Dispite the unfortunate situation with Lawrence's plane we both enjoyed this trip to Manitoba. The weather didn't co-orperate as much as we would have liked but that is the nature of travel by air in these ultralight aircraft. We saw some interesting and amazing country and I hope to do this same trip again someday.
We flew approximately 1650 miles in about 31 hours. My (Marty) fuel burn was about 3.45 gallons per hour with an average speed of 53.5 miles per hour based on ground speed including all run up time and takeoffs and landings. All in all not too bad for the RX550 Beaver and a 503 Rotax engine. Lawrence's fuel burn in the Mini Max on the Herth engine was more like 3.0 -3.2 gallons per hour with the same average speeds.
After a quick check of the engine, Lawrence may have been forced down by fouled sparks but it is too soon to be 100% certain at this point. He will need to get a new prop and check the engine out first. Despite the damage we are all optomistic that the plane can be repaired and fly once more. The main damage appeared to be the landing gear on the left side, with the left wing needing to be checked at the strut mounting point for any hidden damage.
Lawrence is physically fine, the plane did as it was designed to do, protect it's passenger by taking the hit. I am confident we will all fly again together another day.
Special thanks go out to Larry Oddan and Brian Wilson for the day spent disassembling and transporting Lawrence's plane, and to George Brackenbury of Maple Creek for helping us out as well. Thanks also to Debbie Bauer who was the landowner and helped with the plane.
I would also like to thank Harv's Air of Steinbach South for making our stay comfortable, Darrell Nordstrom of Steinbach for providing a vehicle for us to use in Steinbach, and Tom in Weyburn for his hospitlity.
I would also like to thank my wife, Lauretta for the numerous weather briefings, as she was our flight itinerary contact person throughout 90% of the flight.
I especially wish to thank Lawrence for coming along on my adventure to Manitoba and look forward to future adventures with Lawrence and all my flying friends from the Lethbridge Sport Flyers in Lethbridge, Alberta and surrounding communities. Visit us often at http://www.lethbridgesportflyers.com/
Marty Nordstrom / Lawrence Van Egmond
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Maple Creek to home August 24
George is at the AP at 8 sharp and caughts up still napping. We go to breakfast and Roy soon arrives via car. Minutes after we are back at the AP, Larry and Brian arrive with trailer in tow. We are soon out to Lawrences plane and begin the disassembly for transport back to Lethbridge. The guys will be my ground support as we all soon begin the 3 hour journey home.
We departed Maple Creek at 10 minutes to two. It was nice to have ground support on this last leg of the journey home. I followed #1 highway most of the way out of Sask. , flew south of the Medicine Hat zone and headed for the planned stop for refueling in Bow Island. I landed in Bow Island about 2 hours later and soon Larry, Brian and Lawrence arrived with the additional 25 litres of fuel for the remaining one hour to my home strip at Rednek Air by Coaldale.
As I departed Bow Island however my engine started to cough for the first time on the trip. Twelve minutes later I was back on the taxi way changing the spark plugs that had been now become fouled from the 100 low lead fuel. After the change I was underway and headed home.
I arrived at Rednek strip with Lauretta eagerly awaiting my return. I landed at the strip at 5:36 and was glad to be back home. Larry, Brian and Lawrence were on #3 highway as I landed and they continued on to Lethbridge and offloaded Lawrence's plane.
Marty / Lawrence
We departed Maple Creek at 10 minutes to two. It was nice to have ground support on this last leg of the journey home. I followed #1 highway most of the way out of Sask. , flew south of the Medicine Hat zone and headed for the planned stop for refueling in Bow Island. I landed in Bow Island about 2 hours later and soon Larry, Brian and Lawrence arrived with the additional 25 litres of fuel for the remaining one hour to my home strip at Rednek Air by Coaldale.
As I departed Bow Island however my engine started to cough for the first time on the trip. Twelve minutes later I was back on the taxi way changing the spark plugs that had been now become fouled from the 100 low lead fuel. After the change I was underway and headed home.
I arrived at Rednek strip with Lauretta eagerly awaiting my return. I landed at the strip at 5:36 and was glad to be back home. Larry, Brian and Lawrence were on #3 highway as I landed and they continued on to Lethbridge and offloaded Lawrence's plane.
Marty / Lawrence
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Weyburn - Assiniboia - Shaunavon - Maple Creek Aug 23
We are up at 6am and the weather n Weyburn is looking good. We have a quick breakfast and at 6:30 are airborne enroute to Assiniboia. It is good to finally be moving. Tom arrives just as we depart and wishes us a good flight. About 2 and 1/2 hours later we arrive in Assiniboia. We call the town for fuel and are off to Shaunavon by about 10:15. The country is a flat yet very interesting plate of rivers, beautiful farmyards, and small communities. Soon we are landing in Shaunavon. It's 12:40 and we are finally loosing the wind. We make a decsion to head for Roy's place north of Irvine. Our flight path will take us over the north edge of the Cypress Hills and also over Maple Creek.
