Trying To Reach 10,000ft in My 78 Year Old Airplane (1946 Aeronca Chief) 

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you! Did you have a specific prop on your Chief for better climb performance?

Thank you too!

Hey there! I did take a look at it! I was confused about the Honda engine but it was amazing to see it!

Excellent! Bet she'll run better than ever.

Thanks!

That must have been an incredible flight! I'd love to do a super long xc like that some day.

@@HeavyMetalHorizons It was character building that’s for sure. 😂. I made the trip in bigger airplanes capable of taking me over the mountains in a safer IFR environment, but a little 85hp 140 with a needle, ball and airspeed indicator is a different story. If you do it, the trick is to know exactly where you are all the time and not get suckered into a pass that ends up in a canyon you can’t get out of. It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend it. Nice plane and nice video by the way!

Thank you!

Thanks very much! Yes, definitely need to dress warm for a flight like this. Next time I'll wear some heated gloves.

Much appreciated!

Welcome aboard! And thanks very much. It's too hot right now, but when in the fall I will try another high flight and see if I can break 10k! Have fun in the Chief! It's great that they are still flying.

Thanks for watching!

There's something very exciting about cruising to Tokyo via canoe!

Sailplanes fly in mountains all the time. They are even more underpowered than a 65hp Chief. 1: Always be climbing. 2: Always find lift. Upwind slopes have lift, and never has a rotor. Sun-baked, south facing rock cliffs provide thermal updrafts. 3: Always cross ridges at a 45 degree angle to the rising terrain. A 45-degree turn is all that is required to stop the rising terrain. And only a 50-90 degree turn is needed to experience descending terrain. (Escape). 4: Do not dwell in downdrafts. North facing shaded slopes can create strong downdrafts. 5: Downwind of the ridge, you want to always remain above the ridge-lines altitude by 1,500' and extend for at least 200 miles down range. Any climbing or descending in the down-wind area of a mountain ridge, at or below the ridge-line altitude, should be done at or below Va, to keep your wings intact. (And if the rotor gets you into a stall/spin LET GO and grab your harness for the ride). You cant do anything about it. Anything you can do, will only pull your wings off or otherwise. Be ready to recover in a 90-degree perfect dive, at or beyond Vne. (Vd is 1.1x Vne, you'll be fine, maybe).

Thanks! What's different about what I did here? I appreciate your input!

Thank you! Yes, I just stay out of the Charlie. And Bravo of course. But we can fly underneath. I think some Charlie controllers will clear you in, at their discretion, but it's very hit and miss.

I'm not sure... would have to look at my logbook but it's probably 50-100.

Yes.

Mr. T?

@@theinkroom5642 I pity the fool.

Mount San Gorgonio in the San Bernadino mountains is 11,000 feet in elevation and is about 13 miles from my home. Of course it would be impossible to hike the mountain from my home since there are no hiking trails that go up that high from my area.