Flying the IDAHO, MT, WY mountains and backcountry - 2020 | turbo RANS S-7S

#FlyingIdaho #MountainPilot #RANSaircraft
The mountains drew us back to them. Join on an adventure up through Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and into Washington... We stop in at Yellowstone, and we work our way up and eventually land on the border of Canada!
If you would like to be a Patreon member, please visit: www.patreon.com/gkf ... very much appreciated!!!

[@swim2kill]

Awesome bush flying content i really enjoyed watching

[@AVMamfortas]

This was a truely wonderful video. So many fine locations and great flying. The ground aspects added so much flavour (Moose Creek for example). I will never get there. But I take a Cub or a TBM on my Flt Sim and have been to some of the places. May I suggest, respectfully, that from time to time just show a route map with the stops. Yes, with a bit of effort I can find the spots sometimes on Bing Maps but a little help would go a long way. Many thanks for all the effort you put into the fine editing of your adventures. Many more airmiles to you Sir.

[@markwhitton8230]

Love your channel. Sure beats backpacking at 73 years old!

[@gapster46]

If I had a dollar for every time I paused this video to look at the scenery, I could fill up my pickup and then some.

[@joseruiz-Joecool]

Thank you for taking me and all your viewers on your travels. Great footage. i enjoyed very much.

[@chrisjamison376]

Thanks for the ride, again Todd!

[@gerdawhite6012]

Well, I didn't have a vacation on my schedule but I just got back from the best one I've ever taken. I feel like I owe you some gas money. Thanks for sharing your life. I love videos that are so good I want to watch them a second time.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

wow thank you Gerda, very kind!! glad you enjoyed it

[@jmula2323]

Your videos are my absolute favorite!!!

[@BraapZ]

"Oh they call me Little John. But don't let the name fool you. In real life, Im very big". Epic footage, thank you for all the vids you take, edit and share, love the Men in Tights reference, one of my families all time favorites.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

🤣👍

[@stevenmorefield8154]

Awesome video, beautiful county start to finish. Thanks

[@tomdavison9107]

Enjoyed it for sure! Beautiful country.

[@navsnipe]

Very cool journey. Thank you for sharing this!

[@reidumphrey1980]

Mike Patey kind of stuff right here. Awesomeness!!!!!!!!!!!

[@travismartin936]

So cool he takes the time to show us this awesome stuff! Sweet airplane too!!

[@capnpete1154]

Great video, beautiful scenery. Thanks for letting me tag along.

[@johnpooky84]

Loving the synthwave music! 3:05 Big Piney? I wrote a short story that takes place in Marbleton, just a mile away!

[@darrinboring2366]

Saweet. Thanks for taking us along.

[@jmoriarty7106]

Great Video can"t wait for the next one. Hope to see you guys again.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

thank you my friend, thank you!!

[@chuckinwyoming8526]

Thanks for another GREAT video!

[@Jim_Austin]

Enjoyed the scenery. Thanks!

[@randybills3848]

man that looks like so much fun

[@reidumphrey1980]

New sub here. Just came over from PFI and Cleetus. I am a 60 year old A&P. Work for Lockheed as a Aeronautical Engineer. Went to college after 4 years in Navy to learn aeronautical engineering. :) Been playing with airplanes 45 years. Your videos are awesome.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

So awesome!! Thank you for this comment Reid!!

[@MrBarbuster]

glad you got your engine tuned in. bet you are happy now. thks for the mountains reminds me when i went deer hunting in southern Colorado

[@donwakefield6695]

Golly what a great video and adventure! Brings back old memories as I've landed at most of those strips back in the mid 60's - in a 170/172/182/V35B even. Thank You!

[@jasonsneed3179]

SWEET VIDEO!!! So awesome! come fly with us over here when it cools off.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Thanks Jason!! that would be awesome man! Hoping to do just that this fall. Haven't properly flown Utah due to weather etc. Thx fo the invite, I'll be in touch 👍

[@Bearhawk_Life]

GREAT video, very possibly the best yet with a fantastic new opener.

[@markh672]

Outstanding!!....what a great adventure. It looks like you were flying around some country that a set of floats would have been nice to have on your S-7. Keep the good content coming. 😊👍👍👍

[@petebrodeur9227]

Great.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

floats would be such a blast!

[@markperkins5664]

Wow! That looked like a fantastic trip! Thanks for taking us along. Your videos are superb!

[@Kymei-vq8pm]

Wonderfull video. Thanks for It.

[@WoutervanTiel]

Morrow Point Res and the Black Canyon of the Gunnison as the opener. Home territory, I flew that too.

