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Around Lake Michigan

V

Vlad

Well Known Member
Tour around Lake Michigan was my dream for years. On my way to Oshkosh 2006 we drove around it but didn't see much from the road. I told myself after my RV is airworthy I would fly around it. And I did in 2013. It took Saturday all day and most of Sunday. Weather was perfect VRF as usual. Below is a loose slideshow with some subtitles. There will be some pictures looking rather provocative but they were planned and no safety was compromised.


... Preflight was done the night before. I told her where we go and how. She agreed. I showed up very early in the morning.





First stop is 6G4 Wynkoop airfield in Ohio. Short hop two hours something. Sun was rising over New York City.






A City of relaxed filmmaking and associated airport. ATC called it a pit looks decent to me.










One hour more and Wynkoop 12 o'clock.





Very nice, hospitable and picturesque place. Grass runway 9 out of 10.







Lots of different airframes.
















Hmm. RV too? So it says on the tail.



 
Mighty Waco.









A line with RVs. Piper Cub seats in right crowd.







Nice example of panel.







I spent close to an hour on the ground, ate tasty breakfast sandwich, took some fuel and launched toward Grand Rapids, Michigan. B17 was there giving rides. He was cleared for take off, I tried to deviate a bit to catch a good picture but stern tower lady ordered minimum time some heavy iron was behind me. Wilco.

Do you see the Fortress? It's there, ready for takeoff from parallel 26R.







Stay at KGRR was rather short. Two pilots of higher caliber met me at the most expensive FBO in MI and escorted to an undisclosed hangar. Camera was seized and remained in protective custody. I managed to retrieve an image from a friendly spy satellite. There is some serious hardware in USA.






Quick lunch followed and I was dispatched expeditiously.













I flew toward shoreline of Lake Michigan to a recommended field with cheap mogas. If you plan to stop at Park Township KHLM on a weekend, don't. The fuel pumps are locked and not a single soul around. One good thing is they have some dark corners between hangars...



 
Here comes the shoreline.





Started northbound on planned altitude of 1000' along eastern shore. Last time I saw water like this in the Bahamas.













A SOS call came from a boat requesting help. Pirates!!!





I responded promptly.





Shot one speedster he will capsize in a second.






Soon all offenders were scattered and fled. The boat was safe to continue its journey to the ocean. I am happy and waiting for a medal.







If back in the day they had RVs they wouldn't lost a ship here by Doug Bell's Arcadia. Do you see the wreck? I do. It's to the right from peddling woman on a board.







 
Then there were the Dunes.







Something is going on there.











The whole sand box is full of cars and motorcycles.











They do some crazy things there. I loitered for couple minutes and left. What is this? A lake above the Lake?







Ludington! The Badger ferry!







Very familiar spot. In 2010 the Vegelins (an RV builder from Russia) and I drove to here to cross the lake with our cars. How are you doing Sergei? Long time no talk. We had good time on that ferry three years ago. Time to repeat.










Nothing changed much since then.







I have a picture from the other side too.
 
Crystal Lake.






Montauk of Michigan. Woolsey airport 5D5 great spot. Jay Pratt camped here with his first RV6 in 1996. He circumnavigated Lake Michigan too.











Woolsey has very interesting FBO building all rocky.












Rocky shack was closed at the moment and I couldn't guess the right combination for four key buttons ctaf didn't open neither did sesame.










I finished my emergency ration snack and took off.











Towards private island of South Fox.



 
Vlad
Thanks for the complement on my panel. I saw your RV-9A parked but failed to see you at Wynkoop.
Val Kozak
RV-8, 81VK
 
Great Pictures

Real nice report and pictures Vlad. I had flight planned the same trip for the way back from Oshkosh this year but the WX didnt work for me. Maybe next year.... Nice work!!
Skipper RV7
 
Waco01 said:
Vlad
Thanks for the complement on my panel. I saw your RV-9A parked but failed to see you at Wynkoop.
Val Kozak
RV-8, 81VK
Click to expand...


Val that's one amazing aircraft you have. A friend of mine half a world away is dreaming about it :)





hempy.4 said:
Real nice report and pictures Vlad. I had flight planned the same trip for the way back from Oshkosh this year but the WX didnt work for me. Maybe next year.... Nice work!!
Skipper RV7
Click to expand...


Thanks Skip. Now I know the road and can show it to you next year :D
 
Mr. Karpayev, you are truly an ambassador, for many things. I sense the Visitation Bureau in your Mother Country longs to have you return to produce inspirational media to entice more people to visit there....

It is on my bucket list to someday visit Russia, I hope to make it.

Will you be passing through Palatka, FL, anytime soon?

