2023 Fly KANSAS AIRTOUR

[GyrOZprey]

KANSAS ...may be seen as "FLY-OVER" country ...but our KS DOT -Aviation department ...is the only state DOT's who organize an annual 3 day Air-tour!
Weather permitting this will be the 4th year I have participated .... they have planned great legs 1-2 hours in a modern gyroplane! the only cost is fuel & overnight accommodation (with specially discounted rates for the tour group) ...food is provided at each day stop and evening banquets /entertainment at night stops has been fabulous! We have many repeat participants in FW's ...who come from all over!

I keep encouraging our KS gyro-pilots to come join-in ..even for a couple of legs on a day that flies close to their home-base!

Hopefully this well-advanced notice will drum up some interest!

Scan Q-code for free entry ...you can lock in room reservations now- as 24 hr cancellation is allowed -(due to weather skunking flight plans!)

 

[GyrOZprey]

This is my flight plan … my place to Hays to position for day one …. KGLD -KCBK-KTQK-KDDC -night in Dodge City day2 KGBD-KEGT-KHUT-KSLN -night in Salina Day3 KEMP-KTOP

 

[Vance]

That reads like a lot of fun Chris.

I would love to participate in something like that.

I have always had fun hanging out with pilots.

Time and money well spent.

 

[lanichol]

Chris, Looks like I will see your October 5th.

 

[WaspAir]

I'll give some thought to dropping in on the western bit in my Bell. It's not terribly far from the Denver region.

 

[GyrOZprey]

I'm encouraging my 2 gyro buddies based at Meadowlake to join us at Goodland ...for the first day ...at least to Dodge!

 

[GyrOZprey]

Well ..here we go ...all prepped & ready for 2023 Fly KS Airtour! I'll be flying on a staging leg to Hays KS KHYS. 114Nmiles. - tomorrow afternoon! The fun begins Thursday morning - detailed update attached!

Not too late to join in with a free entry & come along! ...The food is GREAT,local night stop activities & airport-hotel-activity shuttles provided by KDOT staff!

Been obsessing over the 10 day forecast for the last 10 days ...and after this fast-moving cold front brings some rain overnight ...we should get some brilliant fall flying weather for the Air-tour! ...last year we had a record 35-40 aircraft ...not everyone does all 3 days ...some jump In & out along the route!
Winds look reasonable Thursday and a bit strong for the Friday northerly legs ... but with an 80kt capable gyro - the planned legs are very do-able!

 

[Gyro-nut]

That sounds absolutely fantastic. Have fun and safe travels!!

 

[okikuma]

View attachment 1159030
This is my flight plan … my place to Hays to position for day one …. KGLD -KCBK-KTQK-KDDC -night in Dodge City day2 KGBD-KEGT-KHUT-KSLN -night in Salina Day3 KEMP-KTOP

For all who will be participating, I wish and pray for fair skies, light winds, and everyone will remain healthy and safe for the entirety of the trip.

Wayne

 

[rancherman]

today is the most severe of this week's weather.. maybe another secondary front on Friday.. but not near the change as just now- Air is 30-40 degrees cooler behind the front!

 

[GyrOZprey]

Absolutely tired out with early starts and 3-4 hours flying each day and dealing with unexpected scud-showers on Friday and CRAZY headwinds … BUT we all stayed safe with good ADM and had an absolute BLAST -enjoying company of diverse aviation friends made over the 4 years I have participated!
The mission of youth outreach across the rural airports of Kansas was wonderful -I got to talk to so many class groups of kids with their teachers -as always the gyro is a huge hit with everyone!
The basic stats …. From Wed afternoon departure to Sunday afternoon return to ToevsFarm grass strip -“ARTE” and I flew 800 N-miles in 15 hours on the Hobbs& my fuel check timer! Used 83 gal fuel - 33 of 100ll & 50 of 91mogas ( several KS airports have cardswipe Mogas available at the pumps)
The modified 912 ULS - 140 HP simple turbo cruised effortlessly at 80 kts (4900Erpm with MP of 31) -overall fuelburn was 5.5 g/ hour .. heavy load with max fuel , 22 gal plus 5 in my 2 jerry cans on first flight -cargo pods loaded and my bag in rear seat!

KDOT -Aviation is the only state DOT to host such an annual air-tour event -now going since 2010 ( except 2020)! Pilots & passenger pay for fuel and discounted hotel rooms - airport to hotel shuttles provided by DOT staff in the vans that try to keep up by road! The evening meals sponsored by DOT patrons and lunches , morning and afternoon stops refreshments by host airports ! Everywhere are enthusiastic and friendly airport managers and staff offer discount fuel price too!

