Stephen R. Smith's Blog (22)

Massive River Trip

So it has started, day two of my massive river trip. I am looking at the Grand Tetons out my motel window here in Driggs Idaho getting ready for the first day of the Missouri River.

Yesterday I left Santa Rosa California and flew here more or less in a straight line, having seen that country go by before. Today should be more interesting.…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on May 22, 2018 at 7:30am — 12 Comments

Volcano Run!

I finally got the opportunity to do an adventure I had often thought of; a flight past the many volcanic mountain peaks on the west coast.

I had flown to Washington to visit my brother, who also owns a 601XLB. After a week in the rainy northwest it was time to return home to Santa Rosa, CA. When planning the flight home, I noticed the weather would be…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on May 10, 2017 at 11:30pm — 11 Comments

6,600 mile trip to Central America proves to be big adventure

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Since I started flying my 601 back in 2007 I have found it to be a fantastic machine for exploring and adventure. I have enjoyed expanding my view of the world by flying over the country side, looking out at the great sights below and taking pictures from time to time; actually thousands of them.



In the past few years I have had in mind to fly all the way to the tip of South America. I…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on February 4, 2017 at 12:00am — 17 Comments

My 2016 Oshkosh Adventure

I flew my CAMit-powered (RIP) 601 to AirVenture 2016. This was its third trip to OSH.  It’s just over 1,800 statute miles each way from Santa Rosa California.

I usually try to work some sightseeing into my trips. I love to fly in the mountains and along rivers. I have spent many hours doing so in the west. This year my idea was to follow the Missouri River…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on August 23, 2016 at 10:00am — 5 Comments

Travels of N601WF

With two more big trips accomplished this year I compiled some simple statistics for my flights in my 601XLB.  Some numbers are approximate.

  • 8 years and 5 months of operation
  • 760 flights
  • 161,700 statue miles
  • 1,800 hours
  • 6,840 gallons of fuel
  • 23.6 statue miles per gallon (average)
  • 90 statue miles per hour (average)
  • 3 countries operated in
  • 19,800 max altitude reached

Its been a great…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on November 16, 2015 at 9:00am — 17 Comments

Bob and Steve's Adventure to Canada and Alaska - August 2015

For many years I wanted to fly my 601XLB to Alaska but I only had a light-sport pilot's license. After endless waiting and hoping for a rule change in Canada, I finally ran out of patience.  This last spring I "went back to school" and got my full pilot's license.  Shortly thereafter I started planning my biggest airplane adventure yet, a flight to Alaska.

Upon studying maps and doing a bit of measuring, it soon became…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on September 28, 2015 at 1:00am — 12 Comments

A "few" random flying pictures

The other day I decided go through my collection of over 20,000 airplane-related pictures and selected some of my favorites to put on one of my digital picture frames. I chose about 1,000 pictures for the picture frame than, having gone to all that effort, wondered what else to do with the collection. I decided to upload them to my SmugMug website for the enjoyment of my extended family, flying partners and anyone else with a…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on June 3, 2015 at 8:30am — 5 Comments

Bob and Steve's 12 Day Flying Adventure Through 7 Western States

In October of 2012 my friend Bob and I flew our airplanes through 7 western states.  During our 12 day adventure we covered a total of 4,053 statute miles.  Along the way we flew through high mountains, valleys and canyons.  This was low-slow flying at its best. Often we were below 500 feet AGL.  The average AGL for the entire trip was only 1,003…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on September 21, 2013 at 2:00pm — 6 Comments

Copperstate 2012 - 4 days of flying with friends - 259 pictures - plenty of fun

This year was my 4th trip to Copperstate, the annual fly-in held at the Casa Grande Arizona airport (KCGZ).  The fly-in is fine, but for me the trip is the main event.

The flight this year was a total of 1,926 miles.  We spent two days flying each way.  I say we.  On the trip down I flew my Zodiac, keeping Doug Dugger of …

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on November 17, 2012 at 4:00pm — 14 Comments

1,403 mile trip to Solvang with return via the Sierra Nevada Mountains under God’s leaky parasol

Several of the members of EAA chapter 1230 (based @ Nut Tree - KVCB) planned a trip to the tourist town of Solvang in southern California.  I was invited to join in.

 

The town of Solvang does not have an airport, however the town of Santa Ynez near by does have a nice one (KIZA).  You can rent a car at the airport by prior arrangement.

