I bet you’re excited to get yours flying. Idaho won’t disappoint. We will likely do another Rans run up there next summer

Thanks Jay. Looking forward to seeing your build take to the sky as well.

Absolutely Reid had a great time. I can’t wait to do it again with you guys

It does an amazing job once airborn. I think you can classify it as a “ back country capable“ airplane, not a back country airplane. I don’t think it would hold up with repeated use in some of the super short strips. over and over again. It’s thin and lightweight.

It’s a catch 22. It’s more rewarding than riding my bike but there’s much more attention needed. I get. It’s tired flying low and technical in an hour than riding my 1190 half the day. Riding for me is like walking. Don’t have to think about it. No systems checks or wind issues like flying. Both are fun and relaxing in different ways.

No doubt! Can’t wait to do it again and for longer.

Thanks for watching. Yes 17.5 to clear the weather over the high terrain over Yellowstone. I could’ve gone higher but I didn’t want to fuss with and IFR flight plane.

This was my first time there, and I really enjoyed it. The flying happened so quickly because the strips are so short that you spend a lot of time socializing and camaraderie. It’s nice to have people around and to know if you mess up there are people everywhere who can help. Plus the group I was with we all had ADSB in and out so we could see each other air to air on our moving maps through all of the canyons. Incredible situational awareness.

It sure was. The 915 made the trip, no questions abut it. I only wish I could have 2 Rotax 915 airplanes🤔

@@Captndarty I could see that in your future. One back country machine, one traveling machine.

@@OneAlphaMike ha in a perfect world… I am doing a hanger addition that could support a high and a low and I’m sure the bank can see me coming 10 miles away🤷🏻‍♂️

⁠@@Captndarty Not sure if you saw, (I just saw it myself), but @Aaron Stampa recently flew his Sling TSi to Johnson Creek. Looks like it climbed out of there like a rocket! Rotax 915 FTW! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ocWlnsyQybeXZWw.htmlsi=fLl0Cr4K4Kf-BYwQ

Thank you. I love Skywagons albeit I have never flown in one. I often refer to mine as as a modern day 2 place skywagon. I’m not sure what the DA was at marble but looking back at my video after leaving Lower Loon and enroute to Marble I was at 6,000 52° and the DA was 6,700. I suspect with the warmer temps and surrounding topography radiation down in Marble that it could been a touch higher DA relative to Marbles elevation. The 21 with the Rotax 915is an amazing back country airplane once airborne but it’s VSO of 41kts and lighter construction I’m dubious how the air frame would hold up hitting places the Soldier bar often.

@@Captndarty I have a friend who just bought an S7 kit. Probably take him about 2 years to build it just because he has a lot of other responsibilities. I need to find out if he is going 915T. After watching your videos I will recommend it to him. I think you airplane will do well overall for backcountry ops. Most of the strips are relatively tame. I actually think Soldier bar is relatively smooth compared to Marble. The rubber erosion strips can sometimes make you bounce. I actually try to spot land just in front of them. But I have done it plenty of times with a nice bounce. Hard not to want to play with our machines.

Maule is very close to the performance of the Rans but still has 1000lb useful load thats closer to the skywagon. I find it a great STOL option to get all the people and gear in.

Good question. Tail draggers keep the prop further from debris on the ground when taxiing. The week point with a trike is the nose gear. It’s mounted to the engine mount and if you stuff it into a hole or rock you risk some major front end damage. So for rough, terrain a tail wheel is better. As far as STOL goes a trike is better because the main gear is further aft allowing you to pull back on the stick and increase the angle of attack of the wing relative to the ground. With a tail wheel the angle of attack is fixed since the tail is on the ground.

@@Captndarty that makes perfect sense. I didn't realize how many landing strips there is in that area, I grew up around there in Wyoming looks like a hell of a fun way to see that area and get around. "Let's go get breakfast" "Okay ill fire up the plane"

JC won’t be any issue whatsoever in a Mooney. I’m sure you’ve seen “man and a Mooney“ and he goes into a couple tighter strips in Colorado in his Mooney

@@Captndarty I watched those videos awhile back and have wanted to land there ever since. Too bad he sold it! We pass over JC twice a month with round trips to Montana from SW WA.

@@Captndarty Looks like you might be familiar with the BDR’s from the looks of your bike.

@@HairHelmet yes sir I’ve done a bits and pieces of several among other routes.

@@HairHelmet really he sold it? I thought he just relocated back to the East Coast with it. Bummer his videos were great.

It is public, so anyone can land there as long as you have the proper skills and Aircraft

That’s Thomas Creek 2U8

@@Captndarty Thank you!

If you fly in the morning, it’s cooler. There are less wind and thermals. In fact, most of the turbulent air is at the peaks and above. Down low in the valley you’re blanketed by the peaks, and it’s typically pretty smooth.

Rotax 915

Yes and the only one that can get it back would be the Maule.

They are exceptional motors. It would be incredibly hard for me to get into a bigger airplane with an old NA legacy engine. She’s been to 25k

You must’ve missed where I landed at marble, lower loon, cabin Creek, fish lake and moose creek….