This event has become my absolute FAVORITE flying experience of my year!

 

[GyrOZprey]

The pics above on Wednesday of staging to Hays the central KS tour kick-off point. My selfie as I am ready to leave my place , all cleaned pre-flight done and covered for the night on ramp at Hays - my new friends from Augusta Jeff and daughter Samira(20) who was building XC time in their C150 … prepping for a career with airlines! Friends from previous tours joined us for a yummy dinner in the Hotel restaurant!
My Foreflight route plan .

 

[GyrOZprey]

School groups talking with pilots at Goodland (1st stop Thursday -2hour flight from Hays).. after 3 attempts I FINALLY got to make the Goodland stop - low cloud+rising ground fog thwarted me in 2019& crazy headwinds had several of us Slower aircraft head-direct to night stop inSalina in 2021 after the first hard slog west from KLWC to ClayCenter!
We had a real treat at Dodge city with a shuttle in the trolley to the Boot Hill museum -historic Dodge City village with a wonderful dinner & music -vaudeville-dance show! The quick look at museum -rated a definite come-back for proper look around at this excellent display!

 

[GyrOZprey]

Trolley brought out of winter-recess -just for our group!
Surprise unforeseen scud and showers popped upon our route to Great Bend as we prepped to depart Dodge!
The cloud base looked good and the radar was showing light green only and several of us departed -just as I was spooling up -Jeff & Samira let me know that a cell of rain had popped up in our path!
I had a clear shot staying S of windfarm to next airfield at Kinsley so I proceeded on-a modified plan - If the weather deteriorated I had a place to land and cover -up!… By timeI got there I could see the scud/virga was behind me & no threat clear high cloud base ahead! Onwards to Great Bend. More school groups looking around the parked aircraft! Today was the day of BIG N winds and gusts!
Cold front had moved through- chilly and wind blown out o the ramps!
Wellington was lunch stop but would means hard slog into N wind to get to Hutchinson …4 of us decided to sit in GB and relax -eat a 2nd donut fly direct to Hutch - ground speeds were close to AS flying across the strong wind!
I got my towered airport routines ATC practice in for the year -times 3 - Hutch Salina and Topeka Forbes field -all D towered airports!
A great welcome at Hutch and surprise by Dave Rogers and friend Steve flying in from Manhattan in the yellow Calidus -now we had TWO gyros on tour!
After the ice-cream social break Ihopped over to Moundridge for the Mogas fill at pump then slogged N against 30kt winds … not too awful as kept low and the gyro is so smooth ingusty conditions! Was almost last in so the ATC was more relaxed after the conga-line rush! Tied down pre-flighted and covered up for the night - Another great meal at Homewood courtyard then off to Hampton for a welcome early night!

 

[GyrOZprey]

Day 3 pics -
Sunrise at Salina ...frost on the gyro cover - first frost of the fall! (Many planes delayed TO until they had thawed out) ...I was one of the first away ...as I used the thawed frost/water drops on my rotor to wipe away the bugs off the leading edge!
A wonderful smooth-thick air flight to Emporia - SO pretty over the Flint Hills with low light etching the contours!
I counted 15 tour aircraft overnighting on the ramp. Fueled up and parked at Emporia ... enjoyed FABULOUS Cinnamon rolls & the lightest crispiest glazed Donuts! After all the aircraft parked the local families were allowed to go look close-up & talk to pilots!
The yellow bearcat ...I saw a lot ...at my cruise height & speeding by me!
A NEW to me class D airport ...KFOE - Forbes Field home of the fabulous Combat Air Museum. - https://www.combatairmuseum.org/
OMG ..those runways are massive and the taxi was L-O N-G!!!
The fellow in uniform was flight chief on the Blackhawk & was over in a flash to look over the gyro asking intense detailed questions - often rolling his eyes in amazement at the simplicity of our controls & flight-mode! He was a real character & SO enthusiastic! After lunch I got a detailed look at his Blackhawk on display!
There were proud museum volunteers on hand to tell us all about the great exhibit in two hangars ...most of them in flying condition!
We had a great box lunch finale ...and then the tower controller sent us on our various ways home!

As I was only a 20 mile hop from Lawrence where my younger son lives ..I planned an overnight visit before heading home Sunday!

I saw a TFR over the KU football stadium ...so was careful to skirt N of the city limit - the ramp at KLWC was packed with football fly-in aircraft ... so I found a secluded spot over by fuel tank & grass to park for the night!
Final 2 flights next day after the flight-level winds had dissipated - back to KEMP for a top-up of fuel and last hop home!

Another Epic XC gyro -adventure!
54% of my logbook time is XC!
I got to enter 6 new-to-me airports in my log!