BK1 Oshkosh 2005 – Hot Time Over the Plains

Started the second day of the trip right where the first day started, at home. Now tropical storm Emily was still on its predicted westerly course and we were now much closer to the edge of that pinwheel of rain bands. But low clouds forced me so wait at home for things to break up a little before going back out to the airport. Got in the air about 10:30 with a broken layer low clouds still hanging around. This was a good time to check out the antenna database in my GPS, seeing if the ones I already know about show up. This might make me feel better when later over strange territory when we will be depending on it. This is part of the day VFR game. Flying under a 1000 ft ceiling put you in a mine field of obstacles. Those 999 ft towers that don’t get the high obstruction symbol on the sectional and get lost in the sea of 300 ft of cell phone tower symbols cluttering the map. The GPS database is good for the really tall towers, but it hit or miss on those under 500 feet tall. Fortunately by the time we passed Austin the clouds were high enough to get above the minefield. By the time Waco approached, the area of blue sky exceeded the clouds, and thing really started looking great.

The first really great moment came as Ennis, Texas passed by. It was the first stop on the 2003 Oshkosh trip, but now just the half way point to McAlister, Oklahoma. A combination of 1 ½ times the fuel and faster cruise makes this theoretically possible, but this is the first real test. By the time the Red River was crossed it was getting into the afternoon with a combination of light winds and no clouds making things get real bumpy. Can climb a few thousand feet higher and find smoother air, but in such a little plane start to feel so very small. Like to take the low road because you can feel the speed better and enjoy counting the spots on the cows. Bumpy air does make using the “range extender” trickier, but it worked. Since this is my second trip to Oshkosh, knew ahead of time to deviate west and fly around the hill country south of McAlester. Now the BK1 is light on fuel in front and heavy on baggage it the rear, a little lighter on pitch but still solid. Did not realize until we slowed down for the approach and got less air through the vents, just how hot it was this afternoon.

The gas truck drove up immediately, in goes 13 gallons of 100LL, and he hands me a bill for $42. Got this trip’s first reality check, took a few minutes before normal breathing resumed, this is supposed to be cheap flying. Now for lunch, choice one, call a cab, spend an hour or so and another bunch of money. Choice two, eat a couple of handfuls of the fruit and nut mix I always carry and get back in the air, that’s a no brainer. On prior trips that bag of food has been breakfast, lunch, or dinner more than once. Bought a soda from their old machine with the broken dollar bill reader. But the guy said if they replace it the drinks will go from 50 cents to a dollar, so give me some change, please. Here I am 400 miles from home in one hop, feels really good.

The next leg to Mexico, Missouri, can best be described as indescribably bumpy. Add to that, going over my least favorite terrain, the Lake of the Ozarks. It is a combination of water, trees, and condos with nothing but a busy highway available for emergencies. But to help keep my mind off of that got to enjoy some of the record setting hottest weather I have ever flown in, heard it was about 105. The air through the vents felt like a blast furnace and it just kept getting bumpier. Fortunately had something to keep my mind off of the heat, that was watching the oil temp creep up slowly as the day’s heat set in. It got closer to the 230 degree red line ever seen before, so close in fact that I backed off the throttle a bit just to see if it would come down. It did, things appeared under control. Landed in Mexico, MO, about 6:30 in a strong gusty hot wind that at least was going directly down the runway. Thought there might be enough daylight to press on to Oshkosh, but after the hot beating we just went through, cooling my heels at a motel sounded better. Filled up the plane at the MoGas pump then looked at the meter for the bad news. It was just as surprising as the bill at McAlester, but to the opposite extreme. The meter said $14! Rubbing my eyes, looked again and saw that the pump was charging $1.24 a gallon! Gonna to drive my car up there to fill it up next time.

Could not remember the name of the motel that gave me the $29.99 pilot rate in 2003, an expensive mistake. The airport car was no where in site. Called information and ask for the names of motels in Mexico. Instead they connected me with one well known chain who put on the hard sell about their wireless internet, HBO, exercise room, etc… But what does it cost? Just $73 a night and they would call me a cab, no thanks. Called information again, got the same operator and ask her to go a little farther down the motel list. This time got one that told me the airport car was already there, but they would pick me up. That’s better, bet I can get a ride back with whoever has the airport car. Watching my budget closely, resisted the temptation of going to the steak house just down the street. Got the kid burger value meal at the McDonalds across the street. It would be the cheapest meal I would buy for a long time on this trip. $64 is a lot to pay for a bed for one night, by the way the name of the more reasonable motel is the Villager Inn.

Thank, Bruce King

www.geocities.com/dbk4939

dbk4939@yahoo.com