My Great Adventure began the day my RV-7 QB kit arrived. I was the second owner of the kit and I launched right in. This was airplane build #3 for me (Excalibur Ultralight and Sonex TD were the predecessors) and I went at it guns a blazing. Unfortunately after 9 months I had to sell the kit. With 5 kids and a business to run, it was “suggested” by the Mrs. that I should sell the kit and buy an already flying -7, thereby “freeing” up my time. Some of you have been there so I don’t need to spell things out. You can read between the lines.
My short time with the -7 QB had introduced me to the wonderful community on VAF and I was a “Van’s Head” in short order. Though I was sad to see the kit leave my garage, I was eager to get my grubby little hands on one and bore some useless holes in the sky.
I eventually located one in London, Ontario, Canada and flew out in May 2010 to see it. I flew it, loved it and bought it. My plan was to return on the Canada Day (July 1st) long weekend to fly her home. It would be a 1524 nm cross country flight to my home field in Western Canada, and I solicited the help of my CFI friend to help me navigate through some of the trickier airspaces.
So after 2 months of flight planning the BIG day finally arrived. With maps in hand and a weather briefing from London FSS we blasted into the cool Ontario sky.
MORNING OF DEPARTURE:
The plan was to fly North of London, parallel Lake Huron and then go up over the top of Lake Superior. This would minimize our time over water. What a gorgeous way to begin our trip !! Smooth air, different scenery than the usual Alberta Prairies that I’m use to, and in the left seat of a -7 !!! Woo hoo !!! Life is good. Being a Garmin Guy, I was a little unfamiliar with the Bendix King GPS and Nav/Com but my trusty co-pilot had it all figured out in no time and we were cruising the “purple line” at a nice 160 knots.
OVER LAKE HURON:
For those of you who have flown over Northern Ontario you will agree with my next sentence. Northern Ontario has some dang inhospitable terrain !! There ain’t nothing living down there but fish and bugs. Makes a fella check that Oil Pressure and Temp. every minute to make sure it’s not moving. In the event of a Forced Landing you have the choice of Rocks, Trees or Water ! Take your pick. Nice !
IDEAL FORCED LANDING TERRAIN !!:
First fuel stop was in Wawa, Ontario. A little airport that supports alot of firefighting work. Windy and gusty crosswind upon landing. Unfortunately this would become a trend on the trip.
We dipped tanks upon landing and to our shock we found that the tanks were EMPTY !!! How could this be as we had flight planned for an hour of fuel reserve ! After some head scratching and back tracking in our minds we realized that we didn’t leave London with full fuel. With all the excitement of the trip and packing up, we didn’t dip tanks before departure. Idiots. This quickly became part of our walk around checklist. Now, some of you out there may not believe in God, but I for one do and a pre-departure prayer is ALWAYS something I do. I believe this particular day it may have saved my hind.
We blast out of Wawa straight into lovely 25 knot headwinds. We would be heading due West from this point on and that wonderful 160 knots cruise shrank to 135 knots. We wanted to hit Kenora, Ontario next but our “fuel scare” made us stop a little short so we could dip tanks and double check our math and verify that the Advanced 2002 EIS was in fact reading the correct amount of fuel remaining.
All was good when we landed in Atikokan, Ontario. It was suppose to be a paved strip but when the wheels of the -7 touched Mother Earth it was a gravel strip. We came to learn that the strip has been torn up for over a year. Let’s all say it together….. check the NOTAMS. Idiots again .
SOME COOL CLOUDS BETWEEN WAWA AND ATIKOKAN:
GOLF, CHARLIE, VICTOR WHISKEY CHILLIN’ IN ATIKOKAN, ONTARIO:
The winds were terrible so we tied down for the night and called it Day 1. We bummed a ride to town with the “fuel guy” and high fived each other for a job well done. Once settled we began checking weather for the next day. We broke out the iPhone and saw that the next day was looking lousy. Atikokan is a one horse town so spending an extra day there would suck. To emphasize that point, where else can a fella buy Subs, Sandwiches, Home Baking and LEECHES ! Yummy. One stop shopping. Good eatin'.
The next day, over breakfast, we bummed a ride to the airport from one of the locals. It was looking like Kenora would be as far as we could get as a storm was brewing. More crosswind landing fun but we touched down in Kenora early and tied down.
Kenora is very close to The Lake of the Woods Resorts so a lot of American Pilots come up to visit. 3 weeks prior a renter of a Piper Saratoga had some trouble with the crosswinds and ditched the plane. Not a very nice site to see on short final.
