We have decided to put pictures and/or videos of some of our exciting and interesting flights on our web site at www.katmai-260se.com/adventures.html. This post is the first installment in what we are calling Katmai Adventures. The videos will be on the web site before the end of January. Keep an eye on this blog for the highlights of some really fun flying.
DECEMBER 2006
Jo and I decided it would be nice to spend last Christmas in Phoenix, AZ so we loaded up the Katmai and headed southwest. The trip down was great. Our 260SEs normally true about 150 knots, but even with the huge 29-inch Alaskan Bushwheels, our Katmai averaged a very comfortable 134 knots.
The weather was great and the scenery beautiful. Bill Roberts found hangar space for us at the Deer Valley Airport (KDVT), and we stayed at The Hilton Pointe Tapatio.
This resort is located in northern Phoenix and was the site of my landing a Wren in a 300 foot gravel parking lot next to some horse stables during an Airborne Law Enforcement Convention back in the 1980’s. It was really challenging.
The approach consisted of a steep descent down a hill, over a six foot high chain link fence into a 300 foot gravel parking lot with absolutely no over-run area. The end of the parking lot dropped off sharply downhill to a large four-lane highway with very tall transmission towers with really big cables. All this was within a couple of hundred feet from the parking lot I landed in.
While there were lots of helicopters present, we were the only fixed wing capable of operating from the existing site. I swear just about every law enforcement officer at the convention was outside watching us. Needless to say it held a lot of memories, and I enjoyed looking at the landing site again.
During our stay, Bill Roberts, a Katmai owner, said he would show me some back country strips, so off we went. Bill was flying lead with his Katmai as I followed with Tom C, a 260SE owner, along for the ride. Fortunately Tom had the forethought to bring a camera and camcorder along. The strip that interested me the most was a short strip next to a river down in a valley between some mountains. Bill led us there, and I could not resist giving it a shot.
The strip was the shape of a boomerang having a significant bend in the middle with each leg extending about 150 feet. The temp was warm, field elevation was around 2,250 feet and we had two people on board with about 55 gallons of fuel. In addition, it was dead calm.
We lined up on short final, slowed to about 45 knots, and surveyed the area for potential problems. Nothing major was observed so I continued the approach slowing to 38 knots on short final. For some reason I never really thought about having to make the corner at mid-field. I knew if flown properly I could get the airplane down and stopped before the bend.
I planted the Katmai at the approach end and started braking. When the dust settled we were stopped before the bend in a distance of no more than 150 feet. Tom had been awfully quiet, and I thought for a moment he may not really be cut out for bush flying. Once he got his heart started again we agreed getting a ton and a half of Katmai stopped in 150 feet with no wind was nothing short of amazing. Bill, circling overhead, also had a few comments over the radio as he watched.
On take off I decided to go out opposite the direction I landed since the departure path looked better doing it that way. I taxied down and found I could not get to the end of the strip due to the dirt narrowing with large amounts of cactus everywhere. I initially turned around for take off, and looking at the length available decided if I could get another 30 feet or so of additional room I would. I then did another 180 degree turn and taxied down a bit further. This decision would later pay dividends.
On departure we lifted off in about 200 feet with some mesquite at the end of the strip getting caught on the horizontal stabilizer. Yes it was that close. As we lifted off the ground the terrain immediately dropped away into the river. That extra 30 feet of room at the far end of the strip had come in very handy.
After that we continued on and I tried a few approaches and touch downs into less than desirable areas. One was a rock outcropping next to the river, and another was a sand bar next to the same river. Both resulted in a very gentle touch down followed by feeling the surface of the strip with the tires. In both cases I thought it too rough and elected to pick the Katmai back up and continue on. This is one of the Katmai’s greatest gifts. Because the Katmai flies slowly on aerodynamic lift and safely ahead of the power curve, you are never really committed to a landing. If you touch down and do not like the surface, a small application of power will pick you right back up and you can safely continue on. This is what I did with both these areas.
Needless to say Jo and I had a great time, and I am looking forward to a return trip and some overnight camping. I would like to extend a big thank you to Bill for showing me the strip and to Tom (aka “Nerves of Steel”) for the camera work. I hope everyone enjoys the video. It will be posted soon on the upcoming Katmai Adventures section of our web site.
Please remember that while this type of flying is fun and the rewards are great, it takes a lot of skill, proficiency, a good assessment of your and your airplane’s capabilities, the right aircraft, and mental discipline. It is dangerous, and only experienced back-country pilots should attempt it.
5CD has the Canard, IO-470-F, heavy-duty gear with heavy-duty brakes and axles, 8.00×6x6 tires on the mains and 6.00×6x6 on the nose, oversize speed kit which accommodates the bigger tires, RMD wingtips with Pulselights, new glass, front seat BAS harnesses/belts, and leather interior. This was an especially fine airframe with less than 400 hours TT since new! It’s new home will be in Las Vegas, NV.
