Ercoupe, Stearman, Luscombe to Hood River - Part 6 - Sunriver to Klamath

[@andrewmcvicker7824]

A few comments regarding the coordination between our flight and the landing twin. I was aware that he was west of the field and entering the pattern when, as flight lead, I made the decision to have the flight enter Rwy18 to back taxi (the taxiway was closed for construction, hence the need to back taxi). I wasn't sure how far out he was but judged we had at least enough time to back taxi to the north end without disrupting his pattern. The audio picks up with the twin asking how much longer we'll be on the runway so he can judge when to start his turn to base. At that point he may well have been wondering why the hell a flight of three decided to clobber the runway as he's about to turn base and final. Just as I made an honest guess at back taxing a flight of three with an aircraft on downwind, the twin used his best judgement on how far to extend his downwind to let us clear at the north end. The humor arose when that turned into a 7 mile final, I just didn't imagine he'd have to go out that far. But he was doing his best to let us reposition our flight before continuing with his landing. Despite my surprise and some laughs I'm thankful that we had good coordination and collaborated in handling our respective flights. Even with the procedures and guidance that exist for non-towered operations it basically comes down to us all working together, which I think was clearly the case here. The only thing missing was the opportunity to debrief, the most important part of any aviation endeavor. That's where we would have been able to fully understand the decisions each element made with the aim to do it better the next time around. That's best done over a beer, and I'll be happy to buy the first round should we ever have the chance to meet up with Mr Twin.

[@bartgoins1782]

Maynard has a much better attitude than I would have. As soon as you heard "7 mile final," I would have started my take off roll.

[@JamesGood]

Ha, I know. I guess things get a little more complex when there's 3 of you, and you need to be sure that everyone else is ready. It all worked out.

[@bartgoins1782]

I agree. We normally fly with 2, 3, or 4 planes and normally all Kitfoxes. Still, a 7 mile final is a bit long to wait, and then the back taxi on top of that. Personally, I think a courteous pilot on 7 mile final would have said, "If you all are ready, I'll slow down a bit and let you guys get in the air."

[@bartgoins1782]

@GracieM, I just listened to it again, and I think you're right. Man or woman, it doesn't really matter, that was totally out of line to make those guys wait all that time. I guess some pilots still don't understand common courtesy.

[@BoB4jjjjs]

@@bartgoins1782 Yeah, that is what I would have done, it was the "Back taxing" that made me laugh! :-D

[@okcpicker]

Thanks for another great video! I fly much of the time in and out of S21, KRDM and 6K5 on X-Plane just because it is so mountainous and beautiful. As a very rusty pilot, I am learning quite a bit watching your videos, particularly your radio communications with ATC, flight following, etc. . Should have never sold my Champ in 1975!

[@pappybo49]

This trip is getting addictive. Thanks for sharing it with us James.

[@JamesGood]

That's a nice comment, thanks Steve.

[@robnorris4770]

That was my friend Don arriving back from donuts and coffee in Madras. Small world, indeed. Mr. Twin wait not as bad as some the helicopter students in the same area that seem like their 5 mile final is flown at 5 knots.

[@owntor1]

Right base for seven mile final...

[@ChrisB257]

Delays at Sun River were crazy! Super scenery around Klamath... huge lake. Nice flight James. :)

[@JamesGood]

Thanks, Chris!

[@jkd2377]

Thank you for another great Ertrip, James.

[@coppi60]

Very enjoyable; great photography; I love Maynard's beard:)

[@JamesGood]

Maynard has excellent beard skills, it's true.

[@JamesThompson-oz8kh]

I really love these videos. Thanks for sharing your trips with us. 😁

[@BoB4jjjjs]

Some good shots of the others James. Is that two aircraft with dodgy radios now? Nice one James.

[@JamesGood]

Ha, well, the Stearman works as well as it needs to. It's not a machine that goes to Class D airspace very often, it prefers a grass field in the middle of nowhere. Not sure what was up with Maynard's, but I expect he's fixed it by now!

[@MrWATCHthisWAY]

Is it me getting older but it seams to me that pilots that move up in performance aircraft become less tolerant of lower performing aircraft and they feel that the slower aircraft should always give way to the high performance aircraft to land, taxi, takeoff, get fuel, get coffee, read a book or what ever else they may require?? There’s a good chance they’re operating under FAR 135 so it’s money savings for their company but come on, 7 miles at 130 knots. I thought I saw flaps & landing gear on that twin too? But it’s money for everyone. 7 miles please sir?? You all showed patience and restraint for this operator without too many comments!!! Lol . Maybe it was wake turbulence off the EURCoupe they had concerns about. Lol another great leg of your journey Sir!! Cheers.

[@junoboom]

Love those old birds. Thanks for the flight!

[@jacopitout4474]

Come on Mr Turbine.. how about some airmanship? Good video James!

[@joewilliams5072]

Hi James. I was surprised to hear a familiar voice and tail number on this one. ALpha Delta ...the 7 mile final guy....is from my airport here. Is one of the DutchBros coffee Corporate planes. Enjoyed seeing another segment on this trip...some of us are considering the show this year. Seems the Weather is a bit hard to predict though.

[@JamesGood]

Interesting! Declaring 'base to final' then clarifying the '7 mile final' (is that even a final for a small non-towered airport) was a little '747'y! I tried to fade out the audio with his tail number, funny that you identified him from his voice!

[@kenthompson3730]

Another great one, Brother. I’d love to fly your wing someday.. Loosely, of course. We are just too far apart.

[@robertborchert932]

Nice flight! Perfect on communication with the tower. Did you figure out the radio problem?

[@JamesGood]

Hi Robert. I think it might be an ongoing thing with Maynards radio. When Andrew and I travel together, I usually handle the radios, since his antenna is not great (it's behind the fabric covering, I believe), and his radio range is quite limited. I can hear him fine when we're in formation, but the tower would probably have problems 5 miles out.

[@antonluckhoff3416]

I was told you can't spin or stall a Ercoupe but this looks like a Air Coupe with rudders, will it still be stall and spin resistant?

[@JamesGood]

You can stall all Ercoupe's (they just don't do very much, like drop a wing, etc), they just mush along level at a high rate of decent. The full length ailerons will provide roll control even at the slowest flying speeds. No Ercoupe will spin, they do not have enough elevator (or rudder) authority to raise the nose enough and start the spin.

[@antonluckhoff3416]

James Good thank you interesting to know as I am looking to buy one✈️👍👍

[@screddot7074]

Two Ercoupe fighter escorts, fighting the headwinds, fighting the turbulence, fighting ...

[@virginiabirch7637]

The correct radio call would have been “ Sunriver traffic twin N123 seven miles North inbound for landing Sunriver”

[@linuspoindexter106]

Great content as usual!

[@homertalk]

DOUBLE COUPE, DOUBLE FUN

[@fxpthl]

Dumb question time James: how do you determine how far you are from an airfield? Nice to see two Ercoups flying together! Such beautiful country up there too.

[@JamesGood]

Hello Edward. One of my pre-flight things is to program the destination airport into my Garmin 496. That way, I always have a read-out of the distance to my destination showing on my panel. My iPad/Foreflight also shows it, but the Garmin is in the panel and a little more convenient to see. I'm never quite sure if the controllers want to know in statute or nautical miles!

[@willardsmith8016]

seven miles in one minute 420 mph

[@robertborchert932]

I caught that as well!