OMINOUS SITE IN KENORA:
RAMP MATE FOR MY RV. THIS THING IS A GIANT:
To be continued......
My short time with the -7 QB had introduced me to the wonderful community on VAF and I was a “Van’s Head” in short order. Though I was sad to see the kit leave my garage, I was eager to get my grubby little hands on one and bore some useless holes in the sky.
I eventually located one in London, Ontario, Canada and flew out in May 2010 to see it. I flew it, loved it and bought it. My plan was to return on the Canada Day (July 1st) long weekend to fly her home. It would be a 1524 nm cross country flight to my home field in Western Canada, and I solicited the help of my CFI friend to help me navigate through some of the trickier airspaces.
So after 2 months of flight planning the BIG day finally arrived. With maps in hand and a weather briefing from London FSS we blasted into the cool Ontario sky.
MORNING OF DEPARTURE:
The plan was to fly North of London, parallel Lake Huron and then go up over the top of Lake Superior. This would minimize our time over water. What a gorgeous way to begin our trip !! Smooth air, different scenery than the usual Alberta Prairies that I’m use to, and in the left seat of a -7 !!! Woo hoo !!! Life is good. Being a Garmin Guy, I was a little unfamiliar with the Bendix King GPS and Nav/Com but my trusty co-pilot had it all figured out in no time and we were cruising the “purple line” at a nice 160 knots.
OVER LAKE HURON:
For those of you who have flown over Northern Ontario you will agree with my next sentence. Northern Ontario has some dang inhospitable terrain !! There ain’t nothing living down there but fish and bugs. Makes a fella check that Oil Pressure and Temp. every minute to make sure it’s not moving. In the event of a Forced Landing you have the choice of Rocks, Trees or Water ! Take your pick. Nice !
IDEAL FORCED LANDING TERRAIN !!:
First fuel stop was in Wawa, Ontario. A little airport that supports alot of firefighting work. Windy and gusty crosswind upon landing. Unfortunately this would become a trend on the trip.
We dipped tanks upon landing and to our shock we found that the tanks were EMPTY !!! How could this be as we had flight planned for an hour of fuel reserve ! After some head scratching and back tracking in our minds we realized that we didn’t leave London with full fuel. With all the excitement of the trip and packing up, we didn’t dip tanks before departure. Idiots. This quickly became part of our walk around checklist. Now, some of you out there may not believe in God, but I for one do and a pre-departure prayer is ALWAYS something I do. I believe this particular day it may have saved my hind.
We blast out of Wawa straight into lovely 25 knot headwinds. We would be heading due West from this point on and that wonderful 160 knots cruise shrank to 135 knots. We wanted to hit Kenora, Ontario next but our “fuel scare” made us stop a little short so we could dip tanks and double check our math and verify that the Advanced 2002 EIS was in fact reading the correct amount of fuel remaining.
All was good when we landed in Atikokan, Ontario. It was suppose to be a paved strip but when the wheels of the -7 touched Mother Earth it was a gravel strip. We came to learn that the strip has been torn up for over a year. Let’s all say it together….. check the NOTAMS. Idiots again .
SOME COOL CLOUDS BETWEEN WAWA AND ATIKOKAN:
GOLF, CHARLIE, VICTOR WHISKEY CHILLIN’ IN ATIKOKAN, ONTARIO:
The winds were terrible so we tied down for the night and called it Day 1. We bummed a ride to town with the “fuel guy” and high fived each other for a job well done. Once settled we began checking weather for the next day. We broke out the iPhone and saw that the next day was looking lousy. Atikokan is a one horse town so spending an extra day there would suck. To emphasize that point, where else can a fella buy Subs, Sandwiches, Home Baking and LEECHES ! Yummy. One stop shopping. Good eatin'.
The next day, over breakfast, we bummed a ride to the airport from one of the locals. It was looking like Kenora would be as far as we could get as a storm was brewing. More crosswind landing fun but we touched down in Kenora early and tied down.
Kenora is very close to The Lake of the Woods Resorts so a lot of American Pilots come up to visit. 3 weeks prior a renter of a Piper Saratoga had some trouble with the crosswinds and ditched the plane. Not a very nice site to see on short final.
OMINOUS SITE IN KENORA:
RAMP MATE FOR MY RV. THIS THING IS A GIANT:
To be continued......
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