laid the stuff I never fly without on the wing of the plane and took a picture so you could see.  I got the fly fisherman's vest at REI, but you can pick these up anywhere.  The setup shows the items I will not get in a plane without.  When to wear?  If I'm flying solo as a flight of one I wear the vest.  No exceptions.  If I'm part of a multi-ship flight I just make sure it's on the hanger hanging in the baggage compartment.  If I'm flying over remote terrain I wear the vest.  Of course there is other stuff that I carry on these trips, but this is the basic stuff I carry at all times (pic of me wearing it).
  If I'm flying over long distances (like west Texas) that aren't necessarily inhabited by bears, I take the 9mm.  If there be bears (like the yearly trips to Idaho backcountry) I take the .44 magnum.   dr

New Pistol To Evaluate
   I got a new Smith and Wesson SW99 in to evaluate.  I plan on going out to the range in a week or so to get a preliminary impression.  It's really light and comfortable - and I'm looking forward to firing this!!!  dr
FMI: go here

Aircraft Camping Database
...just added.
   I'm going to go ahead and take a crack at starting it. It will change for sure, but what I'm hoping to compile over the next few months is a list of places that are 'aircraft camping worthy'. There really aren't any criteria for getting a listing on the page, just common sense. These won't be sandy river bend type runways where you have to dodge boulders on rollout, either. Just a nice place to take the plane, tent, some food and your fishing pole, hiking boots or telescope. I'll probably add a column or two also...
Got a listing? Let me know!
Add note about sending info to me. dr

New Advertiser: Chris Reeve knives.

Dallas to Idaho (again).  Day Two
...a continuation of a second trip to Idaho's Johnson Creek.
  

October Wallpaper Calendar Online
   Danny King departing Johnson Creek, ID in his RV-8.

Idaho Backcountry strips
...a recent post in the AircraftCamping Yahoo Group by "Rich" <easylivin_ak at yahoo.com>
Hi guys,
   You are making me salivate with all your chat on Idaho trips! I used to live in Mountain Home, Idaho when I was flying for the Air Force and had a C-180. I spent every weekend flying up into one strip or another camping, hunting, and fishing. I sure wish I was back there again. It beats Alaska, where I live now, hands down for accessibility and quality of the strips.
   For those of you interested in more than just partying, here are some suggestions from my experiences. For fishing, I loved the cutthroat trout upstream from Indian Creek. For Elk, I always went in to Chamberlain. For deer hunting it was back into Indian Creek. For a good hot springs to sooth the sore muscles a trip into Johnson Creek. And for the hottest fly fishing into Fish Lake. Be careful there to only take off in the evening hours as the heat of the day makes for an unsafe density altitude.
  Rich Benson
  Eagle River, Alaska
  RV-8 and RV-7A in the making

Dallas to Idaho (again).  Day One
...a new aircraft camping story.

9/10/04
Stiched image from Johnson Creek
...here is an image (actually five images stitched together) of the campsite last weekend at Johnson Creek in Idaho.  On the left you can see Johnson Creek, then my blue hammock, my tent, the campfire/table and Danny's tent in the distance, and finally the two RVs parked on the right side.  Very, very cool place to visit - figuratively and literally.  It was 19 degrees F the first morning!!!
  

Alaska Aircraft Camping
...from Rob 'Smokey' Ray
"...just got back from AK with my daughter, flew my buddy's Maule M4 all over the place, landing on the beach every day at his cabin amidst big boulders and tides and just had a blast.. I am off to Iraq in a few days...see ya around November."
Smokey

           Smokey's Trading Card

"Hi Doug
   I have been following the new airplane camping effort...love it. I have not camped much with the RV8, but plenty over the years with my Skywagons, including Johnson Creek.
   Thought you might like this picture, taken earlier this summer at Johnson Creek by fellow skywagoner Reagan Stone, of a Rocket (from California, but I forgot his name), with some of the local wildlife.
   Lots more exploring for you (and me still) in Idaho. We were at Garden Valley this spring, with a breakfast trip to Sulpher Creek, you should try that some time...easy strips. Picture enclosed, sorry about the Cessnas.
   Idaho and all of us are fortunate to have the Idaho Aviation Association pilot group. http://www.flyidaho.org/old/default.htm
We should all join and support this group. They work hard to keep these wonderful airstrips open for us all to enjoy, and believe it, they are continually under pressure from all directions to be closed.
   See you at LOE4!"
John Huft [rv8tor at lazy8.net]
RV8 N184JH
C-185 N11AT

