CV60

Leg 8A Flight- 01 March 2019 Presidio Lely (Texas) International (T77) to Big Bend Ranch State Park (3TE3) Once again, real life interfered with a timely take off. At least, that's my story. I didn't get off the ground until 2030Z, With sunset in Alpine, TX occurring at 1853 local ( 020154Z), I don't have too much time to get to Big Bend Ranch and refuel, so I may have to do the second leg on 2 March. By the time I had begun to taxi, the winds had increased from 210 at 5 knots to 270 at 16knots , with gusts to 19, giving a very significant crosswind component to the

Leg 8A Pre-flight- 01 March 2019 Presidio Lely (Texas) International (T77) to Big Bend Ranch State Park (3TE3) Today's flight will have two legs: The first leg consists of a somewhat circuitous flight to Big Bend Ranch State Park (3TE3), via the Big Bend National Park. After refueling at 3TE3, I will proceed onto Alpine-Casparis (Texas) Municipal (E38). My primary objective in this flight is to simply enjoy the scenery at Big Bend National Park. My tentative plan is to get airborne at 1800Z, and on the ground in Alpine by 2300Z. Initially, I will fly along the Rio Grande River

Some Real World Photos of the Leg 7 Flight Image 1 Guadalupe Peak (center-left of the frame) from Hunter Peak in Guadalupe Mountains National Park Photographer: CarlCarlsonIV ; Source: CarlCarlsonIV/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalupe_Mountains_National_Park#/media/File:Guadalupe_Peak_from_Hunter_Peak.jpg Image 2 Sierra Diablo Mountains, Culberson County, Texas Photographer: Mike G; Source:Flickr (flickr.com/photos/28149605@N07/24353742513) Image 3 Chiniti Mountains. Source: State of Texas;https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/chinati-mountains/gallery/chinati_mt

Leg 7 Flight- 27 February 2019 Dell City (Texas) Municipal (2E5) to Presidio Lely (Texas) International (T77) As is my habit, I got off the ground late, taking off at 1829Z. The air temperature was unusually warm, even at 7,000 MSL. I ended up having to open up a window to bring the cabin temperature down from 90 degrees to a more comfortable 72. Otherwise, the trip was uneventful. The west Texas region is not known for its beauty. However, the very stark landscape is attractive in its own way. Image 1 Crossing over the Guadalupe Mtns 1849Z Ima

Leg 7 Pre-Flight- 27 February 2019 Dell City (Texas) Municipal (2E5) to Presidio Lely (Texas) International (T77) Today's flight is to the Big Bend area, along the Texas-Mexico border, with a brief detour through the Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Since I wasn't able to get any fuel at Dell City, I only have 7 gallons of gas in the Cub. Consequentially, I'll also make a brief fueling stop at Culberson County airport (KVHN). I'm going to try to take off around 1700Z, which should put me at T77 by 2000Z The national weather picture is pretty good in thi

Leg 6 Flight- 24 February 2019 Truth Or Consequences Municipal (KTCS) to Dell City (Texas) Municipal (2E5) Very unusual experience-I actually got off the blocks on time, and was airborne at 1758Z. Beautiful weather, winds were as predicted. The flight to KALM was very nice, with the New Mexico desert displaying some of the wide range of colors it is known for. See attached images: Image 1 Elephant Butte SSE of KTCS 1806Z Image 2 Crossing the Caballo Mts looking south 1812Z Image 3 Flying along the east side of Caballo Mtns 1820Z

Leg 6 Pre-Flight- 24 February 2019 Truth Or Consequences Municipal (KTCS) to Dell City (Texas) Municipal (2E5) Te weather gods have finally relented, and the 24th is an excellent day to fly. At least in New Mexico. Where I live in Wisconsin? Not so much.... Today's flight is primarily aimed at getting the Cub to Texas, where I'm planning on exploring the Big Bend Area. Although the weather is good, there are potentially some high winds in the El Paso area. I"m going to avoid those by flying to Dell City, a very small municipal airport about 50 miles east of El Paso. I've c

