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Portland, OR in Early October

OLDCROWE

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Meanwhile,...
Looking like I'll be in the Portland for a few days in early October and need some local knowledge on a few questions:

Will be VFR in the 180 is that a good time of year for such?

Any recommended airports besides the big one (I'm allergic), does not seem to be a lot of close choices how's Troutdale or Auora and any FBO recommendations are appreciated?

Will be staying a couple nights downtown for business hows the public transportation from the extremities or will I need a car?

Lastly, I'll have a few days either side for weather and side trips or must see suggestions? Looking at routing I'll likely be approaching the area from the SE, likely stop in ID for a night on the way from Oklahoma.

Thanks

OC
 
October is generally good weather in the NW. The fall rains usually hold off 'til Nov. As far as airports go, PDX is not very GA friendly. Pierson is right across the river in Vancouver and is probably the closest to downtown Portland but is not served by public transit. Enterprise does have an office pretty close and will deliver a car. Pierson's FBO is Aeromaintenance Inc. 360-735-9441. They are taildragger specialists. I think Troutdale and Hillsboro would be next closest and probably do have public transit.
If you haven't seen it, Mt St Helens is a must. Everyone I've taken up there and circled the crater rim describe it as a genuine "E ticket ride". (The highest priced ticket Disney sells).
Mike
 
McMinnville Oregon is about 40 miles southwest of Portland. The municipal airport was the home base of Evergreen Aviation, although they are not operating anymore. Even if that's too far away for your business in Portland you should stop by and spend a day at the Evergreen Aviation Museum, which is across the street from the airport. The Spruce Goose is there along with many other aircraft.

Here is a link to info for KMMV:
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMMV

 
Another thought is to stop and see the WAAAM museum in Hood River. The museum is on the north side of Hood River airport, and you fly right over it on the way in from Idaho (assuming you are coming in from the Boise area) and on the way back. If time permits, lots of wineries to see/visit in the northern Willamette Valley, but a car is required altho I'd be happy to drive if you have the time. As 85Mike says, a flight around Mt. St Helens is a must.

Lots of good restaurants in downtown Portland, but if that doesn't float your boat, I do an ok BBQ out in Hillsboro. Easily reached on the MAX line and I'd love to host you. Besides, it would be fun to tell tales about SteveE.....:).
 
Hillsboro, despite being a distance from downtown, is just a block from the MAX line (light rail.) You can ride for a few bucks all the way into downtown, and it's nice. They have a decent FBO where I think you can get a car if you need one. It's all fenced in.

Avoid PDX, it's big and busy. Troutdale isn't bad, but I'm unsure of their FBOs.

Fall is a great time of year weatherwise, usually some really nice extended high pressure systems, but the PNW is always a gamble. East-west VFR with legal ceilings is no big deal as the Columbia river gorge makes for a nice pass to the (usually) nicer east side of the Cascades.

I would recommend dropping into Stark's Twin Oaks (7S3) for fuel and a look around; very nice family-owned public airport.. It's probably the community hub of light GA in NW Oregon, many Cubs and the like. If I was you I would tie down there, but then you've got the transportation issue, as it's a little more rural.
 
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Portland has always been one of my favorite places to leave. It's a pretty place but the traffic makes Houston look good. If it were me I'd put pins on the map at Bandon, Tahoe, and Saint George and would fill in the blanks from there. Once at Bandon I'd spend a day in Coos Bay. That's one of my favorite places. Can't say why, it just feels right.
 
Portland is a great place to leave, but the traffic is so bad that leaving is not easy.
Maybe we could BBQ some lunch at Daybreak?
 

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Well the winds aloft forecast (NW at 35-50 knots) has forced some changes. So unfortunately, I'll be letting Southwest burn the fuel instead of me and my buddy at Alaska Airlines talked me into float fishing the Yakimaw (he said it's bucket list) and while I'm up that way I'm going to stop by CubCrafters then head back towards Portland and detour at some point to to visit Oregon Aero to drop my seats off. Not aure the amount of free time I can pull off, still messaging the flights.
 
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