As we near Maple Creek Lawrence's batteries give out on his radio and we decide to land in Maple Creek. I make the calls as we approach and soon we are down on runway 23. It's 2:30 and I sit in the plane as Lawrence changes batteries. We depart 7 minutes later on 05 as the sock is now suggesting and fly around the east end of Maple Creek and turn to head west toward Roy's.
As we are slowly climbing to 4500 ft Lawrence is in trouble. We are in contact as he starts descending. His plane is on one cylinder and he is looking for a place to land. I turn east to watch as he has also turn into the wind. He has found a spot that looks like a good choice and is descending. As he is about to touch down I see a small cloud of dust, a second and then a third as I see him come to a stop. By now I am dropping altitude and I see him out of the plane, he is OK and I am very glad to see him walking around. He says "Do not land here" "I,m Ok, but the planes a wreck". We decide that I should return to the AP and try find a ride and pick him up.
Back at the AP I introduce myself to George Brackenbury, who happens to have just seen us depart and is now at the AP hoping that we were a local flight. George quickly volunteers to drive to the landing sight after I explain what happened. As we arrive Lawrence is walking back toward town. We pick him up an drive to the plane to pick up his things as we know we will be there for the night. Lawrence is OK and as we look at the plane I looked at Lawrence and gave a hug. I told him the plane is just a thing but he isn't and it did what is designed to do, getting him to the ground safely. As we look at the alfalfa field it is surface irragated with raised strips of soil about 30 feet apart. Lawrence landed 90 degrees to these and the result is that the landing gear has been destroyed. Another 50 feet to the north would have made all the difference but there are no significant visual clues from the air to see anything other then what looks like a good land spot.
We collect his things and George drives us back to the AP. We arrange for help and the planed is for Larry to bring a trailer in the morning. George volunteers to pick us up about 5:30 and we go out for supper. Meeting George is a blessing and we quickly find that friendly personally of a fellow pilot who just happened to be right where he was needed at the time.
After a good supper he drives us back to the AP and Roy has flown in from Irvine. We visit and discuss the plans for the morning. George will oick us up for breakfast at 8am, we turn in soon, enough adventures for today.
Marty / Lawrence
As we near Maple Creek Lawrence's batteries give out on his radio and we decide to land in Maple Creek. I make the calls as we approach and soon we are down on runway 23. It's 2:30 and I sit in the plane as Lawrence changes batteries. We depart 7 minutes later on 05 as the sock is now suggesting and fly around the east end of Maple Creek and turn to head west toward Roy's.
As we are slowly climbing to 4500 ft Lawrence is in trouble. We are in contact as he starts descending. His plane is on one cylinder and he is looking for a place to land. I turn east to watch as he has also turn into the wind. He has found a spot that looks like a good choice and is descending. As he is about to touch down I see a small cloud of dust, a second and then a third as I see him come to a stop. By now I am dropping altitude and I see him out of the plane, he is OK and I am very glad to see him walking around. He says "Do not land here" "I,m Ok, but the planes a wreck". We decide that I should return to the AP and try find a ride and pick him up.
Back at the AP I introduce myself to George Brackenbury, who happens to have just seen us depart and is now at the AP hoping that we were a local flight. George quickly volunteers to drive to the landing sight after I explain what happened. As we arrive Lawrence is walking back toward town. We pick him up an drive to the plane to pick up his things as we know we will be there for the night. Lawrence is OK and as we look at the plane I looked at Lawrence and gave a hug. I told him the plane is just a thing but he isn't and it did what is designed to do, getting him to the ground safely. As we look at the alfalfa field it is surface irragated with raised strips of soil about 30 feet apart. Lawrence landed 90 degrees to these and the result is that the landing gear has been destroyed. Another 50 feet to the north would have made all the difference but there are no significant visual clues from the air to see anything other then what looks like a good land spot.
We collect his things and George drives us back to the AP. We arrange for help and the planed is for Larry to bring a trailer in the morning. George volunteers to pick us up about 5:30 and we go out for supper. Meeting George is a blessing and we quickly find that friendly personally of a fellow pilot who just happened to be right where he was needed at the time.
After a good supper he drives us back to the AP and Roy has flown in from Irvine. We visit and discuss the plans for the morning. George will oick us up for breakfast at 8am, we turn in soon, enough adventures for today.
Marty / Lawrence
Weyburn Aug 22
We awoke to 40 knots winds in Weyburn this morning. Tom stopped in and said good morning as did Jim. We are here for the day for sure. We asked Tom if he would in interested in dinner and went to town with him. Vic a friend of Joe's from Disley overhearing a bit of our conversation sat in and introduced himself. We had a good visit and returned to the AP. We were hoping the wind would settle down a little but sure realized that this was not going to happen. We spent the day reading, computer games on my laptop and lookingaround the AP. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Peter and his wife from Thurder Bay arrive in a RV9A and provide some good conversation as they check the weather ahead. Soon we turn in and hope for good winds in the morning.
