Michael McCafferty - USA Biplane Tour


Day Two
Treacherous Crosswind


Leaving Las Vegas International airport in a compact formation of four biplanes, fully loaded with camera equipment, Hollywood film makers, fuel and baggage, we turned to a heading of 100 degrees and flew along Lake Mead for about 30 miles. Absolutely spectacular territory and even more awesome when flying through narrow canyons just a few feet off the water. The cameras were sure rolling during that part of the trip. Leaving the lake and heading up into the mountains, the winds picked up and we got bounced around with light and moderate turbulence all the way into Colorado City, AZ where we stopped for lunch and fuel.

As part of our lunch break, we put on a flying demonstration for the cameramen on the ground. Low passes, touch and go's, etc. They loved it. I stayed on the ground because I just didn't want to fight the winds any more than I had to. Steve was having trouble again handling his big Stearman, and made an excursion off the runway and into the desert vegetation, a lot of which got lodged in the wheels and struts. The cameras got it all on film, and there were many closeups taken of the weeds he collected in his side trip.

From Colorado City AZ, we flew again into the turbulence toward Park City, at the beginning of Lake Powell, certainly one of the most extraordinary sights of the trip so far. Breathtakingly beautiful. A lake so blue it is indiscribable, set in a background of landscape that could only be called 'lunar'. The turbulent air that has accompanied us these last couple of days in the form of a healthy tailwind again turned on us upon landing. Again it was a direct crosswind, gusting so strong that we had no choice to take the dirt crosswind runway. My first attempt resulted in a go-around, and climbing back out at a density altitude of 6800 feet, fully loaded, was not an easy chore for the Waco.

Art and Dan were already on the ground, having used the dirt crosswind runway. I was cirlcing for another pass at it, when I heard the words: "Mayday, Mayday, on the runway". Steve had attempted to land on the main runway, against the advice of both Art and Dan (both very experienced pilots), and the crosswind got under his left wing and he lost control. From there he attempted to give it power and fly out of it, but only made matters worse and he took out a rather conspicuous runway sign before hitting an embankment, going up over it, and cartwheeling to a stop.

With only a small cut on his forehead, he is a lucky man. The plane did not fare so well. Steve was talking at dinner about renting a Cessna to continue the trip to Bartlesville, and the National Biplane Convention. Kinda like getting back on the horse, I suppose.

Tomorrow morning we get up very early and head out along Lake Powell and fly into Monument Valley. It should be the most incredible geography so far. This country must be seen to be believed. The very early start tomorrow is intended to get us airborne when the winds are calm. Before I take off, I'm going to shed some expendable weight from the rear baggage area, and shift some to the front, to help move the center of gravity more forward and thereby improve handling.


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