THE FLIGHT OF A LIFETIME





This is my very first attempt at blogging so I hope this flows smoothly and we can all enjoy it.


This week, we (my best friend, co-pilot and wife) will be flying from Northwest Arkansas to Anchorage, Alaska via American Airlines to pick up Cessna 63082...a Cessna 150.


This plane was nicknamed "Mighty Mouse" some time back as this is no ordinary, run of the mill Cessna 150.

This is a 150-150 which means the stock Continental, 100 horsepower engine was removed and then upgraded to the Lycoming O-320 with 150 horsepower.

Additionally, Mighty Mouse has the full Horton STOL kit installed and 39 gallon long range fuel tanks.

Another big plus with this conversion is the 160 gross weight increase.

Mighty Mouse is a 1976 model with about 2,500 hours total time on the airframe and a new, zero timed, Lycoming factory rebuilt engine.




Here's a picture of Mighty Mouse in Alaska.










Cindy and I will be flying with (following actually) our good friend Terry Dickinson from Big Lake, Alaska.

Terry has two planes. One is a Piper Super Cub (on floats this time of year) and the other is a Cessna 152 which is affectionately known as Mosquito or......"Skeeter" for short.

Terry has a need/desire to reposition Skeeter to his winter home in the desert of Nevada and we (Cindy and I) have a need to travel with a highly experienced bush pilot (who also just happens to be a CFI) from the Alaskan wilderness, through the Canadian Rockies and on home.

Our generic plan will have us crossing back into the lower 48 at Great Falls, Montana and at this point (probably) we'll separate where Terry will turn right to the southwest and head to Nevada and we'll turn left to the southeast and head to Arkansas.




Here's Mosquito (Skeeter) parked next to Mighty Mouse at Big Lake, AK




All three of us consider this to be the ultimate flying adventure of a lifetime and we'll do our best to document this trip for not only our enjoyment but yours as well.





Jim & Cindy

Monday, June 23, 2014

Aberdeen, SD to Valentine, NE - June 22, 2014

We departed Aberdeen, SD and headed to Valentine, NE where we would refuel.  Eastern Nebraska (to our southeast and original GPS direct path) had numerous active thunderstorms so we flew southwest to remain clear of the storms.

During this leg we crossed the Missouri River which meanders around up here as it heads to Saint Louis.

Valentine, Nebraska is cattle country and is located in what's referred to as the Sandhills.

This first leg of the day was a 1.9 hour leg.


Jim & Cindy  


Departing Aberdeen, SD to the southwest.....wrong direction to get us home but it's the safe way to avoid thunderstorms to the southeast.


This area has received quite a bit of rain including the storms from Saturday night.  We're so glad we found shelter for Mighty Mouse inside a hangar.

Flying over low, scattered clouds as we approach central South Dakota

Approaching the Missouri River

We could be doing this instead of flying.....but why????

Refueling in Valentine, Nebraska.  This is a very nice, country airport with everything we needed.

The Valentine, NE logo.  I understand that many Valentine Day cards are sent here every year so they can be post marked here in Valentine......nice touch.

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