Thanks for the great video. I taught in most of the 65-150 hp trainers in NM and Colorado for many years. With wind management, the wind can be our friend in the mountains. With the north wind, the ridges south of the river would produce nice ridge lift going into the rising terrain. Rather than climbing up first, say with 14 gallons in the 8a, we can gain both climb performance and range by hugging the ridges as we go up with the terrain. We have the river to turn back down drainage if terrain rises faster than we can, but 65 hp is generally only half the energy available when using orographic lift. Good landing. You will have made the takeoff, but Wolfgang had a good thought concerning trees. He said to try to hit them and then use the zoom reserve airspeed you have developed level in low ground effect to zoom over with the outcome of the maneuver never in doubt. Think soft field, which done this way is actually the best short field. It develops airspeed for those times we really need it. If we climb out of ground effect at Vy, we give up (again with 65-150 hp) half our total energy available. Thanks again for the great video.
My heart rate went up a little as soon as you showed those trees at the end! I want to try this strip but I think I'll practice on a few more forgiving ones first!
