Day 16
74S Anacortes – KMMV Mc Minnville Muni – KUAO Aurora State
Yesterday was July 4th. I was going to escape August 1st, the Swiss national day, but couldn’t avoid both…
Nevertheless, the fantastic and loud fireworks which I love so dearly were seen from a distance, whilst sipping some of the excellent beer on Malcolm’s super nice patio. Malcolm is a retired Navy and FedEx pilot, owner of a nice RV-10 sitting in Ken’s hangar, and had invited me for the nite, thanks a bunch Malcolm, that was cool 
Now the whole gang helps in untying and preparing YLL, then bid farewell. Bye-bye and thanks. We’ll meet again at AirVenture later in the month.
The flight to Mc Minnville is pleasant, Mt Rainier partly visible over my left shoulder.
Approaching my destination ceilings drop somewhat, and light drizzle falls on the area whilst I proceed to land.
Why Mc Minnville some may ask? I guess most aviation buffs will know something about Howard Hughes Spruce Goose, aka Hughes H-4 Hercules, aka NX37602.
I fell in love with that beautiful, massive but slender design, thru reading books as a kid. My first real encounter with the Spruce Goose dates to 1981, whilst visiting Long Beach CA, where she was housed below a dome, next to the Queen Mary. I was in awe.
My next sighting was in 1996, whilst on trip from L.A. to Alaska and back in a Mooney 201. The Spruce Goose had been acquired by the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum and transported in what was an epic voyage to its present location. The display hangars had yet to be erected, and we marvelled at the disassemble giant sitting in the elements, protected by some plastic sheeting… wondering if it would ever be put together and survive.
Today’s museum
So it was very satisfying seeing the pristine hangars housing the present museum, with many different aircraft and artifacts on display (there’s even an RV-6…), and “my” Spruce Goose. What a sight! I’m still in awe
Next flight is a short 10 minute hop to Aurora. When I took the trip to Alaska mentioned above, we stopped at Portland OR, and drove to North Plains, where the Van’s Aircraft Van’s Aircraft Inc. factory was located. Factory was kinda big word for it, as the company operated out of Van’s garage next to his farm strip…
A few years later the company has expanded by some, with some 11’114 different RV models having been built and flown as of today… now I’m eager to see for myself what the modern Van’s Aircraft Inc. looks like. After landing at Aurora I taxi to Van’s and park in front (as seen from the airside part) of their big factory/hangar.
The whole place is busy, and reception has, despite me having sent them an email announcing my arrival and request for a factory tour a week ago, barely time to tell me that entry thru the rear of the factory wasn’t suppose to happen, and customers rather to use the front door… guess not that many are coming by air 
I still manage to get hold of the parcel from ACS addressed in my name to Van’s, containing the replacement engine driven fuel pump (I’m not sure about ACS’s next day delivery option, charged $108.21, and taking a week to deliver. For a pump value of $376.00…).
And no, I cannot park next to Van’s, but better check with the FBO for overnite tie-down… as my hopes to have access to a maintenance hangar for the replacement of the pump definitely evaporate, I’m happy and excited to get a 10am factory tour booking for tomorrow.
The FBO is first class, and after some sweet talking with the receptionist, one of the line guys is driving me to the Motel 6 in the next city. Thanks Atlantic Aviation
Day 17
Nil flying today
My visit to the Spruce Goose yesterday killed one of those POIs. Another one is on the list today: the Van’s factory tour
Atlantic Aviation’s “taxi” is right on time, and lets me out on the correct side of Van’s Aircraft facilities…
I meet up with Sterling. Again I’m lucky, I’m the only participant. And Sterling is a cool guy. I can ask all the questions I had pending for some time. Only the ones pertaining to the new RV-15, of which the prototype sits in some obscure place nobody knows about, are either not answered or evaded
Now a couple of stills showing the shelves of parts and some of the impressive machinery
One the punching machine I watched at work. Fascinating in precision and speed!
And a set of punching dies. The change of dies to make the holes or cut sheet to size is entirely automatic, as most of you would have guessed. Impressive stuff for me…
And the RV-12 factory
After that interesting visit I’m taken back to my motel in Canby. Light shopping and a long stroll will kill the afternoon rather quickly.
News of the day
Investment is a key to success. It makes the business scaleable, which it would not be if making everything by hand. Great to see!
Day 18
KUAO Aurora State – 3U2 Johnson Creek
Short flight of 2:04h today.
Once more my “taxi” picks me up, now the receptionist herself being the driver
Leaving Aurora behind
I leave the Atlantic coast behind as I fly East towards my next POI, 3U2. Mt Hood is now the peak poking thru the clouds on my left.
During the flight the landscape flying by changes into canyonland, then agricultural fields, and then pine covered mountains.
Better known as Johnson Creek, 3U2 is probably Idaho’s premier backcountry airstrip destination.
