Wild West Aircraft

[R Rinker]

Steve, I assume your planning to head straight north up the trench to Watson Lake. Actually the wx looks great. That marginal stuff in the trench is normal. If there's any hint it's deteriorating is when you can expect big surprises. FSS won't be able to tell you a lot about the actuals in there unless they have some good, recent pireps. ..Rodger

[moving2time]

Steve, Regarding the request to documenting your trip so you can share the experience, I use a little digital recorder to record meetings, conversations, even interviews. It has a fairly long recording time and is simple and light, You can patch your intercom into this recorder in flight very simply with a "Y" cable. With something like this installed between your headset you could make comments throughout the flight and then use those comments wot write up your experience. I hope to make this flight in a Highlander some time so I would also love to hear about your trip. Fly safe and good luck at the competition. Joe B

[av8rps]

So...are the rest of you as interested as I am about how Steve and Billy are doing up in Valdez? I can hardly wait to hear the results of how their Super Stols fare against all that other Alaskan iron.

Has anybody heard anything at all?

[rmullins]

I have a couple friends on their way up now and I talked to them this morning. The comp doesn't start until tomorrow.

[kenryan]

Billy was at the Aviation Trade Show in Anchorage last weekend, so he made it that far. Valdez is this weekend.

[rmullins]

Latest report on Billy....in Anchorage someone ran into his plane damaging one wing pretty badly. he is trailering it home. Looks like it's up to Steve to make the airplane look good.

[levyland]

I talked to Steve early in the week and he was stuck on the Canadian border with funky weather forecast for the next day or so. He had about 2k miles to go.

[SuperFly]

Oh NO!!!! Thats aweful! That just makes me sick thinking about Billy's airplane. I can't imagine how he feels. To drive 3000 miles and not even be able to compete!!! What a disappointment.

If your reading this, hang in there Billy! Let the anticipation build, and go up and show them how its done at Oshkosh this year, then whoop 'em next year at Valdez..

[taildrgfun]

We made it here Wednesday evening!
A lot of the day yesterday was pretty wet and drizzly but I got my oil changed and Troys Cato Prop bolted on and got to fly around for a couple hours in the pattern after unloading a couple hundred pounds of stuff out of the airplane. Hopefully get to practice up a little more today and then the competition is Saturday.

[SuperFly]

Glad to hear you made it up there! Shoot some video for us if you have a chance.

Have fun and fly safe.

[smiley]

Steve:
Everyone's rooting for you.
Go out there and have fun!!!!!
Hang loose and just view it as another tight spot on top of a ridge and We know you will top them all
Most of all Have Fun

Randy

[FlyerChief]

I don't know how much of the competition you can hear, but this link takes you to the Valdez ATC.
http://www.liveatc.net/archive.php?m=pavd

I'm listening now to the traffic coming in for the competition.
GO Steve GO!!!

Dan

[levyland]

We rooting for you in New Zealand Steve! Take home the bacon!

[FlyerChief]

Valdez Webcam shots...
It's starting to look busy there!
http://avcams.faa.gov/wxdata/87-36786.jpg
http://avcams.faa.gov/wxdata/87-34951.jpg

[rmullins]

The results are in

Valdez Results 2014
Bush Class
3: Paul Claus 167'
2: Bob Breeden 119'
1: Bobby Breeden (61/55) 116'

Alternate Bush Class:
3: 120' Steve Henry Just Aircraft
2: 83' Josh Peppard SQ12
1: 76' Frank knapp Lil Cub

Nice job Steve! (The Lil Cub that won looks like an ultralight)