Johnson Creek Idaho, backcountry flying in a Rans S-21

[@treetopflight7624]

Great video and footage. I enjoyed your commentary of the various aircraft performance. I was a little surprised (in both directions) of some of the takeoffs. Thanks for taking the time to create your videos. Hopefully see you up there next summer.

[@Captndarty]

I bet you’re excited to get yours flying. Idaho won’t disappoint. We will likely do another Rans run up there next summer

[@cq7415]

Neat video, I like the filming, editing, narrative. We are so lucky to have those airstrips in Idaho backcountry. Very fun to watch. You could make more of those. Thanks for sharing.

[@AVMamfortas]

Fabulous back country. Fabulous flying. You lucky buggers :) Wish I could be there.

[@thecheesedip]

Piper Pacers are quite possibly the most surprising and underrated legacy plane around. So much character; I love 'em. For my money though, any Rans is the best value in aviation. YMMV

[@donstor1]

That was fun. I am physically unable to fly so I had to fly that area in my simulator. Would love to fly that area and take my fishing gear, thanks for sharing your trip.

[@koreanature]

My best friend, thanks to you, I enjoyed watching... I'm proud of you for developing day by day.

[@leefarquharson7804]

Awesome, thanks for sharing

[@Dynamo1936]

Thanks for posting really cool video

[@Bearhawk_Life]

Great video, loved every aspect of it. Plane is really performing well. Congrats

[@Captndarty]

Thanks Jay. Looking forward to seeing your build take to the sky as well.

[@AndyTulenko]

Love the vid. Glad to see you added Steve's visit. I saw his vid of it also. Love the S-21. Can't wait to get mine.

[@davejoynt6276]

What a great video, nice job.

[@geecolagman]

Wish I could be doing this someday! This is so awesome

[@A.J.1656]

Awesome video. I've been really interested how the S-21 with the 915 would do up here in Idaho. I'm a 121 guy, but I've been seriously considering building a plane to get out and fly for fun. Thanks for sharing.

[@Captndarty]

It does an amazing job once airborn. I think you can classify it as a “ back country capable“ airplane, not a back country airplane. I don’t think it would hold up with repeated use in some of the super short strips. over and over again. It’s thin and lightweight.

[@mrtbrocks5664]

So cool. Well done Sir

[@malakov5]

Wow. This is a great video. This is a dream of mine to do some flying in Idaho.

[@ryanedwards7741]

Awesome video. Thanks for making it. I hope to see you out there sometime. Don't forget Maule has a Higher useful load than the empty weight of the Rans s21 so it can take another 10' on TO roll

[@rjbishop12]

Great video Matt - it was an amazing trip (Reid here). 100% agree- Wilson Bar was my absolute favorite and a thrilling approach. Really enjoyed hanging with you again, can't wait to go up there again!

[@Captndarty]

Absolutely Reid had a great time. I can’t wait to do it again with you guys

[@MOTOMINING]

Nice plane and scenery! I guess that must be more fun and possibly safer than the motorbike! My dream airplane is a Piper Supercub, the dualsport of the aviation world!

[@Captndarty]

It’s a catch 22. It’s more rewarding than riding my bike but there’s much more attention needed. I get. It’s tired flying low and technical in an hour than riding my 1190 half the day. Riding for me is like walking. Don’t have to think about it. No systems checks or wind issues like flying. Both are fun and relaxing in different ways.

[@DanO530.8]

Omg what a dream this is amazing would be amazing to go camping too very beautiful…I definitely need my pilots license

[@roddraym]

Awesome vid with breath taking views. Hope you got to meet the summer airfield caretakers, Duane and Pauline.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Love it man! was a good trip brother!

[@Captndarty]

No doubt! Can’t wait to do it again and for longer.

[@OneAlphaMike]

Looks like an awesome trip! I miss the great flying in Idaho.

[@Captndarty]

It sure was. The 915 made the trip, no questions abut it. I only wish I could have 2 Rotax 915 airplanes🤔

[@OneAlphaMike]

@@Captndarty I could see that in your future. One back country machine, one traveling machine.