Marty / Lawrence
Peter and his wife from Thurder Bay arrive in a RV9A and provide some good conversation as they check the weather ahead. Soon we turn in and hope for good winds in the morning.
Marty / Lawrence
Tuesday Aug 21 Carlyle
We booked a motel last night and had a shower, meal, a little veging in front of the TV and turned in. We had a good breakfast made repairs to the shock tabs on the beaver and managed to depart Carlyle for Weyburn at about 12:30. We arrived just shortly after 2Pm. Tom the AP manager was there to greet us. The predicted winds and storms arrived about 3:30 and we tied down to wait out the now 30 knot winds. Weyburn is a good choice of stops across southern Sask. and if you need to stop it is definately the place to do so. Tom is a retired gentleman and a man with a good heart. We soon were visiting and talking about the pictures on the wall of the AP office. We made a deal with Tom a free ride into town for a meal in exchange for us buying him supper, he quickly agreed. Later we met two of his friends who stop for coffee regularly, Jim and Dave who's visits with us made us feel welcomed, part of a network of pilots who are good people. After supper the first of the storm fronts crossed over Weyburn and one of the brightest full double rainbows I have seen appeared in the southern sky. I have some excellent photos that I will send for the Weyburn AP walls. The weather prediction is not looking good for Wednesday, looks like we may be spented tomorrow in Weyburn.
Marty / Lawrence
Marty / Lawrence
Monday, August 20, 2007
Steinbach - Carmen - Souris - Virden - Carlyle
We decided to push for home this morning. We made an attempt for Sprague and soon realized it would have taken about 2.5 hours to fly 60 miles. After returned to Steinbach South we looked at the weather forecast for all the points on our wish list and found that the only open window was to try get ahead of the weather and head for home or sit at Steinbach South for the next two day and try not look bored.
We left Steinbach with a good push and headed for Carmen. After fueling we headed for Souris and found everything all locked down. We decided with the wind push and the fuel on board to change our plan and head for Moosomin overflying Virden if we needed fuel. About 4 miles out of Virden we got forced down by the remains of the storm that had between Souris and Carlye. After some food and refueling the skies in the direction of Carlye started to clear and we headed for Carlye. Southern Sask had the best forecast and most importantly airports about every 100 miles or less. Perfect for a west headwind. We arrived about 7:30 pm after about an 1.5 hour flight. I have a little repair to make in the morning and then we will try for Weyburne. We know the weather will stop us for a day somewhere along the way , we think around Assiniboia.
So are we having fun yet? Yes, we have seen some amazing countryside, river systems, beaver damns, deer etc etc.
More when I can. We'll see what the weather looks like tomorrow.
Marty / Lawerence
We left Steinbach with a good push and headed for Carmen. After fueling we headed for Souris and found everything all locked down. We decided with the wind push and the fuel on board to change our plan and head for Moosomin overflying Virden if we needed fuel. About 4 miles out of Virden we got forced down by the remains of the storm that had between Souris and Carlye. After some food and refueling the skies in the direction of Carlye started to clear and we headed for Carlye. Southern Sask had the best forecast and most importantly airports about every 100 miles or less. Perfect for a west headwind. We arrived about 7:30 pm after about an 1.5 hour flight. I have a little repair to make in the morning and then we will try for Weyburne. We know the weather will stop us for a day somewhere along the way , we think around Assiniboia.
So are we having fun yet? Yes, we have seen some amazing countryside, river systems, beaver damns, deer etc etc.
More when I can. We'll see what the weather looks like tomorrow.
Marty / Lawerence
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Sunday 6pm ab time Steinbach
Well the weather did not co-operate this evening, the wind is still from the south east, down a little but not soon enough to look at Sprague. We will try in the morning before the still predicted rain and if that does not work it will be first light on Tuesday morning . If we get down to Sprague then it will be the start of the push for home.
Our plan is Steinbach South over Carmen to Brandon. Brandon to Carlye, over Weyburne to Assiniboia, over Shaunavin and on to Maple Creek. Maple Creek over Roy's and then home.
If all works we should be home on Wednesday evening at the earliest or Thursday afternoon at the latest. And of course all subject to weather, but it looks good at this point.
Marty / Lawrence
Our plan is Steinbach South over Carmen to Brandon. Brandon to Carlye, over Weyburne to Assiniboia, over Shaunavin and on to Maple Creek. Maple Creek over Roy's and then home.
If all works we should be home on Wednesday evening at the earliest or Thursday afternoon at the latest. And of course all subject to weather, but it looks good at this point.
Marty / Lawrence
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