View of the Sangre Range
Cotopaxi and the Arkansas river along HWY 50
A happy aviator getting ready for return flight to 1V6
Pikes Peak seen across the flying wires at 15500
Hello Aviators,
My flight had two objectives today. I wanted to check out a high altitude landing at Buena Vista airport and get a XC fuel burn. Secondly I was interested in how the S1S handles at 15500. I followed the Arkansas river upstream which also parallels HWY 50 past Salida and then landing at KAEJ, field elevation 7950 with a DA today of 10200 making the pavement a blur on landing. I still have the occasional problem of the engine shutting down after landing on a hot day which is what happened. I need to shroud the engine driven fuel pump and wonder if I should go back to the original engine cowl configuration as this one is tightly cowled. After visiting with my FBO friends and letting Chica Chiquita cool down I returned to 1V6 via the Tallassee road which leads from Salida CO. to Fremont County airport flying at 15500.
Having recently reviewed Gene Beggs ‘ book on spins I remained high approaching home base and began at 13500 since our field elevation is 5430. I had plenty of room for several entries of three turn spins and the Beggs method works as advertised. He advocates 5000agl so all of my work starts 10000+ with additional consideration for DA.
Since acquiring this Pitts in late Feb. this was my first official cross country. Round trip time 60 minutes. She’s a fun lady to fly and attracts attention when she’s safely at the blocks, but I’m glad I took the RV4 to KSWT last week for that XC. The RV is like a Cadillac in comparison and the vast difference in flight characteristics suits me just fine J
Cheers, Hans
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