I’ve been working on bringing these build logs up to modern times with respect to the back-end software and hardware. You should find that all the same content is here. We’ll start using the image gallery here just like on the RV8 build log now that I have the page and image load speed figured out.
For a few months, we had been contemplating how we were going to expand our travel envelope in the RV-9A. A very sad event in our household prompted us into action. My dad died suddenly, and the funeral was to be held in Winsted, MN the next weekend. While I was in my stupor with my family, Scott was hatching a plan. He suggested we look at this as a final grand adventure conjured up by my dad and fly the RV up to Minneapolis.
That idea was very appealing. The thoughts of not having to deal with the cramped quarters, walking in my socks through an airport, dealing with someone else’s schedule, and keeping my mind on the flying task at hand for the trip up there were flying through my mind. At that point, it was time to get planning.
We pulled together all the resources, airnav, runwayfinder, weathermeister, noaa, and starting making arrangements. We decided to drop in at Flying Cloud on the southwest side of the cities. They had a hangar and rental car for us.
The flight up was extremely eventful. We woke up to thunderstorms in the Dallas area first thing in the morning. We sprung into action. Scott finalized the flight plan and got a briefing. I dropped the dog off at Hearts and Paws (they treat Watson like he is theirs), made some sandwiches, and packed the car.
We took off from Georgetown as the rain was coming down 20 or so miles north of the field. We had planned on heading northeast to Harrison, AK, but we had to go much more east to get around the first set of thunderstorms we would encounter that day. We made it around the leading edge of the storm and headed north to Harrison.
The stop in Harrison got us fuel, a bathroom break, and another peak at the weather. We found another storm heading east across Arkansas. So, another takeoff that took us more to the east than we had anticipated. We rounded that storm and headed up central Missouri to Kirksville. As we passed Jefferson City, the capital of Misery, we chomped down our lunch and marveled at the small size of the capital city.
As we were about 50 miles south of Kirksville, another thunderstorm complex was heading straight for it. We decided to divert to Macon, about 25 miles to the south, for our last fuel stop. I was a bit bummed about that one as I attended college in Kirksville and was hoping to buzz the campus, at a legal altitude of course. We were in and out of Macon for the usual 3 - fuel, bathroom, and weather - as quickly as possible. We met up with a flight crew that had been surveying the damage and potential levee problems over the Mighty Mississippi. They gave us their version of the weather and some nice airports to the east that would be a good place to land if we needed to put down instead of making it around the weather.
That departure took us due east until we hit the Mississippi. The flooding was pretty incredible to see first hand. The storm pushed us up the Mississippi for a few miles, and then we were able to turn to the northwest around it. To add to the excitement, there was a TFR to our northeast for the President to tour the flood ravished midwest. We snuck through with about 7 miles on the west to the rain and 7 miles east to the TFR. Yeah for XM aviation package! We never got a drop of rain on the airframe.
We landed at Flying Cloud about 9 hours and 900 miles after we started. We had to fly low most of the day to stay clear of the clouds and got bumped around quite a bit. To our amazement, we weren’t completely exhausted. We were probably better off than we would have been dealing with all the hassles of a commercial flight. Be sure you don’t skimp on the seats!
The funeral and party went as well as possible. Yes, a party. Dad always told us that when the time came (much too soon as it was) to throw a party with whatever money he had left. He had a good life and wanted us to celebrate it. So, off to the events we went in red, maroon, fuscia, and any other bright color we could don.
The flight back was uneventful. We left in the cool, northern morning with a clear blue sky and smooooooth air. We were fortunate to have some nice tail winds and made the trip back with only a single fuel stop.
It was a grand adventure that won’t be forgotten for many reasons.
Add another fly-in to the joys of gallivanting about Texas. We woke up to a sunny sky and calm winds. Time to pack up the plane with a few drinks, couple of lawn chairs, and the camera. Out to the airport with a quick stop at the tower for Tanya to deliver a few cookies.
Tanya took the reins for her first time in control when flying into a busy destination. The trip up was smooth and completely uneventful. Of course, the best part for her was when we arrived, opened the canopy, and the first thing we heard was someone wanting to know if there were cookies. Tanya has made her mark. Although, we need to come up with a better name than the “cookie monster”.
The fly-in was completely laid back. A very tasty lunch of BBQ brisket, potato salad, beans, and drinks was served about noon. Lots of great folks to converse with about airplanes, destinations, build styles, and all the other myriad of topics found at any other great event.
It felt like a micro-mini LOE. What a fabulous day.
We’re still flying a couple times per week. Mostly touch-n-go in the patter with Tanya in command. We went to Fredricksburg for lunch on Sunday and turned the 150 hour mark. Time for another oil change…
Well, it is time to do something about paint on this thing. Our deposit is on its way to Grady at Glo Custom for a spot on their list about 1yr out. Hopefully a spot will open up before then.