Operation "Triangle"

Vlad · Oct 13, 2011

The trip was well planned, I spent couple days charting it. Asked several questions and got couple nice suggestions. The main purpose was to visit the longest runway in my vicinity and take a look at fall colors in neighbouring states.

To Lockheed people brief hello, long preflight and up we go. Little boats were still sleeping.

But the big one was already awake.

Met a friendly Skyhawk they were enjoying the view if you know the guy tell him to contact me I have couple really good pictures of him.

ATC probably thought I was on operation "Rectangle" and gave me this code. Next time I will be geometrically more articulate.

tkatc · Oct 13, 2011

Keep it going!!
I hope you got me some Maine Lobster!!

Vlad · Oct 13, 2011

Smoky river.

An alien ship was visiting Albanians. Do you see the flying saucer by those skyscrapers?

Mini Niagara Falls.

Deeper into the Adirondack Mountains my countrymen organized a colony according to iPad. You can see New Russia on the sectional.

The same on the ground.

Plenty of emergency landing spots left and right.

Vlad · Oct 13, 2011

First leg was almost over lots of concrete was in sight.

My CFI would be proud of me I did exactly I was taught. Got weather, favorable runway, 45 degrees entry, all classic... then out of nowhere a kerosene burner on long final opposite direction of course. 10 mile runway probably good for 12 kt tailwind I dunno. Kerosene burner captain was very nice, asked if they could squeeze in. Sure they can garage built airplanes are in no rush.

I love three sixties. Watched a nascar

Examined closed runway

even found something nuclear looking

The burner exited with many thanks, my turn. This runway is HUGE and can accommodate a space shuttle.

Vlad · Oct 13, 2011

Last time I visited such a massive facility thirty some years ago on the other side of the globe.

Impressive.

Those kerosene burners surface out of nowhere. This one was using upwind runway.

Look who is here.

My RV was given royal treatment. As first time customer I received 50 cents/gallon discount on fuel. They have very nice pilot lounge. Definitely I will be back in February. Let me introduce Kathy and Jason of Sheltair.

dmaib · Oct 13, 2011

Nice report Vlad. I could not help but notice the private airport on the screen shot of the sectional named "***-Pirin".
I'll bet there is a story there!

tkatc · Oct 13, 2011

Nuclear stuff was actually old munition bunkers...probably inactive. B-52s used to run on that runway.

If you went to Maine...where are lobsters?

turbo · Oct 14, 2011

vlad, it was truly an awesome weekend of w nice wx. what day did you go? flew the chopper a lot and got some nice shots too. headed home to stuart fl in the morning. see you in november. keep in touch on the dates. try to be there on a wednesday so we can fly to sebring.

flew 200 nm from hartford ct to newport vt and back. that put us at the canadian border, along lake memphremagog, at the east side resturant & pub, lz parking lot. awesome day flying. enjoy the colors.

the two movies may take a while to load.
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http://gallery.mac.com/edarcy#100669&bgcolor=black&view=grid

http://gallery.mac.com/edarcy#100677/MVI_0081&bgcolor=black

http://gallery.mac.com/edarcy#100677/MVI_0082&bgcolor=black

krjcolo · Oct 14, 2011

Vlad,
Nice trip! Great pictures.

bhassel · Oct 14, 2011

Between my screen resolution and my eyes I couldn't see on the map where you went. Where were the big runway and munitions bunker at? NH, Maine, upstate?

I was stationed in upstate for 4 years at the Grif in Rome NY. Beautiful country.

Turbo, those galleries seem to be unavailable...

Thanks,

Bob

turbo · Oct 14, 2011

.

Turbo, those galleries seem to be unavailable...

Thanks,

Bob[/QUOTE]

bob, i think i got it fixed.

rv7boy · Oct 14, 2011

ATLAS Missile Silo Home

Long runway is Plattsburgh, NY.
There are also old missile silos around that old base which is now the Plattsburgh Airport (public).
One of the old missile silo sites has been converted to a residential airpark. check this out!

http://www.silohome.com/

novipilot · Oct 14, 2011

Memories

Ah, that flight brings back many memories from long ago when I learned to fly in VT and lived in MA. Flew all over VT, NH, MA, CT, RI and parts of NY. Never got to land on those long runways then, but now regularly visit the old Wurtsmith AFB in Oscoda, MI, KI Sawyer in MI's UP. You can do 3 stop and goes without changing direction once. Long taxi back though.

bhassel · Oct 14, 2011

rv7boy said:
Long runway is Plattsburgh, NY.
There are also old missile silos around that old base which is now the Plattsburgh Airport (public).
One of the old missile silo sites has been converted to a residential airpark. check this out!

http://www.silohome.com/

Ah...Plattsburgh, they had nukes there as well.

Bob

carlrai · Oct 15, 2011

Vlad -Turbo

Keep me posted when Vlad makes it to Florida for Sebring breakfast. I'll have the flu that Wednesday and join you.

Captain_John · Oct 15, 2011

Vlad,

So sorry we missed you up in Rangeley! We arrived only 2 hours after you left!

Maybe next year I will have an RV fly-in up there! It is a really cool place!

I have room for about 8 people if anyone wants to spend the night.

