Sometimes all you need is....
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Sometimes all you need is....
..a 60 year old twin and a dirt strip to be happy.
Bacon Strip in the Mojave desert......
...is a private dirt strip owned by John Bacon....
...but open to all, even old dinosaur twins. He takes great care of it and there's even two small cabins one can rent if one wants to stay the night.
The Commanders big mains makes almost all surfaces smooth, and the hard packed desert dirt was no problem. This was the first twin to ever land at the strip according to John.
Landing helped me strip even more flaking paint off the belly, so actually saving me money..
....on each dirt strip landing.
Such a serene and calm place the desert. It's astonishing just how quiet such a big open space gets when nothing's around....
...yet still only about a 45min flight from Los Angeles.
It was time to get back to the city before the sun set and left me flying in the desert and mountains without visual cues...
Some Mad Max-inspired plant I passed on the way back just before I busted an aerobatic training sortie (notam'ed as well)... Lady pilot wasn't too happy, but I did see her and kept far away in my mind, but maybe not far enough. It was a detour after refuelling, so I hadn't checked the notam for that particular airport. All I could do was apologise and that seemed to smooth things over. Technically I was about 0,5-1 mile away from the notamed area, so I was legal. Still, I should have tuned the freq of that airport earlier and listened in. I wish notams were delivered plotted or graphical, so it would be easier to get an overview. They do it with TFR's, why not notams?
My new one piece panel with the glowing UMA-lighting has made night flying a veritable pleasure and taken 30 years off the old girl. At least on the inside.
Here's the landing. As you can see, the strip is almost undefined, but it's a dry lake bed so it's all pretty smooth. Please watch in HD as compression ruins details.
Here's the slightly more sporty takeoff.
Bacon Strip in the Mojave desert......
...is a private dirt strip owned by John Bacon....
...but open to all, even old dinosaur twins. He takes great care of it and there's even two small cabins one can rent if one wants to stay the night.
The Commanders big mains makes almost all surfaces smooth, and the hard packed desert dirt was no problem. This was the first twin to ever land at the strip according to John.
Landing helped me strip even more flaking paint off the belly, so actually saving me money..
....on each dirt strip landing.
Such a serene and calm place the desert. It's astonishing just how quiet such a big open space gets when nothing's around....
...yet still only about a 45min flight from Los Angeles.
It was time to get back to the city before the sun set and left me flying in the desert and mountains without visual cues...
Some Mad Max-inspired plant I passed on the way back just before I busted an aerobatic training sortie (notam'ed as well)... Lady pilot wasn't too happy, but I did see her and kept far away in my mind, but maybe not far enough. It was a detour after refuelling, so I hadn't checked the notam for that particular airport. All I could do was apologise and that seemed to smooth things over. Technically I was about 0,5-1 mile away from the notamed area, so I was legal. Still, I should have tuned the freq of that airport earlier and listened in. I wish notams were delivered plotted or graphical, so it would be easier to get an overview. They do it with TFR's, why not notams?
My new one piece panel with the glowing UMA-lighting has made night flying a veritable pleasure and taken 30 years off the old girl. At least on the inside.
Here's the landing. As you can see, the strip is almost undefined, but it's a dry lake bed so it's all pretty smooth. Please watch in HD as compression ruins details.
Here's the slightly more sporty takeoff.
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 1st Apr 2013 at 21:15.
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Cool pics Adam, brings back memories of when I used to fly the old warrior out from SMO and land on El Mirage lake bed, hard to under/over shoot with several miles wide and long of a strip.
There is another strip near Mojave at LLano where an eccentric old Englsh guy runs a microlight outfight it was always fun for a visit but probably a bit tight for the twin.
Looks like your having fun !!!
There is another strip near Mojave at LLano where an eccentric old Englsh guy runs a microlight outfight it was always fun for a visit but probably a bit tight for the twin.
Looks like your having fun !!!
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Cool. Is the LLano strip on the chart? Might be a nice little excursion if it isn't too tight.
