Bluegrass Airlines

March 2004

TOUGH MAN CHALLENGE # 3

Phase 3 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.

This is the last phase of this TMC #3. Times indicated are derived from using a Beaver and doing some valley flying. If you look out either side window and see sky, you are flying to high

From To Hdg Dist RW Length Altitude Time

1. KMYL ID41 070 @ 33 Mi 06/24 2450' Grass @ 6539' 24 min

2. ID41 U81 018 @ 29 Mi 16/34 4550‘ Grass @ 7030' 18 min

3. U81 2U5 348 @ 42 Mi 18/36 2000' Grass @ 2634' 18 min

4. 2U5 2ID7 329 @ 42 Mi 02/20 1800' Grass @ 3500' 24 min

5. 2ID7 S92 161 @ 20 Mi 22/04 2650' Grass @ 5646' 12 min

FS2K2 2U5 S92 318 @ 22 Mi

6. S92 85U 153 @ 74 Mi 07/25 1650' Dirt @ 4190' 36 min

7. 85U KLLJ 128 @ 44 Mi 16/34 4600' Hard @ 5072' 18 min

#1 ID41 Is not an USFS site but thought it might prove interesting. You have been here before but not from this direction. You must drop in steeply .

#2 You MUST make a sharp turn as you become airborne and climb sharply. There are trees at either end of the runway so stay a little high on approach when landing at U81..

#3 There is a good valley just north of Cold Meadows, turn left there and follow it until it dead ends then turn right. This will take you to Scherer where you will have to descend rather rapidly to land.

#4 Some valley flying, some up and over. My engine quit three times on me (while in the air) but it started right up. Possible water in gas.

#5 Little mesh problem here. Land short and you better have on your bathing suit.

#6 This is a VERY TOUGH place to land. You MUST approach for r/w 07.

#7 Depart ONLY on r/w 25 with an immediate left climbing turn (you snooze you lose here). Climb out and finally head for home.

Location 2ID7 is only in FS9. If you use FS2002, just skip this stop.