I skipped work yesterday. It has been August since I had flown 904, so I just went flying. Took her over to Aspen for a few hours. The airport people said it is the first Coupe to land there in recent memory. I can believe it. Aspen has a tower-controlled airport at the end of a valley at 7820 ft. msl surrounded by 12,000+ mountains. It has one 7,000 x 100 foot runway. You land in one direction and take-off in the other. There is 1,500-foot hill about three miles from the end of the runway. I followed the highway into town because I didn't want to make an approach from 10,000. I don't like to force the engine through that kind of thermal shock if I can help it. It was good thing that I used the highway because that is the way I had to go to get out. I knew the Coupe could get in and out.
I had to pay my first landing fee. It was kind of joke when I told them the Coupe only grossed 1,250 pounds, and they hit me for two bucks. The Coupe drew a several onlookers, but it always does. I didn't have a calculator so I will leave checking density altitude to some one with one (airport 7,820, temp. 14C, pressure 30.25), but I was guessing around 9,000. I lifted off in about 2,500 ft and had more than 200 ft. AGL by the end of the runway. There was a guy there washing a Spitfire. Only in Aspen. I talked to him enough to find out he was the owner. One of the linemen came by and said to me "If you wash its belly, he will give you a ride." I was thinking that I would wash the whole thing with a toothbrush for a ride, but the owner didn't say anything. I did get to help him turn the prop over. Maybe we should all strike for more flying days, or just strike and go flying. Oct10.jpg Sorry if you can't see the image, and yes it is two-seater. Richard N99904 http://www27.brinkster.com/n99904/
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