[@davidrobins4025]

What beautiful country to tour from the air. Spectacular scenery and great flying.

[@wesnix2548]

Awesome video!!

[@flyingarmour]

What a beautiful paint job!

[@jimhuskyflying]

An exceptional video. I really enjoyed watching it. I have been into two of the strips, so it was fun to see your landings. Thank you.

[@alphasxsignal]

Nice to have good friends like Cody.

[@colonybolton34]

Well done, great intro too!

[@Kolbra2004]

Spectacular video! This has to be one of the most beautiful flying videos I've ever seen. I'm happy to see your engine performing well over these areas. You did it right!

[@howardsmith9922]

Beautiful and enjoyable video. Makes me want to fly again.

[@aaronmaclean4464]

Absolutely Amazing dude! Pilot skills and cinematography are on point #watchouttrentpalmer Keep em' coming!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

ha! thanks Aaron 👍 hard to compete with TP, guy has some of the highest production quality I've seen on utube, but thank your for the compliment!

[@stevemowat4294]

That was brilliant. Thank you

[@LeftSeatAdventures]

Wow! Another great video dude, you're absolutely killing it! 👍👍👍 And all while getting to live the life you want, can't ask for more.

[@saer-proff]

Очень приятный и красивый фильм получился.

[@GATOROC1]

Another great video and absolutely spectacular scenery! I bet it was even better in person. Brought back some old memories of my first float plane ride out of Coeur d'Alene Lake up to Priest Lake and back - good times.

[@ABC-rh7zc]

Looks like a great trip!

[@davejoynt6276]

That looked like an awesome trip, thanks for sharing.

[@gregotterson6724]

Great video and editing. A lot of this is my stomping ground. I look forward to more of your videos. The only negative is the number of ads, particularly the second half of your video.

[@LukeBrenton]

What an incredible adventure & video. Please keep making them! 👍😎

[@teryholic3048]

thanks to nice view man

[@richardmorris8764]

My now a fan

[@JSBIRD69]

I only watch the ads on two YT channels. 1. I am puma 2. GKF But today I earned my pay Todd...two Chuck Schumer ads, two Stacy Abrams ads, one Joe & Kamala ad, and they almost sucked the fun out of watching your adventure...almost. Keep 'em coming dude!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

oh man.... that is dedication right there my friend! lol.. im truly sorry you had to endure that!

[@stanleymedic4002]

well done loved the whole thing,

[@prof.heinous191]

Truely great episode Todd!! Glad you managed to get away for a summer break in between getting on top of all your mechanical issues (guess your engine must be behaving itself through this long trip) and your work commitments, you really deserve it this year!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Thanks J. Appreciate that. This plane has been a lot of work!

[@waynenelson8907]

Loved every second of this video. I have to be honest; I am jealous:) You did an absolutely beautiful job on the video. Looking forward to more. Thank you, a million times, over. This was a dream of mine for many years, and I never learned to fly. Now I am to old, so please keep the videos coming:) God Bless you sir. Wayne

[@GravityKnightFlying]

thank you Wayne! will do!

[@rl_khv]

Красота!!!👍😊

[@flyingmaniac3827]

nice place ,remind me off Home, east of Canada.

[@rosemarymorris5139]

Yea, Coady!

[@serhatbasm6075]

Beaitifull...

[@acengineer737]

That was good. Enjoy seeing the scenery. Most flying videos only show the flying and not the destination

[@depressedcowboy3528]

Thank you for the amazing video! Always a treat to watch :)

[@randymohr1881]

Great Video Todd! It’s been years now but I’ve been in and out of Cavanaugh Bay numerous times. Fun to see how it looks from someone else’s point of view. The entire trip looked amazing and you are really good at giving us a clear feeling of how it felt to you. Not an easy art but you have got it down sir! Can’t wait for the next one.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

thanks Randy!

[@1Gaumer]

Ohh yeah it’s called Naps and it’s a must for the end to any adventure.

[@bigb1910]

Thanks for sharing. This video was next level. I really enjoyed watching. I just got back from U87, 3U2, U60, KWYS and KCUT. Home base is 0I8.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Thanks B, sounds like a good trip!!

[@outcold1982]

This is the ultimate dream flight for me..

[@rogergrossenbacher6705]

Absolutely stunning photograph!

