Winter flying

[Richard Flanders]

Don't think I've ever seen one, but that doesn't mean they aren't here. They'd more likely be in Anchorage than Fairbanks. I know of a few RV's that were built here.

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Victor Wasylyna

Great discussion. I had no idea you were flying Alaska VFR. A feller from Ohio could broadly expand his bird hunting options with a Cherokee or a Skyhawk.

My wife would forbid me from visiting this forum if she only knew.

-Victor

Don't know if I'd limit myself with a Piper Cherokee in Alaska - wouldn't think one of those low-wing jobs would be much of a bush plane.





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[Tom Flanigan]

Agreed.....the Piper Cherokee is a small underpowered airplane that is most useful as a trainer. I've flown them a few times but never liked them. Now if your talking about a Beaver or a Super Cub that's a different story.

[Tom Flanigan]

Originally Posted by Richard Flanders

They have classes that go up into the Single Otter class. My neighbor did a short field takeoff demo there with his C-1, which was designed as a supply plane for our aircraft carriers and would take off in less then 200ft empty and with low fuel. That was fun to watch and popular with the crowd. He flew that C-1 down to Oshkosh one summer when I was there also. I watched a friend compete with a S Otter that managed a takeoff in 88ft! .

An Otter taking off in 88 ft. sounds pretty exceptional to me. I would love to see it. They are great airplanes but I’ll bet there is lot more use for a Beaver DHC-2 up there if there isn’t a need for transporting more than 1,500 pounds of cargo.

The Twin Otter was my favorite jump airplane. It got you up to 18,000 ft. jump altitude quickly. I’ve seen Cessna 182’s with a front seat removed as jump airplanes. Not for me. I don’t like having to climb out on the wing to jump.

[Richard Flanders]

There's only a few Beavers in Interior Alaska, but many in Anchorage and down into Southeast on floats. One outfit in Anchorage put a 1000HP Polish radial into a Single Otter... talk about a beast! I watched it take off from the Lake Clark strip with 10 or 12 barrels of fuel in it. It was loaded at the end of the runway, about 300ft from the water. When he took off he didn't use the long part of the strip; he just turned towards the short end and was off way short of the water. I was impressed!

[Daren Erickson]

Now converted to the Garett! Its a machine...

[Tom Flanigan]

Another question for Richard. I really need to get to Alaska and buy you a drink and dinner. I have so many questions for you. You'd be facinating to talk to. Do you ever see Cessna 195's with radial engines up in Alaska? We had one on the airstrip many years ago. I always loved that airplane although I never flew it. My deceased friend Bob Roland owned it and I can remember a few of us going out at night and shining our car lights on the airstrip so he could land safely.

[Richard Flanders]

There used to be two of them in Anchorage, both nice and with the smaller radial. When I was plane shopping for my first plane it was going to be either a PA12 or a C195. I was really tempted on one of them in Anchorage. Don't know if they're still there. Daren E, two posts up, might know more about what's there now. Chime in here Daren.

[Daren Erickson]

I believe there is a C195 that was just restored at the Birchwood, AK airport. I have seen a few photos of the finished product. Beautiful!

[Richard Flanders]

Coolest C195 I've ever seen was at Oshkosh. It had the 450hp radial upgrade, which you could barely detect, and crosswind landing gear that could cocked for strong x-wind landings. That thing was absolutely cherried out.