BACFest 2015 Recap post your story here

[drwhite]

I climbed out 10 minutes after Werbin and Persinger through a thin layer at Dubuque and then in and out of clouds until Ohio where the sun came out and the clouds disappeared. I landed 45 minutes behind W & P in Ohio where Persinger had a Philly Cheese steak sandwich awaiting my arrival courtesy of Big John. Sometimes, it pays to be late! From there we parted paths and like Paul, I had to land short of my destination. I made an ILS approach to 1000ft in Lewisburg, WV and checked on a hotel at the Greenbrier. The shuttle alone was over $100 to come get you! I never inquired about a room! The airport personnel were good to give me a ride into town to the Quality Inn because their shuttle service had stopped earlier in the day. The next morning arrived with broken clouds at 1200 ft. A quick 1 hr IFR flight on top of the ceiling and I made the ILS approach into SHD. Once below the cloud deck, I cancelled and broke off the approach and headed for home a few miles away at W13. It was good to get some short field practice again. Those 2400 ft runways at Abel Island are so long I almost got out of practice. Good ole W13 and its 2000 ft runway are all anyone needs!

 

[SkyPilot]

I headed out of DBQ shortly after you Alan. I suspected those 2 guys in the Sierra in front of you would be up to some "Tom Foolery." Its amazing that Persinger caved into the peer pressure of Werbin and was part of that ATC crack on your speed... I mean Persinger is a Sundowner driver and all.... ROTFLMAO!

At least on my way home at no more than 2000 feet, I was seeing 120 knots at 9.5 GPH. I started heading toward SGF Missouri on a direct heading, which would have took me back over MIZZOU (a Big 12 defector because they couldn't hang...), but the ceiling seemed to be getting lower. Kansas City, the west side of the state was reporting clear skies, so I headed in that direction across the bottom of Iowa. Unfortunately, even as I approached MCI (Kansas City), the cloud deck was still at about 2000 feet. I made the left turn and went direct to Springfield, MO. It got a little lower down by Springfield but I guess that is why they call it scud running. Thanks to my SkyRadar DX with AHRS and WingX Pro, the situational awareness was great. There were a few antennas to avoid at my cruising altitude, but no big deal. At least I got to get to see quite a bit of southern Iowa and some northern MO that I had not seen before...

A great time. Friends for life!

 

[rgschmi]

Went back to Dubuque to return the rental car and pick the Sundowner up today. Flipped on the master and boost pump - nothing. Thought it was a dead battery, but turned out to be an intermittent master switch. Jiggled that to get it to work, got the engine started, flipped the alternator switch on - nothing. Engine is running, so turned all but one radio and the transponder off, pulled the turn coordinator breaker and went for it. Only an hour flight and plenty of battery left when we got home (had the handheld ready just in case).

Went to Sky Blue Aviation for a jump start and was pleasantly surprised to find Jim Weiser's wife behind the counter, wearing her BAC tee shirt.

Things are breaking faster than I can fix 'em. Will troubleshoot the alternator issue tomorrow and am scheduled into the shop on Friday to troubleshoot the hot start issue and whatever else we find wrong.

At least the airplane and I are home.

 

[Unclerap]

Presidents Trophy points.

You can submit your PT mileage through your RD, or me directly. If I get them twice, I can figure it out. Here's the rules: Submit Airnav nautical miles direct from your home field to DBQ, let me know if you flew, drove, or commercial. ONE WAY. Denis gets the host points. PM works, but direct is better:


Recap will be in the mid Oct BACfire.

Rap

 

[mdunlevie]

Closing my flight plan, for a few days at least. Low fog over western NE and eastern CO stopped me, by the time it should have cleared there was clouds and rain in my mountain pass over Walden and Kremmling CO. So to get Anne back to work (of course for her, not for me at all...) we got a car and drove in. Hoping for good weather in the next week to go back for the plane. But for now, home and looking at Branson.

 

[paulwerbin]

Yesterday, after a few working days , JP ( The Johnald) Showed up at my airport with his plane as a side trip to a work site and delivered me back to m plane in Richmond Va. So now my plane is home too and after an oil change will be ready for another winter of flying.

 

[JOHNNYXRAY]

I think I have over 17 hours flight time in less than a week .Thanks for letting me fly in with you Paul. It is nice those who went commercial got to fly with the ones who flew in .Made for a great group picture . Hmmm , the Johnald ? Here is my campaign slogan for President . " We shall over comb "

Yesterday, after a few working days , JP ( The Johnald) Showed up at my airport with his plane as a side trip to a work site and delivered me back to m plane in Richmond Va. So now my plane is home too and after an oil change will be ready for another winter of flying.

