SKYBLOG

FLYING IN ALASKA

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 22:13:12 -0800

It had always been a dream of mine to fly in Alaska.
My wife and I went on an Alaskan cruise in July this year. While in Juneau, I hired a local CFI and rented a Cessna 172 for a flight. The instructor allowed me to takeoff from Juneau International airport, fly the entire flight, and land again at JNU. We flew over ocean channels, forests, rivers, glaciers, cruise ships, and downtown Juneau. It was awesome.
The 1.3 hour flight (including the instructor's time) cost $195, and my wife got to ride in the rear seat for free. If my wife and I had gone on one of the many commercial sightseeing flights, it would have cost twice that much. ......and I got to fly in Alaska!!

-Eldon Key, Skycomber member

SKYCOMBERS WORK PARTY

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:23:31 -0800

Several club members came out this Saturday to give our plane a much needed scrub down . By the time we were done, this bird was the shiniest plane at KWHP! We also replaced the landing light. Stay tuned for news on when our next work party happens.

AIRPLANE CAMPING: KERN VALLEY

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 09:19:14 -0800

What could be better than flying into a remote location and camping out under the stars? One great location for doing this in Southern California is Kern Valley. Nestled in a valley within the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, Kern’s small airport has it’s own campsite that is only accessible by airplane. The site is right next to the Kern River, which is popular for both fly fishing and river rafting.

The campsite is in excellent condition. There is running water, a “very rustic” outdoor shower and bathroom. There is plenty of wood nearby for making that evening campfire for your smores. If you happened to forget something, the airport’s cafe has a car your can rent to drive into town, about 3 miles away. The car is a bargain at $20/day. It’s not pretty to look at, but it gets the job done.

Flying into Kern Valley isn’t difficult, but there are a couple of things to watch out for. The valley is somewhat narrow, so your downwind pattern is a little close to some mountains. The 3,500 foot runway’s elevation is 2,600 feet, so pay attention to your density altitude during the warm summer months.

Kern Valley a fun place to fly into and a great place to camp. I will definitely be returning there.

-Bryan Keith, Skycombers member