21 February-Grounded due to WX Despite my best efforts, I was unable to get off the ground until late afternoon on 21 February. By the time I got to the computer, the local weather at Truth or Consequences was this: METAR: KTCS 212153Z AUTO 21019G32KT 10SM SCT110 13/M16 A2966 RMK AO2 PK WND 20033/2057 SLP011 T01331161 And the national weather looked like this: That big nasty blob of purple is an ice/snow mix that is headed towards New Mexico. If I could taxi to the runway, I could beat it to Texas. Unfortunately, the 32 mph wind gusts at KTCS make taxiing impossib

Just out of curiosity-Would anyone be interested in my posting the flight track on Google Earth? Because I'm trying to fly to points of interest on the route, it might be a way to see some of these sites using Google Earth.

Leg 5B Flight- 20 February 2019 Carrizozo Municipal (F37) to Truth Or Consequences Municipal (KTCS) After resetting my weather situation program, I took off from F37 towards the Trinity site and KTCS. This time, the weather was beautify and the flight uneventful. Image 1 Heading west from F37 towards Trinity. Oscura Peak in distance Image 2 Six miles west of Oscura Peak looking North Image 3 Trinity Test Site. Ground Zero is the circular depression area slightly to the right of the center of the image Image 4 Old Lava Fie

Image 4 Heading West South of White Mountain I cross over the pass, with about 500 feet to spare from the clouds above me Image 5 Through the pass, over White Mountain Wilderness Area. White Mountain is to the North Proceeding on to the Valley of FIre, the ceilings raise, but the clouds that shouldn't be there are still present: Image 6. The Valley of Fire near Oscura, NM I continued to fly NE along the Valley of Fire until I reached my checkpoint to turn west towards the Trinity site. Then the rain began. The out

Leg 5 Flight- 20 February 2019 Carrizozo Municipal (F37) to Truth Or Consequences Municipal (KTCS) The flight was more interesting than I expected, as weather conditions were not what was briefed. After taking off from F37 the weather appeared good. However, instead of clear sky, there were clouds that shouldn't have been there. However, the weather was fine, so I proceeded on: Image 1 Five minutes after take off from F37. Note the clouds The ceiling began to lower, and conditions deteriorate: Image 2 Lowering Ceiling South of Capitan, NM As I ap

Leg 5 Pre-flight- 20 February 2019 Carrizozo Municipal (F37) to Truth Or Consequences Municipal (KTCS) Today's flight is intended to took at some of the historic, scenic or interesting sights in the area. The flight plan is to fly east from F37 and then around Sierra Blanca, "The White Mountain," whose 12,000 foot peak dominates the area. After circumnavigating it, I'll fly north west up to the Carrizozo Malpais, aka, the "Valley of Fires," an lava flow from an eruption 5200 years ago. After flying NE along part of its length, I'll then fly west to the "Trinity Site," the location

Here's an interesting write up about Encino, NM, the checkpoint on this flight. The "City of Dust" moniker the article gives to Encino seems appropriate based on the terrain I saw on this leg of the flight. https://cityofdust.blogspot.com/2013/05/after-depot-encino-new-mexico.html.

Leg 4 Flight- 17 February 2019 Las Vegas (NM) Municipal (KLVS) to Carrizozo Municipal (F37) The flight was uneventful. Takeoff was at 1913Z There was a strong headwind, which lowered my groundspeed to only 46 mph in places, resulting in the 126 mile long trip taking 2 hours and 29 minutes. Although I was blown off course 3 miles to the east by the wind, I was able to identify and correct the error, and hit the Encino, NM nav point. The remainder of the trip to Carrizozo was uneventful. See attached images: Image 1 Near Bernal, NM 1934Z Image 2 Encino, NM checkpoint. Altho

Leg 4 Pre-flight- 17 February 2019 Las Vegas (NM) Municipal (KLVS) to Carrizozo Municipal (F37) A check of the weather this morning shows that snow is coming from the west, and will cover most of the northern and western half of New Mexico for the next two days. I had planned on covering some of the scenic areas in the northern part of the state, but being delayed for a couple of days wasn't appealing to me. I'll tentatively plan on covering the four corners area (where Arizona/Colorado/New Mexico and Utah meet) toward the end of the journey, after I do the Grand Cany