[@429thunderjet2]

That was epic man, nice job! Really enjoyed that because we are about an hour from the 49th parallel (that's Canada), of course. We are on the plains here, and it's so darn flat you can see for miles & miles from the ground in the open areas especially to our west that doesn't have many trees. So that was a treat! Thanks Oh, say that must have been your old S6 your buddy was flying? Cool

[@peterbrodeur1480]

Todd: How about making an adventure where I live.......on the East side of the Sierra's? Your talent would be put to good use from Mt. Shasta to Mt. Whitney. Keep up the great work and play.

[@serhatbasm6075]

Magical...amazing...😊🙏👍

[@dreamingguy1999]

Hi Todd.Thankyou for the great Video. I just with to point out ,if you have not already that the canvas material on the belly of the plane(at the bottom), flutters and must be causing drag. What about some other stiffer light material that will not break and which is light.

[@ChuckKC]

whoa you had me on the intro !!!

[@ridebywire6712]

I envy you man. Really love your channel! Keep it up.

[@Ajojets]

Fantastic video as usual.

[@redrhino4370]

Beautiful!

[@wreckum56]

Nice work Todd you should have flown a little more East to the scenic white rocks in Montana and stopped in!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

oh damn, I forgot all about that area, my former boss was from up that way and showed me some stuff.. need to get out there for sure!

[@wreckum56]

GravityKnightFlying next time yes where was your boss from

[@bjarneandreasen4032]

Wow this is great. Love to see your videos. Greatings from Denmark. Just do what you love to do 😀😀

[@kcpumpguy]

Another great video. I'm itching to finish my S7 and get out to some of those incredible places!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

hell yes man!!!

[@paddletrucker]

Soooo jealous!!!

[@benparadude2028]

I recognize a few of those places

[@germanflightjunk5221]

Just wow! 👀🤩❤️

[@boardaday]

thanks for the tour...who in their right mind, would give this a thumbs down? whiskeytangofoxtrot!!

[@justinparker7795]

!!!!!1 we need to see in front of you!!!!!!!!!!!! thank you!

[@WingAndAPrayer-RedBird]

Great vid!

[@SimjetAU]

Awesome video again Todd...spectacular scenery. After this trip you must be happy with the donk?...looks like a lot of higher altitude flying

[@GravityKnightFlying]

its always something with a plane (as you know) lol! but it's coming together!

[@timstephenson3341]

Wow!

[@Co-xm1nt]

NICE

[@prof.heinous191]

Had to stop this at 0:50 just to say blinding intro bro, and this is just the beginning...

[@bradend7099]

what a beauty landing 8:55

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Braden D thanks Braden!

[@65LB]

Commentary about location/what we are seeing would be nice.

[@rva1945]

5:25 to 5:50 where is that location? Nice landscapes!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Somewhere in MT I think!! Been a while! :)

[@Oysterity]

that 37 seconds intro

[@jeffthomas2086]

What time of year do you go to Idaho? We go with 4-5 planes every July, usually the second week. We base camp at Moose Creek and fly out to other strip from there. My son and I fly a 182rg and a S7 up there from Amarillo along with my friend in his Kodiak. If you are up there next year would love to hit some back country strip with you. We are pretty new to the Rans but so far we really like it. Great videos!!!

[@MrWinger1951]

Excellent video, beautiful scenery. Which action camera are you using? I'm watching in 4K but unless the scenes are well lit, there seems to be a negative exposure compensation ( -EV) which darkens many of the scenes. It might just be innate to your camera though.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

They are DJI Action Cameras, and a DJI Osmo pocket. All of them really get screwed up by a cloudy/hazy sky. Blue skies are generally fine, but the grey skies wreak havoc on exposure. During color correcting I'm sometimes adding a bunch of exposure, and sometimes lifting shadows and almost always -40 to -80 on highlights, and it still comes out that way. Cameras work really well overall, but this is my biggest complaint. (Shooting in their flat profile as well for more dynamic range).

[@MrWinger1951]

@@GravityKnightFlying The DJI Osmo is favorably rated, so not sure why the negative exposure is occurring, Maybe someone with one of their cams can comment.

[@cfanyu6422]

Some amazing videos! I am considering moving to Wyoming and want to get active in experimental aviation. Will the wind really keep me out of the air to a significant degree? I've seen videos of cars being flipped by the wind. Sure its not a daily occurrence.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Wyoming can be very windy.. but certain areas more than others. That I80 coridoor is the worst from what I've seen... its bad there. Further up north its better. West side is better. It will obstruct flying some days, but I'm sure there will be plenty of good days.. fantastic state. love to live there someday as well!!

[@mnice59]

Three questions, Do you ever get comfortable with flying over terrain with no place to land? Who was carrying the 44 mag/bear spray? What did you do with your hardware wallet at the boarder?

