MM Out of the Clear Blue Western Skies

MM

MM

Charter Member
The fellas over at Jefferson County have been putting the final touches on the Beech Baron in its splendidly vintage factory paint job. (This is the MilViz B55 with their E55 flight model.) A cup of java and a piece of apple pie at the Spruce Goose Café and we'll be heading over to Boeing Field. … Maybe a second piece of pie.

Flying Magazine:
Have you ever had a craving for pie? Not just any pie, but made from scratch, crispy yet flaky, buttery, still warm from the oven pie. After doing research and speaking to fellow aviators, the consensus is “the” best pie in the Pacific Northwest tri-state area (Oregon, Washington & Idaho) is at Andrea Raymor and Christine Cray’s Spruce Goose Café at Jefferson County International Airport near Port Townsend, Washington – http://www.flyingmag.com/pilots-places/fly-dine/fly-dine-jefferson-county-international-airport-0s9
 
Leaving Boeing Field for Orcas Island. Gloomy overcast. The locals from Seattle say, "What do you expect?"

Going to see how this Red Baron flies.
 
Off for Lana's Cafe at Bowerman. KORS-KHQM.

Red Baron is beautiful and thirsty. What did George Orwell say in Animal Farm, "One engine good, two engines bad...?"
 
Factory colors of 1966. Don't paint 'em like they used to...

In the late 1960s, while driving a pedestrian Spitfire, my sense of beauty was the Alfa Giulia. Still a good bet for the "the most beautiful car" of all time.


Heading out from Bowerman to Hood Valley.
 
Interesting flight into Hood Valley. Heavy clouds and rain all the way. Couldn't get under the cloud bank and scud run ... until dived down into the Columbia River Gorge. Even then, the rain and clouds made for a few tense moments as I had to look over the ridges for the field. Happily, the clouds broke and the airport was just under a bank so at the end of the day all was safe.

The banker is thinking that he lucked out to get a ride in a big twin-engined ship and everything would be much more comfortable. Must be enjoying himself because he keeps taking sips out of his private thermos...albeit with a sort of nervous laugh.

Flight Time: 00:45:26
Race Time: 00:45:26
Fuel: 124.0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=wApOEfu9ukgCtYX27Z88BgSiE0
 
My friend could not find a refill at the airport. Said he would have better luck at a bigger city. So it's off for Wenatchee (KEAT).
 
Most of the flight was spent enjoying the layer between the clouds above and the mountains below. Dramatic scenery.

Into downtown Kalispell. Will fill up at Red Eagle Aviation and walk over to Scotty's for a great hamburger. Gotta show the middle-aged banker just what a "middle class" airfield is like. Anyone seen Scott Richardson's Mooney?

Flight Time: 00:39:34
Race Time: 00:39:34
Fuel: 104.0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=Q3uHuUe8uf4GqWHs8KXJIDk8ss
 
Walked back the the field to find our aircraft cleaned, fueled, and ready to go. A quick pre-flight and we are off for Bozeman.
 
Cloudy grey day over Yellowstone and into Jackson Hole. More of a moody ominous pall than a bright celebration of nature. (Even Old Faithful went down during the flyover...)

Our banker is positively enthusiastic about seeing the famous Jackson Hole Resort, the site of such famous proceedings. Might go along myself.

Flight Time: 00:50:29
Race Time: 00:50:29
Fuel: 118.0

http://fs-duenna.com/flights/ShowFlight.php?detail=flight&value=PHRo2eWS7e5J9VJvke9p5aM1Ws
 
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