sketchy off-airport takeoff in a bushplane

We look at landing and taking off from a tough/tight/high spot in the mountains...

[@GravityKnightFlying]

I probably could have squeezed another 5-7ft closer to the edge before takeoff... that was the main thing I saw I should have done different once on the ground (having already made the decision to land there). It's not much, but every foot counts in a spot like this.

[@jaceward5860]

Good value content GKF. Love this channel.

[@Christopher-bl3tn]

I really enjoy it when you pick apart and give us a behind the scenes look at what you think and feel when you are doing these kinds of off airport ops. Keep these kinds of videos coming!

[@challenger2ultralightadventure]

Another entertaining and informative video. Cheers from Winnipeg.

[@lmead]

I always enjoy your content & the service you provide getting more into the "nuts & bolts" rather than just showing beautiful scenery (you do that well too).

[@GravityKnightFlying]

I do like to mix it up and do both, thank you for mentioning this... I think both have their place. Thanks!

[@davidspeyers5740]

That is so impressive, especially at that density altitude.

[@jimecee]

You make even the most difficult spots at high DA look easy, I can only imagine what it’s like in person. Fly safe!

[@damonhancock5547]

I'm so glad I found this channel. Awesome content and adventures from an experienced, thoughtful, humble pilot.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

thanks Damon!

[@nickwulf]

Todd, great video. Thanks for sharing what's going through your head when you're maneuvering during takeoff/landing. Hope you get more people watching and subscribing, I'm always sharing your videos on Reddit/KZbin!

[@GravityKnightFlying]

thank you Nick!!!!!!

[@KitfoxPilot]

I really like your flying and commentary. It amazes me the high ground you land on with your plane. Flat lander here, we had DA of 7000 ft here the other day and taking off with a passenger in the Kitfox and I could feel it. Wasn't a problem but to almost double that alt I can't imagine . Staying light would be a must. Thanks for sharing you high altitude knowledge with us !

[@jbrummitt]

Great explanation and looks like a lot of fun.

[@drxcustoms7967]

Gnarly man!!! Stay safe.

[@dsyncd555]

Your plane is such a workhorse.

[@therusticcollectionebaysto7028]

New sub ! Liked 😊🙏👍

[@turnbank3492]

Great stuff man. The pucker factor is tighter than two coats of paint just watching

[@GravityKnightFlying]

😂🤣👍 I'e never heard that one before... thats hilarious!!! and thanks!

[@Stromzilla]

Thank you for sharing and sharing your thoughts. Much appreciated.

[@jeffroach9305]

good points....stay safe..keep learning.

[@michaelguy7168]

Great reminder.

[@Russellsperry]

It looks like your plane climbed out of there like a champion, and I wouldn’t be worried about it when solo flying. 👍

[@GravityKnightFlying]

You bring up a good point... bringing a passenger along would be a whole different thing. Not just the extra weight, but just putting somebody else in a potentially harmful dangerous situation. I do try to avoid that at all costs.. thanks Russell

[@markmark2080]

I've had a full life filled with a generous amount of adventure, travel, study, and very satisfying work...Which, I am very thankful for... I must say, though, that what you are doing, "takes the cake". Of all the things possible for man to do today, I feel what you are doing, beats them all...Apart from the adrenaline rush one can get by faster and higher, there's nothing to compare with what birds can do and there's not a human who has ever lived who hasn't dreamed of "making like a bird"... In the Good Book, Ps. 55:6+7, "Oh that I had the wings like a..." ... Anyway, although you have a fantastic time flying around looking for cool places to "perch", I sense that you are missing a great deal due to a lack of knowledge of western history and possibly geology, not a criticism, as MOST people are the same way. You are young and have devoted your energies to motorcycles and planes... I would love to have you over to show and describe events and places you can see from the air that would double or triple the excitement of what you do, things that when you understand the what and when, it leaves you with your mind blown... It's like driving across Wyoming, where parts can be boring as hell, unless one understands what he is seeing...I live between Denver and Boulder, if you're interested in getting together...I love your videos, the only thing missing is "down there, that's where such and such...", Your filming is so good, that if historical or geological things of interest were shown, and included in the title, you should/could have several 100K subscribers...Inho... I totally could not locate your landing spot in this video although I feel you were in the southern South Park region somewhere...cheers

[@markstoll9636]

well...living on the edge may...may...catch you one day. and like you said the power the engine has has spoiled you..which is ok. i guess be careful!

[@mikercflyer7383]

Beautiful spot though. Do you join other bush pilots when they fly in Idaho.

[@Flightstar]

Another option would be driving it off the cliff. I landed a place once where that really was the only safe option getting out. I had flown hang gliders before and that type of launching works really well for powered planes. You get to flying speed really fast. There's a video of it on my YT video collection. The cliff you got there looks perfect.

[@portnuefflyer]

Same here, the steeper the better, my HG cliff launch experiences serve me well in the plane I fly (another RANS S7-S). Part of me, the plane pilot, thinks :this is insane. But the old hang glider pilot thinks: "piece of cake!"

