I am doing the annual inspections on my 601XLB and 701. While updating my log books I noted that i have flown my 601 for 2,655.7 hours and my 701 for 266.1 hours. Here is a map that shows all the flights in the two airplanes.

The 601 has proven to be a comfortable and capable cross-country traveler. I use the 701 mainly as a local flyer for…

So it has started, day two of my massive river trip. I am looking at the Grand Tetons out my motel window here in Driggs Idaho getting ready for the first day of the Missouri River.

Yesterday I left Santa Rosa California and flew here more or less in a straight line, having seen that country go by before. Today should be more interesting.…

I finally got the opportunity to do an adventure I had often thought of; a flight past the many volcanic mountain peaks on the west coast.

I had flown to Washington to visit my brother, who also owns a 601XLB. After a week in the rainy northwest it was time to return home to Santa Rosa, CA. When planning the flight home, I noticed the weather would be…

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Since I started flying my 601 back in 2007 I have found it to be a fantastic machine for exploring and adventure. I have enjoyed expanding my view of the world by flying over the country side, looking out at the great sights below and taking pictures from time to time; actually thousands of them.

In the past few years I have had in mind to fly all the way to the tip of South America. I…

I flew my CAMit-powered (RIP) 601 to AirVenture 2016. This was its third trip to OSH.  It’s just over 1,800 statute miles each way from Santa Rosa California.

I usually try to work some sightseeing into my trips. I love to fly in the mountains and along rivers. I have spent many hours doing so in the west. This year my idea was to follow the Missouri River…

With two more big trips accomplished this year I compiled some simple statistics for my flights in my 601XLB.  Some numbers are approximate.

• 8 years and 5 months of operation
• 760 flights
• 161,700 statue miles
• 1,800 hours
• 6,840 gallons of fuel
• 23.6 statue miles per gallon (average)
• 90 statue miles per hour (average)
• 3 countries operated in
• 19,800 max altitude reached

Its been a great…

For many years I wanted to fly my 601XLB to Alaska but I only had a light-sport pilot's license. After endless waiting and hoping for a rule change in Canada, I finally ran out of patience.  This last spring I "went back to school" and got my full pilot's license.  Shortly thereafter I started planning my biggest airplane adventure yet, a flight to Alaska.

Upon studying maps and doing a bit of measuring, it soon became…

The other day I decided go through my collection of over 20,000 airplane-related pictures and selected some of my favorites to put on one of my digital picture frames. I chose about 1,000 pictures for the picture frame than, having gone to all that effort, wondered what else to do with the collection. I decided to upload them to my SmugMug website for the enjoyment of my extended family, flying partners and anyone else with a…

In October of 2012 my friend Bob and I flew our airplanes through 7 western states.  During our 12 day adventure we covered a total of 4,053 statute miles.  Along the way we flew through high mountains, valleys and canyons.  This was low-slow flying at its best. Often we were below 500 feet AGL.  The average AGL for the entire trip was only 1,003…

This year was my 4th trip to Copperstate, the annual fly-in held at the Casa Grande Arizona airport (KCGZ).  The fly-in is fine, but for me the trip is the main event.

The flight this year was a total of 1,926 miles.  We spent two days flying each way.  I say we.  On the trip down I flew my Zodiac, keeping Doug Dugger of …

Several of the members of EAA chapter 1230 (based @ Nut Tree - KVCB) planned a trip to the tourist town of Solvang in southern California.  I was invited to join in.

The town of Solvang does not have an airport, however the town of Santa Ynez near by does have a nice one (KIZA).  You can rent a car at the airport by prior arrangement.

We flew in to Santa Ynez on Friday. On Saturday we went wine tasting at a few of the many nearby wineries. Saturday evening we…

Les Goldner (701 builder/pilot) and his wife planned a two week flying trip into the Idaho back country.  Les and I belong to both the Petaluma EAA chapter and the Santa Rosa, CA EAA chapter.  We fly together from time to time.

Even though it was "his trip", Les let me plan the route from Santa Rosa, CA to Boise, ID.  I chose a little low-level desert flying in Nevada from Carson City (CXP)…

I spent the last week in Shelton WA, visiting my brother and his wife and helping with the re-assembly of their Jabiru motor. (Early top-end because of stuck piston rings with only about 300 hours on the Hobbs.  My engine had the same problem but I did not understand what was going on soon enough so the cylinders…

Today’s pilot has powerful weather tools to help fly safely and sometimes more efficiently.  Now if your only going up…

I love to fly and have logged 892 hours in 3 and a half years. That’s a lot of fuel.

I have never liked the lead in aviation fuel. It trashes the spark plugs and the engine oil and of course it’s bad for the environment. My 601’s Jabiru 3300 engine does not need the lead.

A few months ago I started burning premium automotive fuel. I bought two plastic 14 gallon fuel tanks from Costco for about $80…

This blog is not a how-to. There have been plenty of well done how-to blogs. It’s just some pictures with a few words attached.

Three years ago my brother Alan and I (with lots of help) built a pair of 601s…