Day #19

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=180 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="1811d9c00egerdp.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="98" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 161 WIDTH="92"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="161" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="92" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#33CC00" TEXT="#080000" background="04248493.png"> <div> <B>Day #19</B><B>                                Saturday  August 1st.2009</B></div> <div> <A HREF="alaska.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Alaska Adventure"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id606.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day "><U><B>BACK  A  DAY </B></U></A><B>                                                                                                                                                                   </B><A HREF="id608.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Day 20 Sunday"><U><B> NEXT DAY</B></U></A><B>                                                                                                                                                                          </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=380 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> Fairbanks to Anchorage</div> <bR> <div> 10.00  Pre-flight briefing     Pilot briefing room at base of tower</div> <bR> <div> 11.00  Aircraft check-in and taxi</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Ben.</div> <div> Very short flight today only flying around 300 miles, but also a very enjoyable one flying through the Valley. We ate breakfast at around 8oclock before heading out to the Airport. Once we had got the Plane ready we headed to Anchorage. On route we stoped at a small town called Talkeetna for dinner and a look round. After about an hour we headed back to the plane inorder to head to Anchorage. Following this short flight from Talkeetna to Anchorage we had some problems as the car rental shop had closed. Because of this we had to get a taxi inorder to get to the very swanky hotel. Once we had arrived we checked out the room and relaxed for a bit before we headed to the outdoor bar with some of the group. After being here for about an hour we headed to the subway just down the road for some tea. Once we arrived back we ate our sandwich before Me and Tom checked out what was at the hotel. Now we are all just relaxing in the hotel room. Very looking forward to tomorow.</div> <div> Ben.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Tom.</div> <div> Not a long flgiht today with a short stop inbetween were we stopped it was a lovley little town. The town was were Northan Exposher was based on. We stopped for lunch and then went for a walk round the main strees and then we came on back round to the airport, We fueld up and headed to are final stop were we were staying for 4 nights at a very swanky hotel which is very nice. We went and had a drink with the people that are here and then me ken and ben went to subway and ken got couple of beers. now just sat in the room chilling out and watching TV.</div> <div> Tom</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Ken</div> <div> A very eventfull day today.  We almost got up on time and were at breakfast at 8 am.   A very good, but overpriced breakfast. We all went to the airport and had our morning briefing and then took the hire cars back. The weather was touch and go. </div> <bR> <div> Our plan was to fly South out of Fairbanks and go up to 10,000 ft. to get above the clouds, then to fly close to Mt.McKinley and then fly close to it and take pictures.</div> <bR> <div> We were to fly as a flight of one, and stay on our own.  However things did not work out as planned.  We had it planned that after lift off Ben would push in the gear</div> <div> motor breaker and we would raise the wheels.  Did not work as the breaker blew when we tried it.  So we continued in a climb with the wheels down.</div> <bR> <div> A slow climb at 80 knots and 300 fpm in the soup. We were expecting to break out at 4000 ft but it took us for ever to get there. After looking at the charts we decided </div> <div> take the low level route following the river to a place called Talkeetna AK.  This was a lot of hard work, as we had not planned on this, We were above the clouds and had to find a place called Healey River.</div> <div> We found it and it was below the clouds, we found a way down and saw the river.  There were three rivers and we did not know which one to follow to Anchorage.  The charts did not match what we were looking at.</div> <div> That far North there is a 25 degree difference between true North and Magnetic North. I had forgotten about that.</div> <div> .</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1978e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1979e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> We flew down valleys following the river. Ben did a good job reading the charts.  We were aiming for Healy River so we could follow the river to Talkeetna</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="197be89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Flying down a valley like this with cloud above I would not have done a week ago.   The experience I have gained on the trip made it possible.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="197de89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I was so happy to fly down the valley</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="197ee89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="197fe89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1980e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1980e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> I am not sure how high we were above the terrain, the mountains both sides were a lot higher than we were. And the clouds were not far above us. </div> <div> Then it started to rain and the temperature was just above freezing point, I was concerned about icing.  There is nowhere to go in this area. We were </div> <div> marking landing strips as we passed them, in case we needed them for emergency use.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1982e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> After flying down valleys with mountains both sides, it is so great to see some flat land ahead.  I have never been so happy to see flat land.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1983e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1984e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> I was very happy to arrive at Talkeetna,  Flatland.  We landed and the others were already there.  We were very slow due to the gear being down and did not </div> <div> get to fly high enough to see Mt.McKinley.  But another day.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1986e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> The local planes that we saw at Talkeetna were not like we see at our local airports.   They have very large wheels or floats.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1987e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1988e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This is where we went for lunch,,, A very unusual place.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1989e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="198ae89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="198be89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="198ce89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="198de89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> And then for a walk around town.  The picture below is of  Talkeetna's second airport.            No way I could land the Commander there.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="198ee89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The Alaskan way of taking out a girl.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="198fe89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> This is the house at the end of the runway at the second airport.  No building in town can be higher than this building as it will interfere with the approach to the airport.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1990e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> The villiage store,  you can guess what the popular breed of dog is up here.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="1991e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1992e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> We took on some fuel at Talkeetna airport and then headed to Anchorage Merrel field , with the wheels down the whole way.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1993e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> To get into Anchorage is a job on its own.  Lot of traffic and resticted airspace to stay away from,  We had instructions of how to fly into Anchorage.  I called Anchorage aproach and requested radar vectors to keep us out of trouble.</div> <bR> <div> We arrived in Anchorage and landed at Merril Field,  quite a large airport with a lot of General aviation aircraft,  no airline traffic.</div> <div> We are parked in the camping area.  This is where you land and camp next to your plane.  </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1994e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> The hire cars did not show up so we took taxi's to the Melinium Hotel where we are staying.  Very nice but very expensive.</div> <div> To cut cost we went to the Subway next door and got sandwiches and beer.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1995e89f0.jpg" border=0 width="1000" height="671" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> </div> <div> <IMG SRC="1a5258920.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="402" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Have to work on the plane in the morning and try to get it fixed.</div> <bR> <div> Ken.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>