Minam Lodge, Oregon airlift REPORT PICS

[OregonMaule]

I'm planning to leave between 3 and 4. Bryan is coming in his Maule as well. We will try to make Joseph friday evening, if not we will stay with friends in Hermiston and get up early Saturday. I hope we can get over and not have to take the gorge.
Chad

I'm sure there will be a party in Joseph. Text us if you stop in Hermiston and we won't look for you. Cell V0III-VII20-191VII

G'Day

[OregonMaule]

It's on my calendar. Maule 12m launching from Northern Cal Satuday am. Should we plan on staying in Joseph Sat night?

Friday Joseph, Saturday Minam.

G'Day

[Terry]

Dave and I are wheels up at noon, and Graham around 5 (in his new 180) from McMinnville. Don is coming in from Three Rivers.
Can't wait!

[OregonMaule]

Dave and I are wheels up at noon, and Graham around 5 (in his new 180) from McMinnville. Don is coming in from Three Rivers.
Can't wait!

See you there Terry, Dave, Don.

G'Day

[Abe]

Craig,

The lodge is gracious enough to put on and host the dinner/BQ at Minam Saturday evening. Well, it's blue skies right now and a valley full of fog which will burn off shortly. Our house is in the sunshine looking down on a sea full of clouds. Just like flying VFR on top. Enjoy your flight over here and I'll come up to Joseph this afternoon and harass you guys.

Cheers,

Bill

[OregonMaule]

Dave and I are wheels up at noon, and Graham around 5 (in his new 180) from McMinnville. Don is coming in from Three Rivers.
Can't wait!

Hey Terry: looks like Jim and I will be coming over sooner than expected.

M5guy is going to Minam tonight so we figured we will come to Joseph and start the festivities sooner.

M5guy we will see you Saturday morning and camp with you Saturday night.

Cheers...Rob

[RR]

Stuck in wx (icing, winds, thunderstorms) in Northern California unable to cross the Sierra mountains northbound. I may need to reschedule. Is there another date scheduled? Looks like the weather is great up there.

[Super-Maule]

Hello Backcountry Pilots,
I sure had a good time at the Minam Lodge Airlift. Bill Ables and Wup were very hospitable, and generous with vehicles, accommodations ("Joseph Airport Snoratorium"), coffee, cinnamon rolls, ect. Thanks! It was great to see old friends and meet some folks too. The Minam Lodge is located in a georgous spot on the Minam River in the Eagle Cap Wilderness area. I saw over a hundred elk on the flight out of Minam, way cool. I also counted over 25 volunteer airplanes in all. There were lots of Maules, Cessna 180, 182, 206 and many more. A great turn out. Hope everything went well after I flew my second load and had to head back home.

James


One expensive CE-182 $$$at Joseph, Oregon

[Zzz]

That is awesome. Glad you guys got some good wx.

[Alex]

Code: Select all

25 volunteer airplanes in all.

Wow! You must have been able to move a ton of stuff. Incredible turn out.

[robw56]

Nice work guys looks like a lot of fun and for a good cause too. I wish I would have been able to help out.

[mountainmatt]

Awesome stuff! Thanks to those who gave their time and money to help out.

[OregonMaule]

Back from Minam. More later. Good time. Brought Lisa to pCity for lunch.

[OregonMaule]

The Minam Airlift was a huge success. The pilots, mainly from BCP I will add, had a great time.

Friday Wup let us flop in the FBO double wide. Good accommodations! 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room, bar, formal dining room, and covered porch. I think we had 9 or 10 there and 4 more in town or Minam.

SuperMaule went to town and M5guy went to Minam. IdahoMike who I just met for the first time was the RAF representative. Mike and his 2 friends went to Minam Friday. John McKenna from the RAF was trying to come but got snowed out. Mike and crew were shooting a professional video for the RAF and Mike will let us know when it is released.

Saturday Joseph and Minam was a flurry of activity! I think we had close to 20 planes and a Huey working. Load planes take off at 10 minute intervals. Land Minam shut down, ground crew unload supplies, reloads with garbage. You depart and the next plane lands. It was a good safe operation for a bunch of volunteers.

I was busy flying 3 loads so didn't take as many pictures as I wanted but there are picture if guys will post them.

Saturday the Minam cook made us all a great lunch and dinner! Thank you! The young lady was super, I can't think of her name, darn.

Saturday night was the big party. The alcohol was being consumed like a bunch of military pilots back from a mission.

We learned about "Downing the Weed" Jeremiah Weed Bourbon and the after burner drink. We had more than 1 burning mustache and one flaming face. AHHH the memories. We even had 152 Mary gulping flaming Weed shots.

The story of Jeremiah Weed.
http://www.check-six.com/lib/Drinks/JeremiahWeed.htm


Getting to Joseph was interesting


A load of garbage headed to Joseph

Groundloopes 172 died.

New tractor and saw mill

After lunch

The Huey, front loader and back hoe

Scrap being hauled out with the Huey

180 with a tailwheel adjustment

Human tie downs so the Huey didn't blow the 180 away.

M5Guy, Littlejohn and Lora Lee

Skybobb, new Kobota 4x4


This was a good warm up for Caveman and JC. If you missed the Minam work party you may have another chance. Rumor says they may do another one.

Cheers...Rob

[Zzz]

Dang, what happened to Craig's 172?

Good pics, thanks Rob.

[OregonMaule]

Dang, what happened to Craig's 172?

Good pics, thanks Rob.

Not sure. AP told him to start with 2 new mags, harness, and plugs. If that don't fix it???? Check for stuck valve. The last resort I guess is wings off, and on a trailer.

I would do compression test first. The AP said he needs the a fore mentioned parts regardless.

Cheers

[GroundLooper]

Good writeup, Rob. Thanks again for Hauling my gear back. Tell Mary thanks again for the lift. Also thanks to Brian and Dave for getting me to and from the lodge where I could torch my sorrows, and a nose hair or two, with an afterburner.

Groundloopes 172 died.

I'm pretty certain it's a stuck valve, probably two. Nothing that a few bales of cash won't resolve. I just need to find out where they're harvesting some. Aggrevating as it is, I'm still really happy that it didn't die at Minam.

[58Skylane]

It appears that Rob has a money tree or two. Sorry to hear about your plane. I know the feeling

[EZFlap]

Stuck valve... find an old gray haired mechanic who knows the "rope trick" and you can probably get out of there without doing a field top overhaul.

[Little John]

I had to do the rope trick to our old 172 before we rebuilt the engine the next year. It is not hard to do if that is what is wrong. The O-300's are good at sticking exhaust valves, the rope is stuffed down spark plug hole. Then the piston is gently brought up to put pressure on the bottom of valves; this allows you to remove valve springs without valve falling out until you want to drop it into the cylinder; if necessary. Sometimes you can smack the valve stem with a soft hammer and break it loose, or lash up to a rubber hose and a small hand drill to lap in; if needed. Sometimes, before undoing the spring, you can put air pressure in the cylinder and smack the top of the valve with a soft hammer to move the valve under pressure, may break the valve loose.

Another thing to check is the OHMS resistance of each spark plug. Plugs should be less 5,000 ohms, if it pegs the meter, 20-30,000 ohms, no matter how good the spark plug looks, it will not work properly. It needs replaced. They are easy to check.

These are simple things and easy to do. Did you find a local mechanic to help or bring your mechanic to Joseph? Keep us posted.

We had a lot of fun in our 172! But I am now addicted to the 235 hp in our Maule. Good luck!