Tour of Kansas

[N111YX]

I was due for a trip to see family in Kansas so I ran from tropical depression Lee approaching Atlanta and headed for the high pressure, post-cold frontal Kansas. Well, I did have to go through the front and that caused a few problems. Rain, low ceilings, more prop paint erosion. Every trip this year I seem to have run into big time rain. Over 13000 miles I suppose it's likely.

Enroute to KC, I had to divert and ended up at Mountain View, MO. The site of my second landing on my first solo cross country, 25 years ago. I remember getting lost going from Harrison, AR and reading the water tower at West Plains, MO for my bearings...good times... :lol:

Upon arriving in KC, I met Bob Mika and poured over his latest mods to his Sonex. The more one looks at his plane the more little details show up. Lot's of cool little accessories there. The next day we flew together on a calm, cool flight over to Topeka to see Mark Kingman's Sonex. He is about to start his Jab 3300 for the first time. He's on a grass strip 3 miles from an air force base. You can actually contact the tower on the ground and tell them you are about to take off... :!:

Next it was off to Manhattan, KS to see more family. I gave three rides there to a nervous uncle, a more nervous aunt, and a carefree cousin. 74 degrees 5 knots of wind and not a cloud in sight. Perhaps the best weekend of the year weather-wise.

Atchison, KS was next. Birthplace of Amelia Earhart and most of my elder family. In fact, my great grandmother was in grade school with Amelia. I gave three rides, my step mother, a WWII P-47 pilot, and my 92 year old great uncle who was a WWII submarine captain! He owned a Cub in the 1950's and when he took the stick he began flying all over town talking about how things have changed since 1929. There was lot's of flooding to check out. He cannot hear so he was shouting this to me with no headset on... :lol:

I tried to fly home yesterday but ended up running into some low clouds that went all the way to the top of the mountains near Huntsville, AL. I have a half million Hilton points so it was an easy decision to get a room at the Embassy Suites for the night.

I had a leisurely 1 hour flight back home this morning.

As before, I feel that I covered more in 5 days than if I had done the trip two or three times by car. The amount of things one can see with some good weather and 150 mph just amazes me.... :D

Stops...

Calhoun, GA
Huntingdon, TN
Mountain View, MO
Olathe, KS
Sunset Strip (Topeka), KS
Manhattan, KS
Atchison, KS
Billard (Topeka)
Kaiser Lake Ozark, MO
Paris, TN
Tullahoma, TN
Madison Co (Huntsville, AL)
Cherokee, Co (Canton, GA)

Days...5
Miles...2200
Rides...6
Flight Hours 15.1

[N111YX]

Pics II

[N111YX]

Pics III

[Dan]

Really enjoyed the write up and the pictures Kip. This allows me to dream of doing something like this in the Onex someday. Thanks again,

Dan
Tucson, AZ.

[onex28]

Great post Kip. Looking forward to do those kind of trips when I finish the Onex.

David

[Sonex1517]

Kip

That DC-3 in the background at Tullahoma is an icon. It is named "Mister Douglas." It was a skydiving plane for years and years - sad to see it there rotting away.....I have a bunch of jumps and many fond memories from 129 Hotel....

[N111YX]

I never got a DC-3 jump but there is still time. I did do the 727 in Quincy... 8-)

Kip

That DC-3 in the background at Tullahoma is an icon. It is named "Mister Douglas." It was a skydivi plane for years and years - sad to see it there rotting away.....I have a bunch of jumps and many fond memories from 129 Hotel....

[Sonex1517]

Kip - you gotta see the photo I got of the 727....now you're gonna make me go dig it out. I was a freefall photographer for way too long....

[MichaelFarley56]

Great write up Kip! I'm very jealous (like everyone else here!). I too hope to use my Waiex for adventures such as this someday :)

Keep it up and fly safe!

[142YX]

Great Pictures.. good for more motivation. I have been steamrolling for the past month cranking out parts left and right. Cant wait to be flying cross country in my own Waiex.