July
1st, On the way to pick up 2182.. First I flew to Buffalo, New York
then a cab ride to Batavia, New York where N2182 has be based for
37 years. To get ready for the trip first thing was fix the flat
tire. That was fun only having a car scissors jack. Then I install
a 17 amp battery and a ELT. On the first landing the both bungees
broke. I called John Buckner (RF-4D owner since '74) for some advise.
He recommended to re rap the bungee using 1/4" (6mm)bungee
from the local hardware store. I was lucky Jerry had used 1/4' bungees
to hold the covers on. The re rap worked good. Later that day I
was ready to start my first cross country with an RF-4D. The first
day was only one hour to Gowanda, New York. Gowanda's grass strip
is very well kept.
The
next day stopped in Lawrence, Pennsylvania for fuel than to Wooster,
Ohio to visit Bert Buytendyk. Burt Imported the first RF-4D (N7719
#4049) to the US. He also import Zlins and mix of 25 RF-4D, SGS
31 Milan and RF-5B Motorgliders. After the visit I flew five more
hours with a fuel stop Huntington, Indiana. While flying near Lacon,
Illinois just passing the Mississippi River the engine started to
loose power. I was 20 miles from the airport I planing to fly to.
There was an airport Marshall Co. in Lacon,
IL 7 miles to the southeast so I headed there safely landed.
The carburetor had iced up. That was my last leg of the day.
I
got up early and walked to the airport from the motel. Re installed
the battery after a night of charging. Re stuffed my baggage in
the plane a ready for day three. First stop of the day ended up
being Burlington, IA do to thunderstorms. Waited a few hours and
the weather cleared. A quick stop in Winterset, Iowa, Seward, Nebraska,
Sharp airport Ord, NE. And stayed the night in Alliance, NE. The
mid west is hot and humid!
Day
4. A early start with a fuel stop in Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. Then
off to the high altitude part of the trip. Rawlins, Wyoming is 6813
ft. (2077m) height and density altitude 9,100 when I left. The ground
roll was almost 4,000 ft. On crosswind I found a thermal and climbed
to 9,000 in few minutes, Then flew to the other side of town and
found anther thermal and went up to 11,000. Then started my way
to Rock Springs Wyoming. Worked one more thermal to 13,000 ft. Landed
at Rock Springs for fuel and some flight planing. Density altitude
was 9,500. I knew the ground roll would be long and also would have
to find a thermal to get to altitude to cross Rocky mountains. Flying
into Idaho was very scenic. Landed at Bear Lake airport Paris, Idaho
for fuel than off to Jerome, Idaho for the night. I used Jerome's
airport courtesy car to go into town to and get a room .
Last
day (almost) Fuel stop in Nampa, Idaho than to flew over the Snake
river now I am in Oregon my home state. Climb to 8,500 ft. no thermals
yet. Flying over Prineville I could see the cloud layer over the
valley where I live. Landed at Prineville to call weather for a
update. It was not going to clear. Then I had lunch. A hanger was
offered (Thanks Brian) at Redmond airport flew over there and my
wife drove 3 hours come get me. While waiting I visited Mountain
High Oxygen, they have some nice 02 systems that will fit the RF-4D.
Saturday my friend Rollie flew me to Redmond. The flight to my home
base was easy only 110 miles (180 km). When I was over McMinnville
I still was at 6,500 ft from crossing the Cascade mountains. I shout
down the engine and enjoyed the quite flight. Restarted the engine
and landed at McMinnville Airport. I am home!
Flying
time was just over 35 hours.
Fuel
burn was 2.3-2.7 gph.
2100
miles (3400 km)
Average
speed 60 mph, do to head winds.
German Version
![](images/Batavia-Collin-24.JPG)
July 1 2006
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![](images/Gowanda-NY-24.JPG)
Gowanda,
NY. First Stop
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![](images/Lawrance-PA-24.JPG)
Lawrence, PA. 2nd Stop
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![](images/Wayne_Co.-Wooster-OH-24.JPG)
Wayne Co. Wooster, OH, 3rd Stop
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![](images/Huntington-IN-24.JPG)
Huntington, IN. 4th Stop
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![](images/Gyenes-Buytendyk-24.JPG)
Collin and Bert Buytendyk. Wooster, OH. Burt imported the
1st. RF4 to the US (N7719 #4049)
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![](images/Burlington_IA-24.JPG)
Burlington, IA. 6th Stop
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![](images/Seward_NE-24.JPG)
Seward, NE. 8th Stop
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![](images/Marshall_Co_IL-24..JPG)
Marshall Co. Lacon, IL. 5th Stop
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![](images/Winterset_IA-24.JPG)
Winterset, IA. 7th Stop
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![](images/Sharp-Ord_NE-24.JPG)
Sharp-Ord, NE. 9th Stop
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![](images/alliance_NE-24.JPG)
Alliance, NE. 10th Stop
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![](images/Rawlins-24.JPG)
Rawlins, WY. 6813 ft. (2077m) 12th Stop
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![](images/soaring-Rawlins-24.JPG)
Thermaling west of Rawlins
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![](images/WY-24.JPG)
Between Rawlins and Rock Springs, WY
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![](images/Rock_Springs-Sweetwater_WY-24.JPG)
Rock Springs-Sweetwater, WY 6720ft. (2060m) 13th Stop
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![](images/Bear_Lake_ID-24.JPG)
Bear Lake-Paris, ID. 14th Stop
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![](images/Nampa_ID-24.JPG)
Nampa, ID 15th Stop
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![](images/Snake_River_Idaho-Oregon_Border-24.JPG)
Snake River
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![](images/Burns_Oregon-24.JPG)
Burns,
OR. 16th Stop
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![](images/Prineville_Oregon-24.JPG)
Prineville, OR
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![](images/Sisters_Oregon-24.JPG)
Sisters Mountains, Oregon
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![](images/Prineville_Oregon_hanger-24.JPG)
Prineville,
OR waiting for better weather. 17th Stop
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![](images/Redmond-Roberts_Oregon-24.JPG)
Roberts Field Redmond, OR. I left 2182 here few a days for
weather only 110 miles to go
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![](images/Mt._Jefferson_Oregon-24.JPG)
Mt. Jefferson, Oregon
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![](images/Mt._Hood_Oregon-24.JPG)
Mt. Hood, Oregon
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![](images/MMV_town-24.JPG)
McMinnville, Oregon
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![](images/MMV-24.JPG)
McMinnville Airport (MMV) Oregon
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Home!
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