MauleBros meet the Cub Crafters
Here we go again...
Off on another weekend adventure, flying north up the valley, trying to figure out what this stuff is
update: got an email from a guy says he grew up on that ranch down there - says that's rice
As we cross Lake Shasta the effects of the current drought conditions are apparent
It's been a while since I've seen it this low
The updated Garmin has a new Terrain page and lookee' there - a whole bunch of terrain ahead
Off to one side is the Castle Crags
and Mount Shasta shows up as a perfectly circular red blob dead ahead
By the skin of our teeth we manage to miss it
update: looks different doesn't it? I got some of the pictures mixed up, this was actually taken on the way back home
Erickson Air-Crane facility in Medford Oregon where they completely restore (remanufacture) the old
Air Crane helicopters for customers all over the world
Time for a break so we drop into Grants Pass - home of Chief Aircraft Parts and Avionics
They've got a major RC model section too
Also the artsy desktop stuff for those with more cash than they know what to do with
The avionics shop was installing Garmins in one of these goofy looking $120k German Remos Light Sports
You can't deny that they look pretty goofy but if the performance charts are to be believed...
300 ft takeoff roll, 1300 fpm climb and 700 lb useful load - that ain't too shabby
North of Grants Pass we spot a fire and steer clear
This is Independence Oregon Airpark just south west of Salem. It's an older fly-in community where you can
taxi your plane right up to the house. The airport was originaly created in 1959 to aid in documenting the comemorative
reenactment of an Oregon Trail covered wagon train from Independence Missouri to Independence Oregon
Our next destination is Stark Twin Oaks Airpark just south of Hillsboro Oregon
The reason we stopped here was because I need a BFR and saw on the internet that they had a J5
so we checked it out and I made an appointment for Sunday morning. We can stop in again on the way back home
But right now we have to get going in order to make it to Yakima before dark
Portland Oregon with Mount Hood in the distance. This sounds like my kind of town
They say that downtown you can't throw a stone without hitting a brew pub
A straight line to Yakima will take us across some rugged stuff just west of Mount Adams
and south of Mount St Helens
It's been 27 years but it still looks spooky
The Cascades are a nice range with green valleys scattered below
Further north we can also see Mount Ranier and there's also a bit of weather coming but it won't affect us
It's a gorgeous late afternoon
Ahead is Mount Adams, we decide to go around the north side
There's a big glacier and ice fall on the north face
The air was smooth as silk
as we glide past at 7500 feet
Beautiful lighting this time of day
The east side
All of this stuff up here is volcanic with cinder cones everywhere
The peacefulness belies a violent past
Coming over the Yakima valley now as the sun gets lower
Absolutely perfect flying weather
Shoot, Yakima ain't bad
The Maule monster pulls up to Cub Crafters, Yakima Washington
Heck, looks like we aren't the only Maule drivers to show up either
The Cub Crafters folks were great hosts. They got us a room and lent us a car
The next morning we showed up for the open house. They had the entire day planned out for us
With both Top Cubs and Sport Cubs ready to give demo rides
We also got to see the Carbon Cub which is a highly modified 220 hp proof of concept wonder plane
with a darn cool paint job!
and lots of expensive carbon fiber parts
There was also a really lovely Top Cub on amphibs available for demo rides as well
Talk about the ultimate fun toy!
Sure he's a Mauler at heart but you can't help but be enamoured by a Supercub
Inside the Cub Crafters facility is a state of the art production floor where they are building the new Sport Cubs
Their quality and attention to detail are top notch
The Sport Cubs are like J3's on steroids for the 21st century - lots of improvements and Cub Crafters are constantly developing more
I was told that they are up to about one a day in production now
It was really interesting to walk around the shop and see them in various stages of development
Here's the covering area
For aviation buffs like us it is really heartening to see this wonderful mark kept alive
These are absolutely beautiful airplanes throughout
Nothing 'goofy' about these Light Sport Planes, they are just plain cool!
Soon it was time to get on with the days activities so we all moved down to a nearby grass strip
Again, the Cub Crafters crew set up a near flawless operation. Talk about a happy bunch of workers!
These folks obviously love their jobs
There was a bit of wind on Saturday but it didn't slow things down a bit
A few Maules showed up sporting Alaskan Bushwheels
There was a Great Lakes
And even the Oregon Aero folks in their PC-12 were there doing short field take offs and landings
This is another amazing airplane if you need to bring your golf cart along with you
Greg Miller was also there with his 'special' Bushwacker Maule M7. Greg produced the
'Big Rocks and Long Props' DVD
Here's a sample 'arrival'
and here's a Carbon Cub takeoff
Eventually we all ended up back at the factory and had a fantastic BBQ steak and chicken dinner
My hat's off to the Cubcrafters folks, they really know how to host an open house
I know they have taken some criticism over the price of their product but really, these aren't your grandaddy's Cubs
They are completely re-engineered and put together right here in the good 'ol US of A with top notch skill, pride and quality
Also, it's a niche market. The Top Cub and Sport Cubs aren't for everybody but there apparently are enough of us out here to keep 'em going
BTW: This isn't meant to be an advertisement, I'm not affiliated in any way - just the opinion I came away with
Sunday Morning we were up and at it early - looks like another perfect day for flying
There's still some overcast in the Portland area so we head down towards the Columbia River Gorge
Just south of Mount Adams here - beautiful country
Turning west now to follow the river down to Portland
There was a fire and a TFR in this area on Friday but it's all clear today
Mount Hood - or at least the tip of it
We ended up climbing over the last clump of overcast to keep us out of the Portland class C
Portland is a city I'm definitely going to have to come back to for more exploration
Anyway, we made it back to Starks Twin Oaks Airpark in time for my appointment
and I got to do a delightful flight review in this nifty little J5 Cub. We flew over to Mc Minnville and did a bunch of T&G's in the grass
after which the MauleBros visited the museum and ate the customary $800 hamburger
I had seen the Spruce Goose years ago when it was in Long Beach but it was still an impressive sight. I really like the models
Now here's a true classic
They don't treat us like this anymore do they? Air travel has become just another commodity
SR71 driver's seat
Yea, that's right - pull that T-handle out 9 FT!
Time to head home. There was a broken layer around 5500 ft so we decided to go on top
It was pretty clear by the time we got down to Medford
Once again past Mount Shasta
and Lake Shasta
back over the big California valley
There was some weather showing on the Garmin XM down around San Francisco and Stockton
But as we headed south it just seemed to be melting away in front of us
We kept flying over these clouds up ahead but when you looked behind they had already dissipated into nothing
They sure were pretty though
and made the last leg of the trip a lot more interesting
Now this place looks really familiar - the Antioch Bridge, Franks Tract, Big Break, San Joaquin River, Bethel Island....
Home sweet Home
So there you have it, another outstanding weekend of personal flying in America
Kumbaya Brothers and Sisters
(inside joke)
Fly safe - until next time