Warm Regards,
 
ccsmith51 said:
Mr. Karpayev, you are truly an ambassador, for many things. I sense the Visitation Bureau in your Mother Country longs to have you return to produce inspirational media to entice more people to visit there....

It is on my bucket list to someday visit Russia, I hope to make it.

Will you be passing through Palatka, FL, anytime soon?

Warm Regards,
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris, the real RV Ambassador is Rosie I am just a rank-and-file consul in his foreign service dept.

Will stop at 28J around Thanksgiving Day for fuel. Would claim lunch Con and Ginger promised me last year. :D
 
Island hop Part One.

Island of South Fox is a mystery to everyone. A rumor circulates it will be open to the public next year but there is nothing to prove it. I made several phone calls prior to my trip but nobody picked up. There were no answering machine either. Well let me try from the air.







I rocked my wings, I buzzed deserted beach, I called the radio, I waved to somebody, no luck. They don't want an alien on this super private strip of paradise.
















There were no guard dogs Turbo mentioned but there were a lot of well groomed horses. Somebody was working by the horses but he turned his back when I flew by. Time to get out of here before they deploy AA guns. No luck to log an island visited.









North Fox Island also has an airstrip but it's not suitable for an RV. Even with a 3rd wheel in right place. So no luck #2.












Island #3 was big. Beavers Island it's called. Very pretty lady at the front desk pleasantly asked if I need any fuel. Knowing the price I said no. I asked if she knows anybody on South Fox she gave me some look. Let me continue my journey...






BTW next year there will be brand new terminal at Beavers Island. I plan to check it out.

 
My trip was progressing very well. East coast is behind and now I am about to explore Northern Peninsula. For a while there will be no sandy beaches and fancy dunes.










I was pleasantly tired and RV needed some oats too. Mackinac Bridge and it's all for this Saturday.






The bridge is actually not that big. When I drove over it in 2006 I thought it rivals Verrazano.






Not even close when looking from the air.








It's very low a good size boat couldn't fit under.







I saw the famous island everybody raves for but I will come there next time.
Now being somewhat critical on fuel in one tank I gained couple feet and went directly to Schoolcraft Airport.











There is a clean newly renovated Holiday Motel just across the street from the airport. $45 a night and from the window you can see your RV parked. If you are a gambler you could call a casino and they come to pick you up. I am not. I ordered a pizza tried to watch some TV and fell asleep. Tomorrow is Sunday and the weather will be perfect VFR as usual.







 
Vlad,

There's no need to be humble. Rosie is another aviation ambassador for sure. But don't sell yourself short. You're an aviation ambassador in a league by yourself. Thanks for the travel log and especially the photos. You inspire great RV adventures.

Don
 
Vlad said:
Thanks Chris, the real RV Ambassador is Rosie I am just a rank-and-file consul in his foreign service dept.

Will stop at 28J around Thanksgiving Day for fuel. Would claim lunch Con and Ginger promised me last year. :D
Click to expand...

Then I shall have to strong-arm Con to include me in that lunch. Which will be quite a feat since he is a LEO in much better condition than I!! :)
 
Quit With the Pressure...OK?

Vlad, you're killing me. My wife see's the pics and then it starts,
almost like the kids..."are we there yet", only "tell me again when
what the timeline is on flying?"
Kidding aside, what are you using to take the pics?
That she does want to know for sure.
 
Val that's one amazing aircraft you have. A friend of mine half a world away is dreaming about it

Thanks for your kind words.
I really enjoy your trip write-ups especially the photos. If you are ever in the area of Dayton Ohio stop in and visit our field (3OH0) it is private but visitors are welcome. The Air Force Museum is close and if you let me know transportation would not be a problem.
Val K.
 
Michigan pics

Vlad,
Next time your near Gand Rapids stop by. I live at an Airpark 15 miles west of Grand Rapids (Ottawa executive Z98).

Great pics, the water really is beautiful, especially "up north".

Gary
 
Bayou Bert said:
Kidding aside, what are you using to take the pics?
That she does want to know for sure.
Click to expand...


John, it's a 2004 Nikon D50 I can not buy a memory card for it anymore. Bulletproof thing still with kit lens 18-55. Lens are scratched battery lost 50%. Dropped from the wing once. Used to knock AN bolt in. Been with me everywhere took probably a billion pix but only couple thousand survived. In 10 years Nikon will pay me big money to buy it back :D


Waco01 said:
Val that's one amazing aircraft you have. A friend of mine half a world away is dreaming about it

Thanks for your kind words.
I really enjoy your trip write-ups especially the photos. If you are ever in the area of Dayton Ohio stop in and visit our field (3OH0) it is private but visitors are welcome. The Air Force Museum is close and if you let me know transportation would not be a problem.
Val K.
Click to expand...