[@GravityKnightFlying]

I do love a good cliff dive! Actually got a decent cliff dive in that same day earlier.... should be in an upcoming video. In this particular spot, it just won't quite work. From the drone shots it looks good, but one of those deal where the rocks stick up in the way, and there is a little dip leading up to it etc. Can't quite get a good run (its pretty uphill as well). Otherwise, yea... totally agree!

[@gapster46]

The camera makes it look like you had it all along. No worries. But the camera lacks what you are feeling. I’ve had lots of those kinds of take offs, but not in back country settings. Trees at the end of a short runway and high density altitude and loaded heavy with passenger and full fuel tanks really raises the pucker factor.

[@divergentfuryan3546]

What a badass !

[@antonioluiz7335]

🇧🇷👍👍🤜🤛

[@DavidStroh]

GKF what mount do you use for your Ipad? I like the location.

[@JimBronson]

Would it have helped to hold the nose level another second or two once you were off the ground, just to gain a little more airspeed?

[@bigjim1327]

Tell us where you are regularly because you fly so many places it's nice to know. Thanks.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

This is in Colorado... really there is nothing landmark wise, or a town around this particular area. Typically, if its not a named trip (like Utah, or Idaho), its Colorado.. I cover a lot of the state. For closer days exploring I usually range from the south park valley to the san luis valley, and everything in between, sometimes poking a little further west to creede and saquache. Next step when branching out a little further would include the gunnison area, lake city area, down to telluride... or up to kremmling.

[@bigjim1327]

@@GravityKnightFlying I lived near Vallecito Reservoir between Durango and Pagosa Springs and did some flying there. Do you get over that way?

[@GravityKnightFlying]

@@bigjim1327 beautiful area.. I really like durango and pagosa.. I've flown the area a couple times, but don't make it down there often enough

[@MrWinger1951]

Would this be an example of "get home-itis"? And if so, did you consider just waiting till morning, and did you have the necessary gear to stay over a night?

[@nickwulf]

He covered overnight always on board gear in his last video

[@MrWinger1951]

@@nickwulf Yes, I know, but I was curious as to whether he had not only the tent he mentioned with him, but also any other gear he might have decided to take with him, as I had suggested a light weight sleeping bag, would be much more valuable than just a tent and a blanket. But that all depends anyway, on why not just stay the night in view of less than ideal conditions he faced in this video. Get-home-itis is a major cause of general aviation incidents with bad outcomes. As pilots, I suspect we all have been in a similar situation and only hind sight gives us that wake up call.

[@GravityKnightFlying]

Get home-itis has caused me to make some flights I shouldn't have made over the years.. absolutely. (Landing in the dark on my own runway with no lights in pouring rain and high winds etc., stuff like that...). Honestly, I didn't even really give this spot that thought until after the fact. So I'd like to say I know my plane very well.. down to within a couple feet of where it will leave the ground on TO, where it will roll out to on landing etc. across different altitudes and conditions. Typically I'm always right on those guesstimates... but, I was a little off on this TO.. didn't expect it to be that close! So after the fact it was like, oh, could have camped out... (I did have my lighter camp gear onboard.) The light sleeping bag would be lighter than the blankets when you add them all together, I tried to avoid that route because I can't stand small/restrictive sleeping bags. Part of my thinking was, "if its too uncomfortable, then I won't want to use it and I'll try to go home when I shouldn't" Partly this comes from being 6'4" 250lbs and not fitting in a normal bag too lol. Good suggestion either way, and I'm also glad you brought this up.. get home-itis is a very real thing in my opinion.

[@homertalk]

We need content, by any means possible. Density altitude be dammed.

[@antonioiozzi9171]

is this a chartered airstrip?

[@GravityKnightFlying]

no sir.... I'd be willing to bet I'm not only person on earth to land there (probably for good reason nobody else has tried it!) thanks

[@PoasLodge]

Honestly, with the way things are going with aviation content creators - I would not invite this kind of "conversation" and ask people's opinions. Only you know what the capability of your aircraft and your skills are and having people second guess that on the internet - someone is going to make this into a big issue just because there are people like that who enjoy ruining people's lives. Personally - I think you made a safe call - you know what you need to change next time - and as far as "need to be there"... screw that. Passion is why we fly. It's not an A to B prospect - especially with your type of flying. We fly because we need to fly. Not because we need to be safe. I'm not saying that we should not be safe - but that's not the "why". If you feel safe and within your capabilities and you want to shoulder that risk - more power to you.

[@yesode4201]

Do you carry a box of Kleenex or a case?

[@johnschneider4160]

Show off!⚰

[@jackriley5974]

I can do that !

[@GravityKnightFlying]

what are you flying?

[@jackriley5974]

@@GravityKnightFlying Nothing for the past 20 years or so but I flew in the Adirondacks for years. Mostly 172s . Fuel exhaustion at 8500 put me in a field smaller than that which I flew out of after the FBO delivered 2 cans of 100. When I started flying rental for a 150 was $35 wet and an instructor was $15? I had to quit when the costs neared $200. As they say it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on. I miss it a lot.