16 February Winds of 31 mph with gusts of 44. No flying today. Heck, the Cub would literally take off when taxiing into that headwind. METAR: KLVS 162153Z AUTO 27031G44KT 10SM SCT075 05/M12 A2959 RMK AO2 PK WND 27044/2145 RAE24 SLP981 P0000 T00501122

Image 5 Painted Cave, Bandelier National Monument NPS photo by kevin stillman https://www.nps.gov/band/planyourvisit/painted-cave.htm Image 5 Pecos Baldy 12,487 feet Pecos Wilderness) Source: https://www.pecosnewmexico.com/images/businesses/attractions/Pecos_Baldy/Pecos_Baldy_Santa_Fe_Baldy.jpg And for those with a taste for history, Las Vegas, where I ended the flight, has a colorful reputation, being described as "without exception there was no town which harbored a more disreputable gang of desperadoes, and outlaws than did Las Vegas." It apparently was at one time

And now for some real-world photos of the areas I virtually visited during this leg: Image 1: Sandia Peak, 9,702 ft (2,957 m) Credit: MARELBU https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albuquerque,_USA,_New_Mexico_-_Sandia_Mountains_-_Sandia_Peak,_9,702_ft_(2,957_m)_-_panoramio.jpg Image 2 San Francisco Catholic Church , Golden, NM (check point 2 where I turned to 351 magnetic after leaving Sandia Mtns) Credit : Elisa.rolle - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden,_New_Mexico#/media/File:San_Francisco_Catholic_Church.jpg Image 3 The Sandia Mountains at sunset, looki

Leg 3B Flight- 15 February 2019 Los Alamos (KLAM) to Las Vegas (NM) Municipal This leg was a bit more challenging. , because of the portion of the flight up the Sangre de Cristor Range/Pecos Wilderness area. Basically, I screwed up and went up the wrong spur, which dead ended in a peak I think was over 12,000 foot tall, well over the Cub's ceiling. As my airspeed was dropping off and the ground was coming up as I approached the peak, I took the better part of valor and reversed course, heading south, then turning east. I crossed the Sangre de Cristor Range near San Geronimo and fl

Leg 3A Flight- 15 February 2019 Double Eagle, NM (KAEG) to Los Alamos (KLAM) This leg was uneventful. Take off was at 1800Z. Weather was as predicted: Clear sky, little to no wind. See attached photos: Image 1 North Face of the Sandia Mtn 1842Z Over Cochiti Dam SW of Santa Fe 1923Z

Leg 3 Preflight- 15 February 2019 Double Eagle, NM (KAEG) to Las Vegas (New Mexico) Municipal (KLVS) A new day dawns bright and clear. At my anticipated take off time of 1700Z, the weather is clear, moderate winds and few clouds: METAR: KABQ 151652Z 36009KT 10SM FEW040 BKN200 BKN270 11/01 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP131 MTN TOPS OBSC SE T01060011. The Terminal Area Forecasts for Santa Fe/Los Alamos and Las Vegas also look good, although there may be some high wind gusts at KLVS when I arrive at approximately 2300Z. However, given the orientation of the runways there, I think I

Leg 3 Preflight- 14 February 2019 Double Eagle, NM (KAEG) to Las Vegas (New Mexico) Municipal (KLVS) This flight is intended to see some scenic areas of the Albuquerque area, while still heading in a generally easterly direction. The first part of the trip will go from KAEG to Los Alamos (KLAM) via the Sandia mountains. After topping off my gas at KLAM, the route will go to KLVS via the Pecos Wilderness area. This is partially to challenge my minimal VFR and mountain flying skills. My intent is to fly north between the two main spurs of the mountains there. The charts show two pe

The western part of the US is really beautiful country, with some really interesting and unusual scenery. I'm trying to highlight some of this beauty during this transcontinental Cub flight.