Solo x-country

[N95051]

Hello everybody,

I am new to the T-craft world and have been following this forum for the last 6 months or so. The knowledge that gets past around here is priceless and I have gained a lot from it. Anyway here is a picture of my T-craft on Golovin Bay just outside Golovin, AK about 75 miles east of Nome during my long solo x-country.

Thanks for the all the info
Bill
1946 BC12-D-85

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Solo x-country

Nice photo Bill! And welcome to the Taylorcraft tribe - contribute often.

Now a couple tough questions...
What did you enter in your logbook for the point of landing - KSNO ?
Was there a passing ptarmigan to sign your log book?

OK, enough already, Congratulations on earning your ticket in that beautiful Taylorcraft. What a privilege to have a plane like that and all that open sky.

[N95051]

Re: Solo x-country

Here are a couple more pics of the trip.

hope you enjoy

Bill

[jdoran]

Re: Solo x-country

Just curious---

What do you Alaska guys use for heat in the Tcraft?

I know the muffler/cabin heater ain't gonna cut it in a place like
Nome.

[AKbrew]

Re: Solo x-country

Hey Bill,

Where did you go on your long cross-country? Bethel? Galena? I made my first long-cross country from Nome to Galena in a 1946 BC-12D 22 years ago. I still have the fuel receipt from Galena...16.7 gallons @ $2.70. It took me TWO attempts though! On the first attempt I had an engine failure about 10 miles southeast of Koyuk. A crankshaft journal broke. The engine stumbled along at low rpm long enough for me to make it back the the dirt strip at Koyuk and I landed without a scratch. (I was very glad to have a light airplane with BIG HUGE wings!) At the time I had 15.9 hours of solo PIC logged and just under 42 hours total time. It was a baptism by fire, but it was nice to know I could hold up under pressure!

Jim

[N95051]

Re: Solo x-country

Wow all the way to Galena!

I just went to Golovin-Elim and return to nome.

Bill

[AKbrew]

Re: Solo x-country

That's a good start...good for you! Eventually you're going to have to find a tower controlled airport though!

Keep sending news from Nome...it brings back lots of good memories. I still have a Nome sectional, and I'm flirting with making a trip up there when the silvers are running. I heard they paved City Field (too bad if it's true). Do you ever fly out to Salmon Lake?

Jim B.

[N95051]

Re: Solo x-country

I did most of my flying out of merril field in anc. So I am just finishing up a couple things up here.

They didn't "pave" city field they just put down the chewed up pavement from the main field. Nobody is real impressed with the turn out.

A few years ago I flew into there with a buddy in his PA-11. We have a camp near the Pilgrim River bridge so i will be flying over it often.

Bill