Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Fri, 17 May 2002 18:53:30 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1240819@logan.com>
From: Sky2high@aol.com
Subject: The Flight of Two Madmen - Reno 2001 - Part 2
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Day 2 - Monday 9/10/01 - RAP->LGU->TRK

The day started out great, nice sunny weather and an early departure, flying 
SW (about 12 NM) to get a close up of Mt. Rushmore.  The FBO (Jetstream 
Aviation, I think) provided us with detailed information about the 
restrictions for our fly-by, including the requirement that we talk to 
Ellsworth AFB controllers - a very anal guy who kept asking us where we were 
and telling us where we should be.  Consequently, the four presidents appear 
to be very small in my 10X zoomed pictures - we would lie next time, but I 
think Ellsworth's flight detection equipment is probably better these days.

As this leg progressed with each of us complimenting the other on how pretty 
our Lancairs looked, we had to make a fuel stop decision because my 320 (43 
gals) won't get me as far as Arnie's 360 (52 gals) - especially with me 
leading at full power into a headwind.  Arnie didn't want to stop at Ogden 
and there are few airports between OGD and TRK, so we chose Logan, UT (LGU) 
and aimed our lawn darts there.  The ASOS reported winds favored runway 35 
and, once again Arnie had the honors.  Leading us in, Arnie had to abort 
because of the large X painted over the numbers - So, I turned a three-five 
base leg into a straight in for 28.  Once again, I landed first and was able 
to warn Arnie about the washboard (ask Granny what those looked like) that I 
was rolling out on.  Arnie later said I sounded like I was talking from a 
helicopter.  Anyway, all the stuff in the glove box got lined up because of 
the shaking.  The worst part was that we would have to take off from this 
runway fully loaded with fuel and we did, several times as I remember.  Don't 
land there unless you can use the newly paved runway 35-17.

Lesson #6 - Find out about the airports you are going to stop at for 
re-fueling.  Use phone calls, NOTAMS, FSS, Unicom, rumors, etc.  Personally, 
I like airports named "regional" or "international", even better if they've 
got a tower.  You had to be there.

Now enroute to Truckee, a little over 2 hours to go, a little more 
mountainous, everything is going nicely when Arnie said, "Hey, my vacuum pump 
is dead!"  "No problem" I respond, after all we are in beautiful VMC - who 
needs that stinking AI or DG.  Hmmm.  The pump was probably beaten to death 
by the take off from Logan.

Arnie wants to see what "swells" live like so he takes the lead to fly up 
Lake Tahoe, then up over the ridge line at the north end of the lake and down 
low into the valley where the town of Truckee is located.  This is fun, 
trying to follow a snaking hi-speed Lancair between chimneys and pine trees.

We are now approaching the airport, AWOS suggesting runway 10 and Arnie is in 
the lead on a semi-left-downwind for 10 when he crosses the numbers and 
starts a downwind for 1 (I know, it's a little confusing) and he catches on, 
when I announce my position, that his DG is pointing in random directions.  
So, again I land first as Arnie re-positions himself.  You will see later 
that, on the way home, I get to officially land first.

Lesson #7 - Cross check, cross check, cross check and, occasionally use your 
GPS for situational awareness and combine this with what you see outside the 
window.  If absolutely necessary, refer to that 12th century instrumentation, 
your FAA required compass.

On the ground, we check around to find a mechanic so we can get the vacuum 
pump fixed.  Even though it's Monday, there were no mechanics available.  

Lesson #8 - Out West, mechanics frequently work on the weekends when flying 
traffic is greatest and take Monday and Tuesday off.  Keep this in mind!

We were lucky to find a charter company with the chief pilot/mechanic on 
stand-by at their operations hangar.  After much discussion, a little 
thinking, borrowed tools and the willingness of our mentor, we had a new pump 
and filter scheduled to be over-night shipped to us.  In the meantime, we 
pulled the old pump (sheared shaft), the regulator filter and the intake 
filter to confirm that there was no trash in the instruments.  We would 
return on Tuesday to finish up.

Lesson #9 - If it's broke, fix it ASAP - You'll never know when you'll need 
it next.

Lesson #10 - Be prepared to snivel, whine, beg, grovel, appear insane, drool, 
etc. in order to accomplish the ends of Lesson #9.  You had to be there.

What a day, another 5 lessons learned.  We get our car, drive into Reno, eat 
a good dinner after cocktails, have some post-dinner drinks, have some 
pre-bedtime drinks and drop off for the night.

To be continued.

Grayhawk