AJO, Yuma, Gila Bend, Ajo, Wink, Sasser, Hooks
The previous weekend we had a flat at a remote airport (Grapevine, AZ88). After Rosie rescued us I decided to replace both tires and tubes with new. Parts arrived from ACS about 1pm Thursday and N174RT had a new set of feet installed by 4pm. Worked on the ramp without a jack. So Friday was time for a shakedown flight. Sandy and I flew to Yuma for lunch, O2 fill and fuel. Sadly the person in line in front of us at the caf? got the last order of Millionaire's Friday Rib lunch. We still had nice BBQ for lunch. The small O2 tank was filled so we could use it for our upcoming trip instead of my larger tank, filled with fuel - $3.97 fuel (cheap for AZ). We stopped and topped the tanks at Gila Bend on the way back to Ajo (P01).
Saturday morning we launched eastward. Less than three hours, mostly at 9500' with nice tail winds we landed at Winkler County Airport (KINK) in Wink TX. This has become a frequent stop for us. Nice family owned/operated FBO. Peanut butter & jelly on bagel for lunch. Then less than two more hours of flying until we landed at Sasser/Breakaway airport near Austin. Scott Card had agreed to help with some plane maintenance which we mostly completed Saturday afternoon before adult beverages and dinner. We always enjoy visiting the Cards. Sunday included final inspection/re-assembly of N174RT before heading to Houston area.
Large mine near Marana AZ
Guadalupe peak:
Wink Sink just east of KINK:
While flying from Ajo to KINK, near Deming NM we were listening to ATC. ONLY listening, I had not called ATC. My ADSB showed a plane, opposite direction, 500' above us and 15 miles away. When the plane was just under 10 miles away ATC called "N174RT, are you on frequency, traffic alert opposite direction 500' above you, xx miles"!* I acknowledged and shortly after told ATC I had traffic in sight. Confirmed my ADSB out was working.
N174RT being pushed into the Card's hangar:
Sasser Breakaway (40XS) to Tomball, Texas (KDWH)
Filed IFR flight plan. Picked it up after taking off from 40XS. Stay at 3k for traffic - American Airlines flight that went off our bow. Cleared to 5k. Mostly above the clouds. About 15 minutes from KDWH, we were cleared to 3k, then fairly quickly to 2k. Short 5-10 minutes in soggy clouds. In and out of the clouds at 3k, underneath the overcast at 2k'. 20 miles out, ATC asked if we had Foxtrot at DWH, but it was garbled. 10 miles out, ATC asked if we could see the runway, which we could not, but we were eventually able to get ATIS info Foxtrot. ATC asked us to keep our sped up since a Cirrus was following. That was easy. Turned to 080 as directed. 5-6 miles out, we spotted the beacon. Visual approach, and contact tower.
Two nice young men drove out in a mini-van to put chocks under the plane, and drive us to Gill FBO as its not very close to parking.
Sandy treated herself to a Keurig Starbucks coffee in the FBO, and Rachel (at the desk) gave Sandy a box of Godiva Chocolates wrapped with a red ribbon since they were out of cookies!
Regards,