 

[wdnd5960]

Paul,

Thank you for inviting me and allowing me to fly FO in N3864Y! It was an honor and a privilege to fly with you.

I owe you some pix. Although they are not very good pix (iPhone with a cover).

It was great to see all of my BAC friends again! And meet new ones. BACfest 2015 was a grand slam! Thanks to Denis and his wonderful family, for hosting us and putting on an amazing show! I think their intention was to show case the beautiful Dubuque area. But for me, the real show was watching Denis and his family (Team Dubuque) preform like an symphony orchestra. Yes, Sir! They played us like the Marine Corps Hymn!

 

[paulwerbin]

I really enjoyed being able to finally fly with some of you BACers. Especially of course many that have been friends for many years.
One of my pet peeves (one of many, I know) is that since so many members use made up names on our site sometimes I don't realize who is who until I get home and put the real names to the online names. Since our site allows us to look up real names whenever we want I don't think we lose anything by signing our forum posts with real names. At least maybe suggest that we put both real and online names on our BACFest name badges? I saw some that did this and I think it is a good idea.

 

[larrynewland]

Left DBQ at 3pm.forgot 1hr.time change 4pm detroit time.weather lower than forcast. average 800/900ft.agl.8to 10miles even around Chicago via Quad city. made it to coldwater mi. around 7pm.lcl .saw lights about 8 out south along I 69 north. only 80 miles from Detroit. I ron. Got off at 2pm to home after the fog lifted. Only took 3 hours out to DBQ and 4.5 total home

 

[wjknight]

My first Bacfest was better than i expected. Got to put a lot of faces to names talked to Wdnd in the elevator before i knew it was him. Leaving was a challenge i did a slow taxi out to 36 for departure. Engine would not go above 2000 RPM. Not only would it not go above 2000 at wide open throttle it would quit....Grrr what a situation, mag check at 1300 or 1400 was good. Let Trumpet go by me. Still not sure what was wrong. There was a cessna and a jet behind him. Called tower and told them i wanted to taxi back to the fbo......they told me to use 36 to get to around the Jet, pulled carb heat out to see if it ran better and bam it went right up to 2500 RPM while rolling down the runway.....Duh 50 some degrees, dew point within 1 degree of ambient. I have worked over my carb heat box so it does not leak anymore, i had froze up my darn carb.......never froze a carb during taxi before. After double checking plugs and wires, taxied back out with carb heat on till take off, it purred all the way home.

Wdnd was at BACFest??? Dang.......and you guys laughed at me when I said I used carb heat to clear moisture from the carb during the engine warm-up. Close temp./dewpoint days and heavy dew/light mist days are very common for this. Incidentally, when I landed in Regina, Sask. after scud running through low few clouds and mist, my engine barely stayed running when I throttled back after landing. Added carb heat, RPM came back and taxied into the FBO to clear customs. Yes JP they did let me back into the country......

Great BACFest guys and gals! Denis and family deffinately knocked this one out of the park! Well Done!

 

[GMascelli]

A tip of the hat to Denis and the crew for a job well done, above and beyond! Mary and I had a great time at BACFest! We are going to make plans early for Branson.

Our BACFest adventure finished up with our last two flights today. What an adventure!! KOXB KCDI KVPZ KDBQ KLYV KRAP KLXN KIXD KHSD KIOB KMRB and back home to KOXB.

 

[trumpet nelson]

The three musketeers have left Colorado! (you know - - - the BAC-to-BAC adventure)

Marty departed yesterday late morning from KANK (after treating us to a pancake breakfast) and made it safely home to his airport. Greg and I talked to him as he was driving home in his car late yesterday.

That left Greg and I ( and then there were two ....) to take the jeep trail up to Mt. Taylor. Great photos to follow.

Greg and I departed Colorado about noon today, a nice easy pack and take-off schedule for us. All three of the Colorado 3 musketeers only used the first 3rd of the runway before wheels off the pavement. Sweet. About 3 circuits of the wide valley and we were at 11,000 feet and headed south. A lot of fun chatting on 123.45 as we came out of the mountains, then I headed 140 to Texas and Greg chose a few degrees to the left and we departed company, switching to Denver Center for flight following.

At the Texas border I lost the clear sky and tucked under a 5,000 agl layer, decided not to push for an after-dark arrival at home (San Antonio) and now find myself at a McD's in Synder, TX. I have fueled here before. The FBO drove the crew car to me as I was parking the plane. Very nice.

Looking for an easy 2 hr flight home tomorrow with no pressure to miss the free breakfast at the hotel. And hoping Greg made it toward Georgia for a good amount today.