For a number of reasons: it’s accessability, as having a long and smooth grass runway, permitting retractables and other fragile type of landing (and take-off) gear aircraft operation. A recommended SOP is published under Johnson Creek guide
FltPlan Go remarks plate
On finals for 3U2
Then there is the scenery. Set amidst mountains covered by pine trees and small lakes, offering countless hiking, bike riding, etc, possibilities.
Facilities. Everything one could need is provided on site, from WiFi to fresh coffee in the morning, to clean showers with warm water, courtesy car and bicycles, USB charging stations, and more
It’s caretakers. Deborah and Jim are ex farmers.
They have been at Johnson Creek for what I think to remember is 4 years time now. Firm but friendly, they provide a fantastic service. Their chores include keeping the place in a neat and clean condition, taking care of the runway by moving and setting up the sprinkler system used almost every day to keep the runway in it’s pristine condition, and much more.
Jim has more than one good story up his sleeve, few of which I could tire of hearing. He also keeps the RV-8 he built on the field, and was happy for me to park next to
As a short hike I was recommended the Warm Springs. A 40 minute walk took me to the springs, some hoses conveniently filling up an inviting tub. A nice cool beer was to be had. Down at the campground
Day 19
Nada flying day
Today is hiking day
Riordan Lake is chosen as the target. Whilst some pilots fly out to nearby airfields for breakfast, I start to walk. Initially following a mountain track, the path then takes one to the lake thru very nice forests, meadows, and swampy grounds.
During the entire hike no soul, but for a couple of deers, is seen. The lake is inviting, and I can’t resist but take a dip in the cold waters
Back at the camp, most of the people present reunite around the BBQ, and we swap flying and non-flying stories around the campfire whilst listening to music and watch the night moving in. Another relaxed evening amongst cool people.
Day 20
3U2 Johnson Creek – KONO Ontario Muni – E85 Denio Junction – KENV Wendover
I’ve scheduled my take-off for 7am. Deep in the valley we still sit in the dark, but it is daylight. Mostly due to its elevation, Johnson Creek is subject to large differences in temperatures between day and nite. I dry the canopy from the heavy dew, start the engine, and taxi to the run-up position. The take-off is performed with a partly fogged up canopy (inside), not the most clever decision on the tour…
Leaving Johnson Creek behind me, I take a southwesterly heading. Bye-bye Deborah and Jim, thanks for everything, I had a great stay. I would have liked to say longer, but still have a bunch of POIs to cover
Lake Riordan, now seen from above
And again, the scenery is changing rapidly and is varied
Ontario Muni is a refueling stop.
Land, taxi to the pump, pay at the terminal using any kind of current plastic card, refuel, and good to go… 99% of all the field where fuel is available have this system, with the same card terminal. As no landing fee is due, no flight notification to be filed, one can turnaround in a matter of minutes… why in hell is everything sooo complicated in Europe I ask? Ok, no politics, nor sex, nor religion in this thread, thanks
Not sure I’d fancy driving around in Ontario’s courtesy car…
After take-off from Ontario, the few green fields that were left are taken over by vast expanses of desert, and the first dried out lake beds become visible on the horizon. My next POI is to land on one of them, close to Alvord Lake. The coordinates I picked up somewhere on the net are unfortunately wrong by about 30 miles, and by the time I finally spot the Alvord desert (I’m on the wrong side of a mountain range…) I’m well past it and decide to push on.
approaching Delio Junction
Delio Junction radiates an atmosphere of wildness. Wildness in its location in the middle of the desert, the roughness and dust of the runway, motorcycle gangs riding thru, a small motel/ex fuel-station one can park next to. Or in my case taxi right next to…
The Coffee in the café is free, they have vacancy in the motel, but once done I taxi out trying to avoid the bulk of the bigger stones, and take-off trailing a cloud of dust behind me, now taking a southeasterly heading. The first of a few wild places I was eager to see and get the feel of.
I now fly into the vast desertic regions which I really affectionate. Vast empty spaces, ridges, salt lakes, endless dry plains, all stretching to the horizon. Witnessing empty space, something which has been banned for good from Europe many years ago.
I’m now approaching the city of Wendover, I can now spot the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, one of tomorrow’s POIs
The city of Wendover and behind it the Bonneville Salt Flats
Though the T reads 34°C, it won’t feel too bad thanks to the low dewpoint…
The famous Bonneville Salt Flats…
And Historic Wendover Airfield, as “they” call it…
Following another good walk to the motel, I have time to make some laundry. The town has, but for a couple of casinos and WW2 and racing history, little to offer.
Day 21
KENV Wendover – Bonneville Salt Flats – L06 Furnace Creek – KVGT North Las Vegas
Another early rise… in order to reach the Bonneville Salt Flats before sunrise
The flight to the Salt Flats takes the whole of 8 minutes… I choose the eastern part to let down, the salt is relatively soft and seems more or less dry. Good timing is everything, and the sun rises above the horizon just when I hop out of YLL to take a couple of pictures.
A last glance at Wendover, as I turn southwest towards my next POI…
Again, the vast empty spaces grace my eyes and soul. The world is so pure devoid of human presence… or is this the way the Planet will look like after the Big Fireworks?
