Backcountry Pilot

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Hey everyone,

After a month and a half of searching and running all over the country looking at 205s (WA, UT, LA/MS, and IN), including one 7 hour round trip drive in one day to north central WA, we found a new plane for our family. Monday night, after resolving a question with the insurance underwriter about my experience level and mountain flying experience (they were concerned because the plane was in the mountains and I only had 2.5 hours in the last 30 days in type...granted only 3.5 total in type though), I jumped on a plane to Denver followed by a 2 hour shuttle ride up the front range to be ready to meet with the owner the following morning (prebuy and first visit done a week or so earlier). Tuesday morning, the owner picked me up and off to the airport we went. With paperwork done, I started the trip to get it home. 4 hours and a SVFR into OGD later, I landed bringing our new ride to its new home. We've got a little work to do to get her ready for the flying season, but are looking forward to having a new ride at the fly-ins. The kids are very excited and can't wait for their first ride.

Thanks to everyone on the site that gave advise and insight. I have to give a huge thank you to one of our own who is a long time 205 owner. Without his coaching, counsel, expertise, and friendship this would have been a much more daunting task. His help was/is invaluable!

Here are a couple of pics from my flight yesterday.


I'd never flown GA over the Front Range. Man! There is some gnarly terrain in that area!


North of GJT headed through the Uinta Basin.


Loving the new iPad!




SVFR getting back into OGD.




Looking forward to lots of adventures in our new plane and seeing you all at the fly-ins!

[Cub271 offline]

Nice! I've always enjoyed flying a 205 i used to have access to. Great airplane and love the photos!

[flightlogic offline]

Ditch the wheel pants and you are half way there to a cool looking camping machine !
(and no slush freezing in there)

[highroad offline]

Congrats Cory! Looks like a great family machine.

[CAVU offline]

Congrats on a nice looking plane, inside and out! Be sure to wrap the wheel pants carefully and store them where you won't forget them in case you move.

CAVU

[Zzz]

Dude, congrats!!! Stoked for you guys.

[mountainmatt offline]

Awesome, that didn't take very long. I can't wait to read about more Wolf family adventures in the new 205. In that last picture, it looks like Adam and Sproket are excited to solo in it soon.

Congrats Cory and Dee!

[hicountry offline]

Congrats Cory!

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Thanks guys. Don't worry, the pants are on the short list of things to get done.

The stars really aligned. Ended up getting a space in a hanger with my neighbor and great friend that I taught to fly a few years ago. He just finished his 40 hours on his RV-9A. This plane hit the market at the same time. Family airplane that has been well taken care of. The owner was insistent that it go to a good home/family. I was able to run around the country to look at the others before this one and it was by far the best on the market.

Now I just need some $ for VGs and big tires. Maybe Dee will go on a cruise and I can hide them in the shower as a surprise for when she gets home!

[DBI offline]

Looks great and love the photo's! Congrats- what a great looking family, looking forward to hearing of the many upcoming adventures

[jomac offline]

wow! So cool Cory and company...! cant wait to camp next to that one at JC for sure...205's are like big 182's with better doors for sure...with u at the helm, it'll go anywhere u want....congrats! JO

[sburg58 offline]

Great looking 205, glad you found a nice one. Perhaps we can meet up somewhere along the way to check out how my Robertson kit checks out with a stock wing. Think I told you I have never flown a 205 without one. Wife is still happy I didn't sell ours!! Your interest sort of fired me/us up, we have been flying it quite a bit lately. Have fun!

Stan

[88H offline]

Grassstrip:

Congratulations. You won't regret including the family in flying. It is worth all the hassle and extra gear that you have to tote around!

I have many camping memories with my family that can't be replaced. Sometimes they don't even feel like great memories. One year at Oshkosh, we got deluged and were swimming around with 2 inches of water in our tent. I was miserable at that moment, but the next morning the sun came out and the kids "ran wild playing with the simulators" while Dad went to town to use the laundromat and dry the sleeping bags. They still talk about that weekend!

As your kids grow, they may or may not get the flying bug. But I promise that whether they do or not, they will always carry around the memories of the trips together.

Happy camping! Larry

[piperpainter offline]

Nice!!!

[Oregon180 offline]

Fantastic! Looks like a really nice bird.

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Thanks guys!

