Bluegrass Airlines

March 2004

TOUGH MAN CHALLENGE # 3

Phase 1 of 3

By Ron Jorgensen bgak030

All these flights are to the USFS strips in Idaho and not too many of them are easy. This is a really true BUSH (STOL) flying. As you can see, I have broken it up into three phases with the shortest leg at 8 miles and the longest at 74 miles. I think to land at all the USFS sites in one continuous flight would be too much.

I skipped two USFS strips as one is in the far north of Idaho and the other is in the far SE corner. I have added two non-USFS strips to make up for them.

The strips run from 1100' up to 5072' in length and consist of dirt, grass, gravel and hard surfaces with altitudes ranging from 2250' up to 7030'. I have landed at all these strips and most are not too easy. After all this is supposed to be a “Tough Man Challenge”.

Some of the strips can only be approached from one direction and I will list that runway first. Takeoff of course will be the reverse of that. There is only one lake with a strip nearby so the DHC-3T Amphibian is out. (The lake is too small anyhow). I think a Beaver or the Otter should be used. (The Brush Hawk would be OK) I guess any type that can land and take off in 1100' would be OK. I found that if you only carry minimum fuel it is easier to get over some of the mountains. Some of the strips you have to get UP fast and down fast. All in the game..

All but one, (2ID7 in Phase 3) , are in FS2002. All airports are in FS2009. Times listed are the times it took me to fly these routes in a Beaver.

An easy way to spot these strips, usually in a valley, is to set your season for “winter”.

Times shown are using a DHC-2 Beaver. Altitudes should be at a bare minimum. No fair going up and over. Anybody can do that, stay in the valleys. Weather is at your option but you MUST fly VFR. Folks, none of these are easy so bring a change of underwear.

From To Hdg Dist RW Length Altitude Time

1. KMYL ID76 022 @ 40 Mi 06/24 1500' Grass @ 2250' 30 min

2. ID76 U79 078 @ 12 07/25 4100' Grass @ 5765' 9 min

3. U79 U54 123 @ 31 17/35 1900' Grass @ 3626' 20 min

4. U54 1U1 336 @69 19/01 4100’ Grass @ 2454' 36 min

5. 1U1 I08 162 @ 58 02/20 1310' Grass @ 4289' 30 min

6. I08 0U3 162 @ 24 21/03 2150' Dirt @ 4618' 21 min

7. 0U3 ID41 282 @ 20 24/06 2450' Grass @ 6539' 13 min

8. ID41 KMYL 251 @ 33 16/34 6107' Hard @ 5021' 25 min

1. ID76 is a non USFS site but interesting. Keep r/w heading until you have enough altitude (7K) then head east. This is an up and over due to the mountains being perpendicular to your heading.

2. Watch out for the trees approaching r/w 07.

3. Depart on r/w 17 and follow valley to I08 (remember this place) then to 91D to U85 (remember this one too as you will see it later) then up the valley to U54.

4. You can fly just under 4,000' 90% of the way even though it is a little out of the way but the scenery is worth it.

5. Again, you can fly valleys most of the way. I think I scraped a few tree tops on my trip.

6. Stay low following I08, 09ID, 85U, U54, ID67 to 0U3. You should depart on r/w 21 climbing out heading westerly in the valley to gain some altitude. Look closely at the strips you are passing over as you will be seeing some of them up close and personal later on.

7. Depart on r/w 21 then check 2U8 then fly the valley south westerly to Stibnite and r/w 24. Lots of luck getting in here.

8. Lots of luck getting out of here. Either runway requires a sharp turn and a quick climb. Try only using ½ of your total gas.(helps in the turn and quick climb). Otherwise this is an up and over type of hop.

NOTE: Fuel is available at all sites in 50 gallon barrels that you must hand pump out.

Phase 2 will probably be released after the Yukon Quest / Iditarod Quest have been completed.