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Not 100% comfortable no. Terrain with some sot of option (even if not good) allows me to relax fairly well and enjoy it. As there is a clear plan in place - even if it's not great, at least there is a plan. There are chunks of terrain with absolutely no good option in case of an engine out, and that does make it hard to relax and enjoy. Easy to get anxious. One has to work at/learn to stay calm, don't dwell on it or you can get behind other tasks at hand. I try to think through different scenarios so I have something in mind, even if its going to be bad (like a solid forest of thick, tall trees...) We were both armed, but youtube has a hissy fit over that kind of stuff.

[@stolpilot5074]

Did you build your S7S? I like your throttle position and your left window, I set mine up the same way. Great looking plane!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Thanks! No, I put the wings on, re-did the panel completely, built the throttle, installed a s-20 flap handle setup on the side, installed the Edge motor, changed shocks, built the exhaust, and intake setup, built the Intercooler etc. and lots of little stuff. Feels like a lot.. but I didn't build it... I love that window setup, it was sealed shut when I bought the plane. I had to put a thicker piece of lexan on there, and the shocks and now it stays open almost all the time! Very cool you have the same setup there, can't beat it!

[@wunzeroait]

Really enjoyed this video. What camera are you using?

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Couple DJI Action 1 cameras... DJI pocket, iPhone at this point in time. Added a gopro9 since then (not great).. and a panasonic x1500 for handheld shots. The DJI's have been fantastic, but are a bit dated now... problem is the new DJI action 3 has some problems with focus they have not worked out yet. I'm holding off on upgrading until that is solved.

[@edwardwerthner7717]

Great stuff ,,,how do get your weather n do have ADSB

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Thanks Edward! I don’t have adsb or a transponder. We usually brief until we lose signal, but that gets us by for a day or two until flying in for fuel and getting signal again. Been stuck on the ground s time or two at Johnson Creek due to fog and such, but usually getting wx here and there has proved to be accurate enough.

[@ChristIsMyRedeemer2024]

Best video you have done! So I am a pretty big guy, and was wondering about getting into an S-7, didn't know if you thought that was good set of wings for a larger guy! I do most of my flying in a 182 and fit fine. Also, were you able to keep that engine cool at those high DA's? How many horses you pulling with that engine swap now? Thanks man for showing us how to live!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

thanks Jayden! probably one of the best LSA's for big guys like us. I'm 6'4" 255+ and I fit pretty well. I did modify my seat to sit back a little bit (~3/4"). Nice not rubbing shoulders with everyone that goes for a ride being tandem! Most of the other smaller birds I have been around are more cramped by far. I fit a lot better in this than I do in a Stinson, Helio, 172, kitfox, S6, Bonanza and probably some other things I'm forgetting. No problem with temps at altitude even in the heat. Flew in 90* + at altitude and temps were good. It's possible up around 100 it could get a little warm on water temp (into the yellow). I would say it was making around 130, maybe just over that (130-135) in this video (highest I've turned it up). I had just installed a homebuilt intercooler before I left on this trip... worked well!

[@ChristIsMyRedeemer2024]

@@GravityKnightFlying that must feel awesome to get that Edge Performance dialed in! I appreciate your reply! Hope you get to go do some STOL competitions. You would kick but I am sure!

[@matthewmackay4185]

I can see my float house at 24:57!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Matthew MacKAY thats awesome!! That is a long steep drop off into the lake there!! Impressive place

[@user-us4nf7mk8m]

It would be great to read the list of music tracks!

[@PeteZoot]

Awesome vid. Thx! How do you like your CYA100? Is it consistent? Do you fly with its audio, and if so did you add a switch for ground ops? I'm just installing mine now.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Hey Pete. I did add a switch (very necessary). It worked ok while it lasted. Quit after about 5 months (wouldn't let you calibrate it anymore, would just exit calibration mode after you set the cruise speed, and was all screwy.) Couldn't get any help, so I threw it in the trash. My issue with it (and some other ones I've tried), is that the lights are not bright enough, and even if they were, it only lights up 1 LED at a time. That is useless.. it should blend 3 LEDs together so you know where you are on the scale. The audio function is lame too... it should have 2 or 3 different tones to let you know you are getting slow, close to stall, and stall eminent. 1 tone isn't very useful. After putting some hours in the bird, I got to where I don't really need one anyway, you can feel it... but I do like the idea as a backup device. If it worked better with brighter lights/more tones, it could allow you to be outside the airplane 100% when landing around obstacles on the slow edge of the envelope. But I didn't feel it does that. Hopefully you have better luck with yours Pete!!