Stan, glad you are flying her more. I definitely hope we can meet up. With any luck, they won't be unmodified for long. Really want to get some VGs on them sooner than later.

Larry, it is funny how miserable moments turn into cherished memories. Or how the bad moments fade and the good ones are the ones you remember...and make it all worth it.

Can't wait to see you all at Caveman or JC!

[58Skylane offline]

Very awesome! Glad you found a what your looking for and looking forward to many trip reports. Have fun!!

[Cary offline]

That is one nice looking airplane!

Don't be too quick to VG it--practice with it, first--you may find better places to put the $1500 that VGs cost. My experience with various airplanes is that too often the owners don't use the airplane to the airplane's potential, but want to use doodads to improve what could have been improved by working on pilot technique. Even Micro Aerodynamics, the VG manufacturer, doesn't make huge claims for the 205 in terms of lowered stall speed, 5-8%, which is only 2 1/2 knots at gross. Their bigger claim is improved slow speed control, which has value, but you may find it's unnecessary. My own airplane has droopy tips, which a previous owner installed, and they also work to improve control, but they're also not really necessary--but they look oh so cool!

Years ago I was partnered in a TR182. Soon my pard wanted to put a Roberston STOL kit on it, because he had friends and patients with ranch strips here and there, and he didn't think he could get into them. When I found out the cost (in the $20K realm, as I recall), I suggested that first he ought to work on using the airplane's existing abilities, by slowing down--he tended to land pretty fast. So we arranged a time in the next few days so I could teach him to use what the airplane could already do.

First, I cheated a little--went out and practiced myself, to make sure it would do what I thought it would. I found 55-60 knots worked pretty well. I'd done a couple at 50 knots, and that was just a little too slow--couldn't keep the nose up after the mains touched.

When we took off, I asked him to slow down and do some slow flight. His idea of slow flight was to lock the IAS at 60 knots. I asked him to slow it down so that the buzzer was on all the time, which he did. Then I said to do some turns, I think he banked as much as 5 degrees. So I said, do some real turns. His response: It'll fall out of the sky! When I said it wouldn't, he said, then you do it. So I did a series of 30 degree banked turns back and forth, and although I could feel the stalls beginning, we didn't fall out of the sky.

So then it was back for landings, and his final approach was at 80 knots. I suggested that was at least 20 knots fast, and again he said, it'll fall out of the sky! When we came in next, he'd slowed to 70 knots, but that was it. So the next one, I said to slow to 60, and again he said it'll all out of the sky! So I did the approach at 60 knots, and he was obviously bothered. But then he did one at 60 knots, and he was surprised how he still had full control. Then I admitted to him that I'd practiced the day before. But in any event, we didn't buy the Robertson kit.

So get to know the old bird first, then decide whether to add the VGs. Similarly, you may find that the stock gear works for what you want to do, too. Lotsa LL can be bought for what some folks spend on doodads.

Cary

[Grassstrippilot offline]

Thanks! I appreciate the input. All my upgrades plans, however, are coming not from un-researched wishes of wanting a tricked out aircraft, but from having flown a 205 so equipped. The owner of that 205 (35+ years) is an expert on 205 subject matter and a highly experienced backcountry pilot. Thus his recommendations for getting optimal performance out of a 205 carries a lot of weight. Having flown 205s now with and without VGs or a STOL kit, there is the noticeable difference in handling characteristics...especially in roll control and elevator effectiveness at slow flight (in the flare). Just like the 182s of the same vintage, the shorter elevator loses effectiveness at a higher speed and it is here that the VGs gain a large advantage...as in the ballpark of 10mph slower landing speed. My friend also says all around there is a noticeable increase in performance and it is the best bang for the buck, which from what I have seen, I agree. I'm a firm believer in being very familiar with the low speed regime and I know that it currently isn't where I want it to be. I don't plan on a STOL kit though. Again from advice from the same guy, one is sufficient.

As for the big tires, this is a foregone conclusion. And I'm sure that there are at least a half dozen people on here that are glad to hear it! (Those would be my friends that had to push me out of soft sand in southern UT the last two years.). The other added benefit is the prop clearance which I also want for where I plan to be going. Personally, I can't think of a better place for my money to go...except maybe the gas tank. But then again, to go to the places I want to go, I want the added performance of those upgrades.

[58Skylane offline]

Hi Cory. What year 205? I concur with larger tires all around