G'day,
Seeing as there is a slight chance I could be spending a week or so in Denver in the US at the end of August I thought I'd take the opportunity to go do some mountain flying. Just for the heck of it.
1) I have an Oz PPL, but I'm not necessarily looking at a full check-out or anything (due hassles of converting licence etc). I'm just after a couple of hours with an instructor somewhere, more for the experience than anything else.
2) I have absolutely no idea where to start.
Bearing the above points in mind - can anyone recommend a good place to grab an aeroplane from? Approx costs for an hour's dual in a Cherokee or the like? That sort of thing.

kookabat,

I will be in Denver from August 24 and will also be interested in a local fly or two.

I am staying with an ex colleague who is building his own aircraft (Davis?) and I am hoping that he will use his local knowledge to tell me where to fly. He is on holiday right now but I will pm you when I can tell you more.

If you are there at the same time maybe we could share an instructor and aircraft.

Theres a spitfire at Aspen you can rent.

Probably your only chance to ever get in one.

Best bet for some relaxed flying would be Front Range Airport, near Watkins (east of downtown, on I-70). Alternatively go to Boulder. Both have rental outfits. You could also go to Jeffco or Centennial, but these are much busier & more commercial.

Get a mountain checkout & go flying in the Rockies - amazing!

Try Boulder airport.

John Blum CFI Pitts S2B New Attitude Aerobatics
303-469-7746

I spent three months living in Broomfield next to Boulder working for a f...kwit IT storage company a coupleof yrs ago. Work was boring as hell except for going out to Boulder airfield and exploring the area. Lots of Luscombes at Boulder I recall.

Enjoy

I flew the sort of trips you mention out of Boulder in 2001 - some of the best and most challenging flying I've undertaken:) . Unfortunately, Dakota Ridge Aviation, who I used, have since ceased trading, but there were a couple of other outfits on the field at that time - quick check of the web should draw results. You could easily fly Boulder to Leadville (Highest Airport in Continental USA @<hidden> about 9,500' IIRC) to Aspen to Glenwood and back to Boulder in about 3 flying hours, and it'll give you a great taste of mountain flying!:ok:

Thanks guys! That's given me a good place to start - if this trip actually goes ahead. Should be finding out in next few days.

Cheers!
K