[@Captndarty]

@@OneAlphaMike ha in a perfect world… I am doing a hanger addition that could support a high and a low and I’m sure the bank can see me coming 10 miles away🤷🏻‍♂️

[@OneAlphaMike]

⁠@@Captndarty Not sure if you saw, (I just saw it myself), but @Aaron Stampa recently flew his Sling TSi to Johnson Creek. Looks like it climbed out of there like a rocket! Rotax 915 FTW! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZDYnJyVmbZma5osi=fLl0Cr4K4Kf-BYwQ

[@korposp]

Omg, there are almost traffic jams on those tiny airstrips.😀It became to be pretty popular there. When i watched DVD Idaho Exposed 20 years ago, it looked really remote and abandon there. Is it losing its romatic charm now? And great video! Thanks.

[@Captndarty]

This was my first time there, and I really enjoyed it. The flying happened so quickly because the strips are so short that you spend a lot of time socializing and camaraderie. It’s nice to have people around and to know if you mess up there are people everywhere who can help. Plus the group I was with we all had ADSB in and out so we could see each other air to air on our moving maps through all of the canyons. Incredible situational awareness.

[@sonora108]

Great video I like the shots from the cockpit and the way you could actually hear the engine and the natural sounds from the aircraft. Much better than someone talking through a mike as many other videos do. Thanks again for the great video. There toward the end did you say 17.5 asl?

[@Captndarty]

Thanks for watching. Yes 17.5 to clear the weather over the high terrain over Yellowstone. I could’ve gone higher but I didn’t want to fuss with and IFR flight plane.

[@EricSimoneau]

Great video.

[@HairHelmet]

I flew over JC yesterday and I’ve been wanting to stop but it was swarming with slow flying aircraft on a Saturday. Have yet to do a grass strip in the Mooney.

[@Captndarty]

JC won’t be any issue whatsoever in a Mooney. I’m sure you’ve seen “man and a Mooney“ and he goes into a couple tighter strips in Colorado in his Mooney

[@HairHelmet]

@@Captndarty I watched those videos awhile back and have wanted to land there ever since. Too bad he sold it! We pass over JC twice a month with round trips to Montana from SW WA.

[@HairHelmet]

@@Captndarty Looks like you might be familiar with the BDR’s from the looks of your bike.

[@Captndarty]

@@HairHelmet yes sir I’ve done a bits and pieces of several among other routes.

[@Captndarty]

@@HairHelmet really he sold it? I thought he just relocated back to the East Coast with it. Bummer his videos were great.

[@GunnyE9]

Cool, Cool, Cool ....

[@jlo7770]

I'm not a pilot or engineer so might sound stupid but i do like these stol planes. What's the difference between tail dragger/trike? I see most are taildraggers is there a reason the design is better for short take off/ "off runway" rough ground or does it not make any difference?

[@Captndarty]

Good question. Tail draggers keep the prop further from debris on the ground when taxiing. The week point with a trike is the nose gear. It’s mounted to the engine mount and if you stuff it into a hole or rock you risk some major front end damage. So for rough, terrain a tail wheel is better. As far as STOL goes a trike is better because the main gear is further aft allowing you to pull back on the stick and increase the angle of attack of the wing relative to the ground. With a tail wheel the angle of attack is fixed since the tail is on the ground.

[@jlo7770]

@@Captndarty that makes perfect sense. I didn't realize how many landing strips there is in that area, I grew up around there in Wyoming looks like a hell of a fun way to see that area and get around. "Let's go get breakfast" "Okay ill fire up the plane"

[@WillemLuntungan]

Amazing

[@dogismycoolpilot9662]

Great video and while I love my Skywagon. I may want a Rans S7 or 21 after watching your videos. Great flying and you hit all of the cools spots. Curious what the DA was for Marble Creek when you took off ? My Skywagon can go straight over the hill when cool. I was surprised the Maule was so anemic in the climb. You have a gorgeous airplane and you fly it well. Nothing better than a great Idaho trip !

[@Captndarty]

Thank you. I love Skywagons albeit I have never flown in one. I often refer to mine as as a modern day 2 place skywagon. I’m not sure what the DA was at marble but looking back at my video after leaving Lower Loon and enroute to Marble I was at 6,000 52° and the DA was 6,700. I suspect with the warmer temps and surrounding topography radiation down in Marble that it could been a touch higher DA relative to Marbles elevation. The 21 with the Rotax 915is an amazing back country airplane once airborne but it’s VSO of 41kts and lighter construction I’m dubious how the air frame would hold up hitting places the Soldier bar often.