CJ

Captain_John · Oct 15, 2011

tkatc said:
Nuclear stuff was actually old munition bunkers...probably inactive. B-52s used to run on that runway.

If you went to Maine...where are lobsters?

Tony, That is 8B0 (Rangeley, Maine). I have a little house there. You must come and visit.

Tip: Don't eat seafood west of route 1!

When you come here to my house in KPYM (Plymouth, MA) we can hook you up with seafood!

When will you be visiting!?! Bring Russki with you!

CJ

tkatc · Oct 15, 2011

CJ, very soon I hope. I surely don't want to visit after it gets too cold. The "spy" always has excuses to avoid good trips (KGB has limited surveillance funds) but I will try to get him up there. We are doing a local flight tomorrow....I was hoping to go to Long Island but he has other plans.

Vlad · Oct 15, 2011

Thanks guys Plattsburgh is a nice place indeed. There is a write up by Louise couple years ago.

Strange things are in the ether after departure. Lots of communication in French. I studied the language for couple years but could not understand a thing. If I go to Canada do I need to study again? I am not good at it anymore.

Turned my way toward Lobstah Country to get one for my cousin.

I went relatively high but Center said there will be interruptions in radio communication and radar services. And there were blank spots so whoever go that way go higher then 7.5K.

Newport State Airport in Vermont I am sure there are at least two RVs.

Then was beautiful New Hampshire nice a quiet. Nobody on the radio too.

Radar contact appeared when I don't need it the Rangley Lake airport was in sight. Have a question - what if there is an invasion from the north? How will we detect it there is no radar coverage along the border?

CJ own a nice little house somewhere here. I circled to find it but no joy. Later I learned that he missed me only by an hour. Jeeps are slow, get that RV done!

It's very beautiful there I didn't take any pictures because the winds were shearing like crazy in all directions. I was fat on fuel and decided if I could not put it down from second attempt I proceed home.

Vlad · Oct 15, 2011

On final wind stabilized and landing was smooth.

Rangley Lake is located in a picturesque recreational area but there is nobody there on weekends. I heard some funny stories about this place I know at least one guy on VAF who has something to share

Maybe he is reading this.

I parked RV according to the lines on the ramp then reparked. The wind was so stiff I can not lock my rudder with that PVC thingy I made the other day. This is how I chocked good Bravo Kilo. It looked funny but it was really short stop.

Rest room was not that far. There was an object under construction nearby but it didn't look like a radar foundation.

All right spy work half done, time to go.

Recoinassance mission coded "Hunt for Red Lobstah" is over see you next time CJ.

Vlad · Oct 15, 2011

I climbed to my favorite altitude and enjoyed the view of cold Yankee MOA.

Boston said there is glider activity somewhere here but I couldn't pick anybody in the air.

If my grandfather was alive he would be pleased to see this screen shot. Guess why?

Two hours later I was home. Visibility million by million, a pop up tfr, big boeings and aerobuses rule the sky, controllers sharp and talking fast. I need instrument rating, otto and dynon.

Captain_John · Oct 16, 2011

Tony, Get my number from Vlad and text me when you guys will be around. Perhaps we will drop in on you someday in Bill's -6 or Rich's -7?

Vlad, I got some Rangeley stories! hahaha Some of them I could even mention in mixed company!

When I was doing my SES license I asked my instructor what it was like being a young, single man in stRangeley. He said, "The odds are good, but the goods are odd!"

The place is absolutely an outdoors-man's paradise! My place is 1/2 a mile from the airport, across the street from the lake and on the snowmobile trail.

You really do feel like you are away from it all when you are up there!

BTW, if anyone wants to do a really simple lobstah run, go to Sanford, Maine. Walk outside the gate and go to the gas station. They have lobstah meat rollups on wheat for something like $5.95. It hits the spot and rubs off some!

CJ

turbo · Oct 16, 2011

CJ, wish i knew the lobstah info a few weeks ago. missed out. too bad. love that stuff.

back in FL.

Captain_John · Oct 16, 2011

Turbo,

I know a few secrets here and there!

See you next summer!

Keep in touch pal!

CJ

ryanflys · Oct 18, 2011

Here's a Rangley story, a couple days after i got my instrument rating years ago i filed IFR to Rangley to build commercial time not expecting any clouds.

By the time i get to Maine solid IMC and had to shoot an NDB approach into Rangley (+which i had never done in training), cant remember exact numbers or maybe my nerves at the time are exaggerating but it was close to minimums on the circling approach.

after i landing i tried boston on the radio to cancel IFR, no reply. tried my cell phone, no service, looked around the airport couldnt find a soul or a phone so i started to walk down the road to town.

half way down the road a cop pulls up and says "are you ryan vinton?", being 350 miles from home i wasn't sure if i was dreaming or should turn and run.

he said "boston center is looking for you, don't worry it happens once a week" and gave me a ride to town.

ill never forget that place, and yes Vlad your photos remind me of how beautiful it is up there. maybe a dream for retirement.

Captain_John · Oct 18, 2011

Ryan, Welcome to Strangeley!

Hahaha that story doesn't phase me at all! The place is a trip in many ways!

If you ever are making a return trip, let me know. Perhaps I will be up there?

If not, my cabin is for rent and you can book it online.

PM me for the link if you are interested.

CJ

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