Day 11 June 15, 2010 (Tuesday)
Lawing (Moose Pass) -- Palmer
I took a refreshment flight with Darlene on N917VK, the landing/step-Taxi attitude was different from what I have learned 4 years ago, Darlene said, each airplane behaves differently, has it's own personality, I come up with the theory that each float might be mounted slightly different or with different type of float and design.
Lower trail lake, where the flight school is.
First time in my life I hitch hiked, point the thumb up at the highway, Tracy who lives in Moose Pass gave me a ride to the airport, the Airport is 6 miles to the south, thank you so much, Tracy!
Picture was taken in front of the Restaurant, John the bartender/waiter took very good care of me for the last few meals, fed me good food and service, John has the right attitude to be success some day.
The Wx is very bad today, I ask Darlene for advise before leaving Moose pass, she said, give myself plenty of room to turn around in case I have to turn back, turn with minimum airspeed to reduce the radius of turn. I actually turned around before the last turn to Portage pass, the pass was obscured, I turned around and followed another canyon 5 miles to the west and headed toward Turnagain Bay. The whole trip was flying between 5000 feet mountains.
I crossed the bay to the other side of the shore, got the tail wind of 35 plus Knots, the wind was coming from Prince William Sound, funnel it through Whittier and Turnagain arm, blasting to the west, by the time I turn north toward palmar, the turbulance picks up violently. At one point I thought the airplane is going to fall apart, stuff were throwing all over, Camera flew out of my back pack.
The turbulence almost flip me over a couple of times. I wasn't worried about the spin or unusual attitude recovery, Ty Frisby trained me well with the Aerobatic at Sunrise Aviation. what worries me was the airplane may be falling apart. I didn't fight the turbulance, I cut down the power, fly really slow, ease the control and let the airplane fly by itself. I waited and waited, prayed and prayed! Hope to make it to Palmer in one piece. Total 3 or 4 canyons I had passed through, every one was viloent, and violent in between.
Note: the reason I couldn't escape from these mountain waves and turbulence, there are restricted air spaces and class C, class D airspace on my left, had to stay on the right side of the highway and close to these mountains and canyons.
Several canyons are parallel to Turnagain Arm, the worst tubulence happened right there. I finally made it to Palmer, decided to call for the day, after tired down the airplane, I sit in the cockpit for half of an hour, eating my breakfast (water melon seeds and cookies), and ease myself from the shock of the violent flight! The worest turbulence I have ever experienced.
No Alaskan birds are flying today, neither should California bird. Didn't take much of pictures due to the intense flight.
Canyons at Kenai, trying to get out of Kenai and cross Turnagain Arm (bay)
Finally got out of Kenai, facing Turnagain Arm, trying to pick up some altitude and still stay below the clouds
Craig and Debra Walls, picked me up at the Hotel and took me to the airport. They are the Rebel builder couple, live 30 miles away, travel to Palmer to see my plane, Craig gave me a good advise how to fix my horizontal stablizer, he follows my journey every day, saw the picture of the damage, consulted with other Rebel experts about my horizontal stablizer before even seeing my plane.
Craig is a Fire Fighter, has a pefect job and time to built an experimental airplane.
Craig and his wife Debra, a warm and loving couple.
I went to Flight Service at Palmer Airport to get Wx briefing, Jeni (Jennifer) a professional briefer, 25 years with FAA Flight Service, knows everything about Wx, she gave me many tips to visit Lake Clark National forest, she said, not all airports are friendly to fly-ins, one may escort you with fire arm, be aware. Remember those are the places can only be reached by airplane.
Look through the window at the flight service, that's the view she has worked with for the last 25 years, People call her "The Queen of Palmer", She can be the Doctor WX to my opinion, has a happy personality, laughed through out the conversation.
