Lazy Sunday? (PV3)

This flight consists of 3 airstrips, and one lake side landing, the plane is your choice, but the runways are no longer than 2200 ft, and at the 4^th landing site, you'll definetely need a “bush” plane.

This could be an ideal outing for the “Fiesler Storch” or its french version, the “Moranne” as its only some 90 odd miles, the round trip

Or if thats not fast enough, take a light twin, and change planes at 44AK (stop 4)............its a lazy sunday, no cargo or mail to take, your dropping in on pals, culminating in some fun, at Papoose!

1^st Leg Seward (PAWD) to Lawing (9Z9)

This is straight forward, leave Seward, and get a heading of about 350d, carry on up a valley, you should pass over a small lake, then you come to a big one “Kenai Lake” the airstrip will be straight ahead, in front of a mighty white cliff ! (in FS9)

2^nd Leg Lawing to Summit Lake (52Z)

Leaving Lawing, charge down the strip towards that mighty cliff, you need to gain height, bear to the right hand side of the cliff, your going round it, keep climbing, theres a high lake in front, (nice scenery) when your passing over the lake, get a heading of about 320, thats “Moose Pass”then in a few minutes, you'll come to a gap between two mountains on the right side, you want a heading, approx 297, shortly you'll see Summit Lake.

You can land by the side of the lake, or on the Highway nearby, if you like it smooth!

3^rd Leg, Summit to Quartz Creek (JLA)

Leave Summit on a heading of about 180, you should be going down a valley, in front, after a coupla mins, you will see water ahead, just this side of the water, is Quartz Crk, its 2200ft strip, this is the easy approach, but if flying a twin, take care, its deceiving!

In real life, this strip was originally 3200ft, but a 1000ft of it, has now overgrown, I 'spose thats down to the type of planes using it these days, thinking about it, the FS strips in AK, are in far better condition, than the real life one's!

4^th Leg, Quartz to West Papoose Lake Airpark (44AK)

Leaving Quartz, we get a heading about 250, and proceed up a valley, keep going till you see a small lake ahead, when your more or less over it, turn right to about 315d, Papoose is right in front, you'll need to be about 3000ft, then your looking for a mighty deep hole in the ground, like, a thousand feet!

If you have never been here before.......it looks scary, its a dead volcano, the runway is at the bottom....if your flying a twin, land it towards the NW of the volcano, some flattish land there, by the side of a small river...........then change into something more suitable!!

Once in your bush plane, its advisable to overfly a coupla times or more, when you've decided to “go for it”......I always come in From the Northwest Corner, your wheels want to be kissing the rim, and as you pass over it, you should be at near stall speed, aim to follow the angle of the volcano wall.......thats a steep slow dive, hang on to that dive, till the last second, in a Storch, you'll still be doing no more than 60kts, after a near 1000ft dive!.........and its possible to use up no more than a quarter of the runway with this plane!!.........its a 1600ft strip.

But most bush planes will make a landing, of sorts, depending on the pilot ;) .....once down there, it looks a long way up, have a break, this will take thinking about!

You've got the engine at full revs, flaps won't make a lot of difference, only to get you airborne quick, but then you need speed, juggle the flaps, aim for that Nwest corner, not many planes will climb straight out (the Storch will) so you will have to fly around inside the volcano (good fun) depending on the plane, you might be able to get out after half a circuit, then again you might need two circuits! (Papoose is somewhat more difficult in FS9, than FS202k)

When you do climb out, land near that little river, and try another plane, keep trying different planes, its Happy Hour!!

5^th Leg, Home to Seward (PAWD)

So you've had your kicks, and crunched some metal, now its a nice easy 30 mile trip to Seward, leaving Papoose, get an approx heading of 160d, you'll fly over some water, the other side will be a valley, follow this, headings will vary 140 to 090, this will bring you straight out at Seward.........and thats your Lazy Sunday nearly over, tomorrow it will be back to mail routes, grocery routes, cargo routes.............aww, what the heck, have tomorrow off..........and do this one again!!......................

Route tested using, Fiesler Storch, Canuk 80, Maule, Bellanca, Cessna G Eagle, Beaver, and a few more!

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Email Barry at PAJNVenture@aol.com

last modified 04/20/04