The Wisconsin Flash. AKA, I picked up the XPA-11...

[Farmboy]

Soooo... some of you fb folks have seen the news, but for those that didn't, Glenn said to post up some pix. A little prologue first.

I've been looking for a ride for about a year now, and it's ranged the gamut of types, sizes, and missions. With some help from the SC guys, I finally narrowed it down and put Glenn, Tom, and Michael through hell giving me their opinions and advice. But long story short, after passing up on a PA-18-95 that was on the revolving short list from Barnstormers, Ryan Johnson shot me a message, and mentioned he happened to have a PA-11 that he and his brother were considering selling.

I looked at the laundry list of features and knew it was the right plane for my needs, desires and wants. So the research started. I read, searched, and in case anyone is looking at selling their airplane, remember all your posts online regarding it are....still there. Lol. :lol:

Armed with background information, praise and a heartfelt approval from Steve Pierce regarding the Johnson Brother's work (they have done an award winning Vagabond, multiple J3's, etc), and a good honest dialogue with Ryan, a month later I was able to arrange for funding, and Ryan and his brother Cory had taken care of a few of the imperfections they wanted to address.

So you know how all photos hide imperfections and always look better than in real life?
Not when you buy a plane the guys at the Johnson Brothers Flying Service.

Pictures in Jerry Johnson's hangar in Mineral Point, WI.

 

[Farmboy]

I jumped a plane on 12/26, and Jerry and Cory picked me up in Madison. After going to the hangar and seeing it, doing a courtesy inspection on an airplane that was cared for by a couple of guys truly loved and cared for it was almost pointless. Just give them the money before they get second thoughts about selling it.

Before anyone asks, that's Cory's S-1 Pitts in the back. He is the 2016 US Sportsman Aerobatic Champion.
https://www.iac.org/news/2016-10-01-2016-us-nationals-aerobatic-championships-its-wrap

Of course before you go you have to take a quick look at Jerry's 5-window coupe he had tucked in there as well. Horsepower and airplanes just go hand in hand.

A quick stop for supplies, meal and off to the hotel to try and sleep!

Next morning I find Ryan and Cory waiting patiently out front to grab a quick breakfast and let me take their airplane home. I missed the hangar door opening to reveal the beauty, but it doesn't matter. Let's go!

Shouldn't be bad... just winter cross country in a slow cub, right?



First photos headed home. Wisconsin wind and great flatlands.

 

[Farmboy]

Foreflight showed 12.5 hours home as direct as possible without crossing the lake, so with winter daylight that's two days. What better place to spend the night that John Graham's home for wayward pilots, aka Ohio Bush Pilots. If no headwinds should be there by dusk.

 

[Farmboy]

Back to flying....

Always pull the heat knob for winter flying.

 

[Farmboy]

Temperatures started to rise above the 20 degrees in Wisconsin, and the rivers opened up and the sun broke through. Good size rail yard too. (for us eastern boys)

 

[Farmboy]

I might have forgotten to mention the wind was blowing in Mineral Point. Takeoff was lift the tail up and before I had a chance to rotate I was flying. Yup. Wind's blowing. Blew all day too. Got to love making speed in a cub.

 

[Farmboy]

Down and running across the true flatlands of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio... man they dig straight ditches and lay straight roads.

 

[Farmboy]

Discovered it's really hard to take a panoramic photo while flying. Well, and not have jagged features. lol.

 

[Farmboy]

Someone's got a great ski lake.




Looking out the back window.... Wisconsin seems to far away suddenly.

 

[flybynite]

Nice trip. Looks like you lucked out on weather. It's tough this time of year to find two good days in a row for a cross country in a Cub.

The plane looks really nice too.

Wayne

 

[Farmboy]

With a 24 gallon tank, you can pass a lot of airports at 120-130 mph and not worry about it. Finally decided I probably should, so I threw a dart at the map and picked the first of two nearly side-by-side airports, on opposite sides of state lines.

It's probably a great little gem - big strip, faced west into the 20 mph wind, self serve fuel, squawk code access for nice warm FBO, Kuerig coffee maker, pilots lounge with computer and couch, and even a self serve courtesy car. Shot a photo of the farm in the distance to show how empty it felt, but for an unattended airport they sure left out the welcome wagon!

Lakeview Airport, Celina Ohio.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Tailwinds make the trip fun!

 

[Farmboy]

More interesting pools, ponds, farmyards and Ohio's big Ski mountain in the distance. Only spot with snow for miles!

 

[Farmboy]

Thought it was humorous. Just up the road from the ski hill, is this little golf course - year round?



Starting to get into the rolling hills of eastern Ohio. You know whats there?

 

[Farmboy]

 

[Farmboy]

Made it to John's place in 4.7 hours - 2:30pm, 2 hrs early! Love tailwinds. And friends with great hangars and airstrips!

 

[Poor Joe]

Best of luck with the new addition. Great way to start off the new year!

 

[Farmboy]

Things you see when visiting Ohio. Can you name them?

 

[Farmboy]

Jerry Johnson, these couple of posts are for you. More reasons to come east.

 

[Farmboy]

Back to the subject of photos vs real life.... this pickup. It's the real deal.





Everyone needs a pond behind their grass strip and hangar. Glenn, you'd need a really long rope if you're going to float in this one.

 

[Farmboy]

But Alas, I had a timeline. The weather window was 2 days. Time to make it happen.

A great breakfast with the Ohio Bush Guys, roll up the door and climb aboard.
Eastbound, hammer down.



Some of the last great rolling hills of Ohio.

 

[Farmboy]

Sun and clouds fight for space. Today, the clouds will win.



Headed back into cold country. Ice forming, but private grass strips are always inviting.

 

[Farmboy]

With the weather not improving as forecasted, I skipped the pie-to-die-for airport cafe stop that was highly recommended, and pushed up to New Castle for a quick refuel. Can't say I'd recommend it for the price of fuel, but had to take this shot for once again, it looks so small and lonely out there by itself on the ramp.

 

[Farmboy]

Different people make the work go round.

Some live at the fork, and some live on North Fork.

 

[cubdriver2]

That thing is embarrassing with those little tires. Change them before you fly over here.
Hope I was some help today

Glenn

 

[Bayou Navigator]

Thanks for the trip farmboy. Congrats! She's a beauty.

 

[Farmboy]

BOOM! Welcome to PA. Enjoy the new landscape.




After diverting due to some freezing rain between the hilltops and the cloud layer, much of the scenery was hilltop logging roads.



But that let me see this gem. Ridgeline field that rolled down on both sides. Perfect airstrip with a home on the knoll between. Bumpy as heck, but on good days.....



This would be another fun one. Not sure if it was going to be a ski run or just an access road to the plateau's up top. But could be a great airstrip, or three...




Over near Chatham PA it could well be Ohio again. Aerocross anyone?

 

[Farmboy]

Made it up across the border to Corning/Elmira. They must find ladders unsafe. Or perhaps theirs broke. The cc machine was broke too, but hey, I got fuel and they had staff in the shop. Life is good. Needs fat tires. Stairs won't fit over mine.

 

[Farmboy]

It keeps getting better. At the bottom of the finger lakes the skys opened up, the sun shone through, and I started to believe the forecast was going to work.




Looked back at what I left, not realizing that in 20 minutes that what was behind me was the best weather.

 

[Farmboy]

And another 20 minutes later I was back down at the bottom of NY passing Oneonta Airport, looking for a valley to at least go east - or anything besides straight south again.
Didn't take any photos, between Glenn telling me the best options, my wife asking why I turned around, and another friend asking where I was going... sheesh, you'd think being a simple pilot was easy.