Val I actually plan to see the Museum later in the fall. Timely post.


GaryK said:
Vlad,
Next time your near Gand Rapids stop by. I live at an Airpark 15 miles west of Grand Rapids (Ottawa executive Z98).

Great pics, the water really is beautiful, especially "up north".

Gary
Click to expand...


Gary, see you next year when I go around Lake Huron :)
 
Sunday morning. Briefing old school. Everywhere I go the forecast is good. All day. From Chicago to New York.





Less sand more rocks on Northern Peninsula.







Less beach goers more birds. Gracious swans. They were kind of surprised.







A school of fish like in Nova Scotia? No this is a duck flock.







A lonely camper.







Heading toward Washington Island. There are two little islands before it.







One is a bird nursery. At least four different kinds of birds are resting there in hundreds.







The other little island... wait what's there? A runway? Kind of crooked but I've seen a paved private strip look like a hockey stick.







Let's check it out. Can I land there? Approach stabilized aircraft configured. Hmm no birds...Closer...






Closer....

it's a TRAP!!! They camouflaged a sand dune so well to trick Russians!! There is probably an arresting gear. No way I am landing there.



 
I left the tricky patch and pointed my nose along the cliffs of Washington Island.



















Leader of the Pack.







Facilities.

















It's still early in Wisconsin everybody is sleeping. Let me take a look around. Those cliffs with caves are impressive.






Do you see an ancient writing?



 
Chambers island has a strip too.










But listen, if AF/D says it's a poor gravel it IS poor gravel. Touch down at your own risk. After several seconds of washboarding I applied full power and became airborne again. AF/D was right.







Then I was reading signs.
















The beauty of RV9 is she can go slow and be really quiet. Birds didn't even move.










By Muskegon I saw a trike. Amazing machine of pure flying. I've flown with Piper Cubs but this was out of my capability and easily outperformed my machine. I slowed down, dropped the flaps and still couldn't keep up. Bye Trike I can't fly your Angle of Attack.







Here is the harbor where Badger Ferry docks. Been here with my car.



 
Passed chimneys and marinas









windmills and quarries













I diverted from the shore









and arrived at little friendly airport tightly squeezed between controlled airspaces. It has cheap gas and super friendly RV crowd.









Guess what airport is that?








 
dpansier said:
Capital Drive Airport
Click to expand...


02C it is Don you are right. A fellow RV9 builder met me at the airport and briefed on the state of local RV nation. Thanks Jerry for hospitality now I know where to stop for gas on my next trip. The countdown to week 27 has began...






After having good time with very enthusiastic crowd at Capitol airport I launched my last leg. The longest of the trip. Non stop from Wisconsin to New Jersey with more sightseeing on the way. That's will be fun 5 hours to watch. I had popcorn...







Passed Milwaukee.







Around the lake they build chimneys by pairs. Everywhere. Why?






After passing the chimneys on stratosphere hight I dropped down to more breathable altitude and sailed smoothly to Chicago. A racer-provocateur waiving no way buddy I am on a mission...










Here comes Chicago!!!







What's all that smoke about? They put an armada of airplanes on Russian way? An instinct kicked in but the magic red circled suppressed it. There might be The Team RV in that circle.







And I went around it. Plenty of rooftops for emergency landings. Traffic is light on highways too. Stadiums empty it's hot. Chicago approach pointed me to somebody no factor.







 
Last edited:
I made my way to Fermilab. I circles outside of Dupage Class D for couple minutes then my Bear Clock started glowing and I run away. Pete Howell's father-in-law probably slammed the radiation switch full power to deter the Russians...






It gets bouncy down low over Chicago. Time to go up. From the marshes







to a colony








via yard







around speedway








I settled at a comfy altitude, trimmed off and watched the movie "Lord of the Clouds". Did I sail between layers? No way.








 
The movie didn't have a happy end. Somewhere in PA a cloud of different nature.







A farm on fire. Big trouble I hope they have enough fire engines in nearby villages.










Can't stay here fuel gages are both in deep red. The last leg was 4.8 hours...:eek:



So here it was a short weekend trip around Lake Michigan. Started Saturday morning and ended on Sunday with a lot of daylight time to spare. 16 hours of quality flight time logged every minute to remember. Fuel costs? Weekly paycheck to the last penny. Keep pounding those rivets it's all worth it!



 
Thank you.

Thank you for the trip write up, Vlad.
You are very generous to share your quality flying time.
Gregg
 
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