 

We flew in to Santa Ynez on Friday. On Saturday we went wine tasting at a few of the many nearby wineries. Saturday evening we…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on August 15, 2012 at 10:30am — 3 Comments

Desert, mountain and river flying trip through California, Nevada, Oregon and Idaho

Les Goldner (701 builder/pilot) and his wife planned a two week flying trip into the Idaho back country.  Les and I belong to both the Petaluma EAA chapter and the Santa Rosa, CA EAA chapter.  We fly together from time to time.

Even though it was "his trip", Les let me plan the route from Santa Rosa, CA to Boise, ID.  I chose a little low-level desert flying in Nevada from Carson City (CXP)…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on August 10, 2012 at 12:00pm — 12 Comments

1,368 mile round trip from KSTS to KSHN and back.

I spent the last week in Shelton WA, visiting my brother and his wife and helping with the re-assembly of their Jabiru motor. (Early top-end because of stuck piston rings with only about 300 hours on the Hobbs.  My engine had the same problem but I did not understand what was going on soon enough so the cylinders…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on July 12, 2012 at 12:00pm — 11 Comments

Playing with the wind: The big circle

It is said that when making a round trip any wind is a disadvantage.  While you may have a tail wind in one direction, you will have a headwind in the other.  You will spend more time in the headwind then in the tailwind so overall, the wind will increase your trip time and increase your fuel burn.  I have found sometimes this is true, other times it is not.

 

Today’s pilot has powerful weather tools to help fly safely and sometimes more efficiently.  Now if your only going up…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on May 9, 2011 at 1:15am — 8 Comments

Keeping fuel costs down





I love to fly and have logged 892 hours in 3 and a half years. That’s a lot of fuel.



I have never liked the lead in aviation fuel. It trashes the spark plugs and the engine oil and of course it’s bad for the environment. My 601’s Jabiru 3300 engine does not need the lead.



A few months ago I started burning premium automotive fuel. I bought two plastic 14 gallon fuel tanks from Costco for about $80…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on November 7, 2010 at 10:42pm — 8 Comments

Two upgrades in 13 days at QSP

Would you pay this man to help you upgrade your airplane? We did and it worked out much better then the picture would suggest.



This blog is not a how-to. There have been plenty of well done how-to blogs. It’s just some pictures with a few words attached.



Three years ago my brother Alan and I (with lots of help) built a pair of 601s…

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Added by Stephen R. Smith on March 2, 2010 at 12:30am — 16 Comments

Another 13.8 Hours And 1,254 Miles For The Log Book

Last Saturday morning about 11am my trusty Zodiac XL carried me away from my home base at Santa Rosa California (STS) looking for adventure. After stopping in Cloverdale (O60) for a load for fuel it took me out to the coast hoping for cooler air. She headed north along the Pacific Ocean past Shelter… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on July 2, 2009 at 11:48am — 3 Comments

From California to Sun-N-Fun 2009 and a few other places along the way



On April 18th my brother David and I left Santa Rosa California heading east over the snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains on an adventure of a lifetime. We left with great confidence in my sturdy Zodiac XL. After all, last year it had safely taken me and my brother Alan to Oshkosh, why would it behave differently on this trip?



In thirteen days we flew 8,490 miles in 75 hours. Average speed was 113 MPH. Along the way we took over… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on May 5, 2009 at 10:00am — 7 Comments

A quick trip to Washington and back (Another 1,330 miles for the log book)

On Friday I flew 664 statute miles from Santa Rosa, CA to Shelton, WA to visit my brother Alan and his wife Nathalie who have a Zodiac XL which is a twin of mine. The flight north was one of the more challenging I have experienced. In Northern California I got to choose… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on April 6, 2009 at 11:25am — 3 Comments

What is your experience using automotive gas in airplanes?

I fly a 601XL with a Jabiru 3300 engine. The other day I ran into an old-time pilot who has been using automotive gas in his airplane for many years. He reports no problems, in fact he had only good things to say – like longer engine life since he switched. Jabiru does permit the use of premium auto gas in the 3300. I am contemplating the switch for the following reasons:



1) Longer sparkplug life. I have gotten 170 hours out of my last two sets of spark plugs which is hours 70 more… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on April 1, 2009 at 9:57am — 17 Comments

Another 1,288 statue miles added to the log book

My mother turned 91 last week which provided the excuse to fly to Southern California and back.



The trip down on 3-7-9 was 444 miles non-stop which I flew in a beeline on auto pilot at 9,500 feet because there was a nice tail wind up there. My average speed was 126 statue miles per hour and the plane got a solid 33 miles per gallon. Try to beat that performance in a car! Flights like this provide lots of looking-out-the-window time and you can literally see half of the state’s width… Continue

Added by Stephen R. Smith on March 18, 2009 at 10:00am — 3 Comments

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