Mountain flying Demands Skill
...a new EXCELLENT article forwarded to me by Rob 'Smokey' Ray (smokyray at yahoo.com)

Required Survival Equipment For Alaska

Jeff Crabb takes his RV-6A from Alabama to Alaska

      

Chet Headley (RV-7), Ross Burgess (RV-6), Danny King (RV-8) and I (RV-6) went out to the local pistol range to get some practice before going over to the airport for some mid-morning flying.  After all, if you're going to fly to a remote camp site with a firearm, you need to make sure you are completely comfortable using it!
   I let them shoot my S&W .44 (329PD) and Chet let me shoot his S&W .50 caliber.  WOW!!!!  Actually, due to its larger mass it didn't recoil as much as my .44.  These are definitely 'take to Idaho backcountry' firearms for sure!  dr

    Chet Headley fires my S&W 329PD .44  (more on this revolver)
 
   Doug fires Chet's 500 S&W Magnum caliber (most powerful production revolver in the world today)  (more on this revolver)

   Ross practicing (note cartridge in mid-air)

   Danny squeezing off a few rounds with his late father's .38

A four part story of a recent trip from Dallas, TX to Johnson Creek airstrip east of McCall, ID.  2,500+nm of flying and a couple of nights camping away from the crowds.

Dallas, TX to Johnson Creek, ID (Day One)
   "On the advice of Rob 'Smokey' Ray, Jay Pratt and I left the Dallas area in our RVs for McCall, ID on Thursday 8/5/04 for some mountain/canyon flying instruction at McCall Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars, LLP. Dallas area RVator Rick Freeman worked up a list of 'must have' and 'nice to have' survival items to take, since we would be flying over some very inhospitable areas of the country." (continue)

Dallas, TX to Johnson Creek, ID (Day Two)
Jay and I woke up around 0630 local at the Hotel McCall and went down for the continental breakfast.  We didn't have a ride back to the airport so we just walked, which wasn't really that bad since it was only about a half mile.  We purposely did not top off the tanks on the advice of Lori at www.MountainCanyonFlying.com (a light plane performs better in the mountains).

Dallas, TX to Johnson Creek, ID (Day Three)
Day three finds us waking to 38 degrees F, a nice change from Dallas' temperatures!  Since this was primarily a 'scouting mission' for Jay and me, we didn't put too much thought into food.  I don't drink coffee and had forgotten tea bags, so I was looking at ice cold Dr. Pepper for breakfast.  I had the usual assortment of Pop Tarts and cereal bars...not exactly a five star meal.

Dallas, TX to Johnson Creek, ID (Day Four)
   Day four starts at 38 degrees F. When I come out of the tent there is a nice layer of frost over the entire plane (and tent). The hiking socks and sweatshirt have kept me cozy all night - I wasn't cold at all. Climbing out I realize I didn't bring gloves...note to self...bring gloves.
   Several of the 180/185 crowd have already moved their planes into the sunlight that is just starting to peak over the far side of the runway. I opt to stay in the tent and pack from inside.

 

 

   I've been toying with this idea for quite some time and feel that the recent trip to Idaho (I'm going back!) makes for a nice way to give it a go.  The site will focus on using your aircraft to camp, hunt, fish, stargaze and generally do those things associated with camping.  We're going to be using our airplanes to get there so things like weight, size and cost are going to be factors.  It will focus on the things that wouldn't necessarily be appropriate for this site - things like fishing gear, firearms, clothing, telescopes, etc. 
   Think of it as a combination of 'Field & Stream', 'Plane & Pilot' and 'Pilot Getaways'.  We'll see where it leads... dr

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a Delta Romeo enterprise.