Still living the BAC dream for at least one more flight before I finally arrive home,
Nelson

 

[mvanover]

For those who missed the "BAC to BAC", it was a lovely stay at the "Amen Chalet". Great grillin' by Nelson's brother Harry and a nice overall comfortable visit. The airport is well kept and the ramp is clean. Big valley and no issues landing or taking off. Great place to practice your mountain flying techniques, even for the newbies. With the coolish temps the D.A.'s were less than 10,000 ft. With the Aspens all yellow and the brook babblin' below the bedroom window, it was idyllic.

 

[rgschmi]

That looks awesome! I wish I could have made it....

 

[A23ABobP]

Thanks to Denis and the whole crew! Now that was great hospitality.

I left Sunday late morning IFR to Brookings, SD, to visit son #1 Andrew at school. We then flew over to Flying Cloud, MN to rescue a vehicle we stranded long ago. He flew back to Brookings that night for Monday AM class. I stayed in MSP overnight and drove back to Brookings. I stayed a couple nights there. Tuesday we did a little local flying including some grass field work. Wednesday mid-morning departed VFR for a 4:40 flight over Chicago Class B to Warsaw, Indiana (KASW) for some <$4.00 fuel. Some vending machine munchies then VFR for 3:30 to home, Warrenton, VA. These late starts are giving me more gray. The entire West Va mountains portion of this leg was night VFR over solid clouds with very few airports. (I broke my own rule, I believe I did not have an out). The Musketeer got over 25 hours block time in a week. The Cont IO-346 used a whole qt of oil!

I enjoyed seeing old friends and making new friends. I can't wait for Branson, but I hope to make some far away BAC events in the mean time.

BAC 2015 was very well choreographed. It all went off without a hitch. Thank you Weiser family!

Bob

 

[trumpet nelson]

Arrived home in San Antonio 11:00 am this morning after my last 2 hour leg. What a trip! About 30 hours total in the saddle.

Expect more photos!

Nelson

 

[pwf]

Back to Canada

Leili and I had a great time at BACfest... many thanks to all!

We got home on Monday, about 6:30 PM local. I don't have an autopilot, and not wanting to hand fly for hours in IMC, we waited for the ceiling to lift a bit and took off about 3 pm Sunday to scud run our way around Rockford IL and down to Chicago, where ceilings (and airspace) allowed us to get around the city via the Jolliet VOR at about 2000 ASL. Took a bit of a detour south to avoid a band of IMC at Gary, then broke into good VFR conditions which held into NE Indiana. Conditions started to close in and we so set down, 3 hours after our departure, at Algoma, IN, in the NE corner of the state.

Next morning we we awoke to face fog and 600' ceilings and poor conditions all along our route. Forecast did call for a break starting in the afternoon, so I departed about 2:30 and flew easy IFR in the blue (actually Leili did most of the flying) by Detroit and across the border, then on to London, where we descended through the cloud layer to break out at 2000' AGL for a visual approach into CYXU, and our Customs stop.

Weather was deteriorating so I again filed IFR and flew IMC for the last 40 minutes home, having to descend to circling minimums (600') to get into my home base at Brampton (you guys in the USA have no idea how lucky you are to have so many ILS approaches!). Total air time enroute was 5:40 out of DBQ, a full hour more than our arrival, due to the headwinds.

Worse part is that my Transponder gave up the ghost on the last leg, while I was a 5000' in IMC. Rather annoying, but then, my Narco AT-50a has to be at least 25 years old. Somehow I see an expensive repair, or replacement, in my near future...

See you all in Branson!

Peter and Leili

 

[trumpet nelson]

Here are some BAC-to-BAC photos:

- Three Musketeers in Salida, Colorado
- and then there were two ......
- oh .... and my bike is still in the plane !

Nelson

 

[CleoBen]

Worse part is that my Transponder gave up the ghost on the last leg, while I was a 5000' in IMC. Rather annoying, but then, my Narco AT-50a has to be at least 25 years old. Somehow I see an expensive repair, or replacement, in my near future...

Peter and Leili

Peter, when my AT50 went out a few years ago, Narco had just closed up the repair shop. The cavity tube is the common culprit, and parts to repair Narcos are quickly becoming unobtainable. I decided then to get out of the Narco xpdr and get a more reliable unit. I bought a used Garmin GTX327 for a good price. (This was before the 2020 ADS-B was mandated). I love the 327, but in hindsight I wish I had plunked down the extra AMU for the 330ES. Unless I come up with a complete one-box ADS-B solution, the 330ES will likely be part of my ADS-B upgrade.

Great to meet you and Leili, and looking forward to Branson next year!

CB aka TB
N24TD