There are two more "uncharted" ones in the desert I want to visit. One is the Chicken Strip up north of China Lakes, the other one is at Amboy and is right next to Roy's Motel & Cafe there. You can literally taxi up to the diner. Both are long enough for the Commander if it isn't too hot. There's also a rumoured one right next to the famous Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, but I haven't managed to find it yet. However, flying out in the desert one sees tons of old abandoned and uncharted strips.
There are two more "uncharted" ones in the desert I want to visit. One is the Chicken Strip up north of China Lakes, the other one is at Amboy and is right next to Roy's Motel & Cafe there. You can literally taxi up to the diner. Both are long enough for the Commander if it isn't too hot. There's also a rumoured one right next to the famous Bagdad Cafe in Newberry Springs, but I haven't managed to find it yet. However, flying out in the desert one sees tons of old abandoned and uncharted strips.
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The Mojave desert is one of my favourite places to fly... - it's a very unique place, which I think your pictures does capture very well.
Even the "big" airports out there, like Mojave (KMHV) & Inyokern (KIYK) are pretty cool places to go.
Last edited by Hodja; 1st Apr 2013 at 10:20.
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Looks amazing.
But as I'm stuck in my office today the closest I'm going to get to a 60 year old twin is.....
...but I'm not going anywhere near her dirt strip.
Happy April Fools day!
But as I'm stuck in my office today the closest I'm going to get to a 60 year old twin is.....
...but I'm not going anywhere near her dirt strip.
Happy April Fools day!
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Last edited by piperboy84; 1st Apr 2013 at 11:54.
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What a severe pang of nostalgia for my bushflying days you've unleashed 
If I remember correctly you were mulling over 'upgrading' from your trusty steed, some time back? I really hope you've had a re-think, looks like you've got the perfect aircraft and that you're enjoying perfect flying! (you must save a lot on your props, having them high off the ground. Used to do run-ups 'on the run' while backtracking dirt strips so's to save the blades in Cessna twins)
If I remember correctly you were mulling over 'upgrading' from your trusty steed, some time back? I really hope you've had a re-think, looks like you've got the perfect aircraft and that you're enjoying perfect flying! (you must save a lot on your props, having them high off the ground. Used to do run-ups 'on the run' while backtracking dirt strips so's to save the blades in Cessna twins)
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Adam
That is what flying is all about not this pen pushing, regulation obsessed finger pointing aviation we have here nowadays.
Oh for the pioneering days when you could fly a Bi-Plane up the river thames to sight see the city at 50 feet
They always say if it looks right it flies right and that aircraft of yours looks right
Pace
That is what flying is all about not this pen pushing, regulation obsessed finger pointing aviation we have here nowadays.
Oh for the pioneering days when you could fly a Bi-Plane up the river thames to sight see the city at 50 feet
They always say if it looks right it flies right and that aircraft of yours looks right
Pace
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Ha - Clank!
I'm still upgrading. In fact, I've just put down my down payment..
But am keeping the Commander. Nobody wants a 520 anyway and the insurance and tie down is cheap, so she's staying. In fact, there was a 520 in Texas just recently the salvagers didn't even want to come pick up for free! And this is an aircraft that is entirely salvageable, not a ramp mummy. It's bad times for old twins. I wish I could save every 520, but it's just not feasible.
Brian's Ranch strip is doable at 1400ft before it gets too hot. I will try to explore a bit more in the desert when I'm free next.
I'm still upgrading. In fact, I've just put down my down payment..
But am keeping the Commander. Nobody wants a 520 anyway and the insurance and tie down is cheap, so she's staying. In fact, there was a 520 in Texas just recently the salvagers didn't even want to come pick up for free! And this is an aircraft that is entirely salvageable, not a ramp mummy. It's bad times for old twins. I wish I could save every 520, but it's just not feasible.
Brian's Ranch strip is doable at 1400ft before it gets too hot. I will try to explore a bit more in the desert when I'm free next.