[@dogismycoolpilot9662]

@@Captndarty I have a friend who just bought an S7 kit. Probably take him about 2 years to build it just because he has a lot of other responsibilities. I need to find out if he is going 915T. After watching your videos I will recommend it to him. I think you airplane will do well overall for backcountry ops. Most of the strips are relatively tame. I actually think Soldier bar is relatively smooth compared to Marble. The rubber erosion strips can sometimes make you bounce. I actually try to spot land just in front of them. But I have done it plenty of times with a nice bounce. Hard not to want to play with our machines.

[@ryanedwards7741]

Maule is very close to the performance of the Rans but still has 1000lb useful load thats closer to the skywagon. I find it a great STOL option to get all the people and gear in.

[@lannyfreng]

Great Vid Matt

[@Shandakel]

Flying in the mountains, isn't it terribly turbulent and dangerous? We always learned in training about rotors and mountain waves so just curious how a small plane would fair flying low in the mountains

[@Captndarty]

If you fly in the morning, it’s cooler. There are less wind and thermals. In fact, most of the turbulent air is at the peaks and above. Down low in the valley you’re blanketed by the peaks, and it’s typically pretty smooth.

[@doncatchpole]

Good show. What engine?

[@Captndarty]

Rotax 915

[@tecnisdaimondm.g9321]

Excelente

[@edwardnakhla9205]

Hello, we lost a dear friend in a private airplane crash at Johnson Creek last Thursday (8/29) . It's been a week, and we still have no information about what happened. Do you know anyone who can provide any updates or help us understand what might have occurred? Thanks very much! Edward

[@Captndarty]

@@edwardnakhla9205 very sorry to hear about your friend. This is the first I’ve heard at this, I found this report from asn.flight safety.org Narrative: The 206 attempted a landing at Johnson Creek RWY 17 with a 15-20 knot tailwind, the initial touchdown point was near midfield, three long bounces ensued, at which point the pilot attempted a go around near the end of the runway. The pilot pitched up aggressively which caused the left wing to drop and the plane to bank left, it disappeared into the trees and moments later crashed into the mountain killing both occupants. Sources: NTSB

[@edwardnakhla9205]

Thank you for this information. Does it come from eye witnesses or some other source? When does an official report with passenger names usually come out?

[@Captndarty]

@@edwardnakhla9205 I suspect eye whiteness but since Jk has many pilots the eye whiteness will be much more creditable than a regular person. The names usually get released once the next of kin is sorted out. Final NTSB reports can take a year or 2. If the eye whiteness are correct it’ll be pilot error unfortunately. Theres a White House at that end of the runway that has created a culture of pilots not landing over it sort of self forcing pilots to land with a tailwind as in the reports here.

[@edwardnakhla9205]

Thank you for your help!

[@edwardnakhla9205]

@@CaptndartyGood afternoon Sir. Has this White House caused any accidents? What else do you know about it? Thanks

[@juemuri5448]

traumhaft schöne gegend da...und spannende pisten...da kann sicherlich nicht jeder landen,,,oder ?

[@Captndarty]

It is public, so anyone can land there as long as you have the proper skills and Aircraft

[@jbmcdonald5646]

❤ 😎

[@travisrussell7750]

What is that spot that is focused on at around 1:35 in the video? I took a photo of that exact same place on a flight home (in an airliner) last summer. I was so fascinated by it that I made it my wallpaper on my phone. I have no idea where it is, but would love to know if anyone has the answer.

[@Captndarty]

That’s Thomas Creek 2U8

[@travisrussell7750]

@@Captndarty Thank you!

[@mrsaskriders]

For the guys you thought had a less impressive takeoff roll, maybe they caught more fish than you 😆😆 just kidding

[@ryanedwards7741]

Yes and the only one that can get it back would be the Maule.

[@ludvikblondal9885]

Got about 400hrs.behind a rotax 912...bulletproof...your's sounds like a turbine...17,5 huh

[@Captndarty]

They are exceptional motors. It would be incredibly hard for me to get into a bigger airplane with an old NA legacy engine. She’s been to 25k

[@toadflax636]

Big Creek burned down over 10 yrs ago.

[@toadflax636]

Johnson Creek is not in the backcountry. Cars, trucks, and Razors run up and down the gravel road to Johnson Creek every day. Try Indian Creek, there are no roads, no cats, trucks, or Razors.

[@Captndarty]

You must’ve missed where I landed at marble, lower loon, cabin Creek, fish lake and moose creek….