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Ozarks, Rock Crawlers, Cubs & Slow Flight

B

Barnstormer

Last week I was invited to join some cub friends on a trip from Texas to the mountains of Arkansas. A couple of days before we were to leave the SQ-2 went down for maintenance so I took the 185 instead. Thus began about 20 hours of slow flight, keeping up with the cubs. Bottom of the green for throttle and prop, and one notch of flaps - and a lot of 60 to 70 mph flying.


First stop was Scot Warren's place just northeast of Dallas where he'd join us. After a quick lunch and fuel, we headed for Arkansas. Or rather the two cubs did. I sat on the ground for about 20 minutes hoping to save most of the slow flight for Arkansas. It wasn't long before I caught up with them and found myself doing turns around a point and s-turns. As we crossed the Red River I dropped down to land a couple of sand bars.


A while later we got to that part on the sectional that warns of rapidly rising terrain.
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A few hours later we arrived over Byrd's Adventure Center where the 25th Annual Rocktober Festival was underway. Below us were hundreds of Rock Crawlers and their owners and families. Byrd's has two grass strips; a short one with power lines at both ends, and a longer one. We dropped in, were met by the owner and got a quick tour, and then headed to another strip close by.


About 850 feet long, off camber, landing uphill into the wind, taking off downhill with the wind. This would be home for the weekend.
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We grabbed one of the cars that was left for us and headed to the lodge.
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The following morning we awoke to a beautiful sight of the valleys below filled with fog. This was the case every morning.
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A short time later the Katmai's started to arrive.
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After breakfast we headed off to get fuel and fly back over to Byrd's.
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A few of the rock crawlers came over to watch us land.
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We were then invited to go rock crawling. We climbed into jeeps and off we went.
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For competition they have two classes, little tires and big tires. These are the little tires.
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Hey guys get out of the way, we're taildragger pilots here, you're standing on the road.
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A highway
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If these guys were pilots, they'd fly big tire planes for sure.
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All too soon we were back at Byrd's new restaurant, 5 star food. The owners came out to greet us.
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Seems like we could only stay on the ground for a short time, then it was time to fly the river.
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There is always a show off in the bunch.
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After a day of fun it was time for a group photo in front of the restaurant before we headed out.
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The next morning we headed out again.
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First stop was Gastons for fuel and lunch.
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After lunch it was off to lemonade and cookies at an off-camber saddle strip.
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That night we were invited to a hangar party at yet another grass strip, barbecue chicken and all the fix in's with live music.


Next morning it was time to head home. I'd had all the slow flight I wanted, so launched alone, ahhh, finally, 150 mph.


We all had an absolute blast on this trip, ate some fantastic food, flew some beautiful country, land some fun strips - uphill, downhill, saddles, and almost all off camber. Good times for sure.
 
Looks like a great trip!! I run with a 185 on most of our long trips. I try to leave early and let him run over me, if everything works out right, he is at fuel pumps already fueled and sometimes even has a burger for me. At the end of the day our fuel burn is about the same. He can pull it back and stay with me but it is too hard on my ears!!!.
DENNY
 
Look like a great time!! Nice pics.






Funny you post pics of rockcrawlers and airplanes. I was in the rockcrawler world before switching to airplane.

Maybe it's the reason I love big bushwheels...




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Look like a great time!! Nice pics.

Funny you post pics of rockcrawlers and airplanes. I was in the rockcrawler world before switching to airplane.

Maybe it's the reason I love big bushwheels...

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That's cool. Reminds me when I first saw the 48" rock crawler tires I thought "man I've got to put 45" Bushwheels on the SQ-2". ;-)

Look, don't tell anyone cause we aren't ready to announce it but I think you'll appreciate it more then most, we are working on a STOL event in conjunction with Rocktoberfest next year, but not a traditional STOL event. Instead incorporating team competition with rock crawlers, as well as individual competition, with unique events. Remember, shhhh, keep it to yourself. Say, how'd you like to help design the event? Be cool to have your unique perspective - being in both worlds.
 
Wow!

That looks like a great trip. We were down in AR this past weekend around Bentonville and Eureka Springs area. Really gorgeous. Would love to head back and land at some of those grass strips. Not that far from here!

cafi
 
My wife and I decided to settle down in Arkansas... Our lot is on a grass strip. More to follow on that but suffice it to say that I'm a fan of the Natural State.
 
Cubs, 185's and CJ's. Big tires on everything. Can get more fun than that!
 
Here in Texas that's a given and goes without saying! I feel naked if I don't have a gun and a knife..
 
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