Flying Across America - Back On Track

For the first time on this trip, the day started with no clear plan in place. The immediate future of our flight was now in the hands of the mechanics at Minuteman Aviation. The shop opened at 8:00am, so I was on the phone a few minutes after 8:00 to verify that the plane was indeed in the shop. It was, and the impatient waiting began.

After breakfast, we walked along in the park by the river. During the walk, the mechanic called and told me what he had found. The starter appeared to just need some lubricating. I don't know if it has ever been maintained; I couldn't find any entries in the logbook. If this plan failed, he would need to overnight a replacement starter and install it the next morning. Around 10:30, the mechanic called me again and gave me the news. The problem was resolved and the plane was ready to go. Yes!

At 11:00, we checked out and caught the next van to the airport. Once there, we got a briefing and filed our flight plan to Gillette, Wyoming. Minuteman gave us a lift to the maintenance hangar and we started loading the plane. I talked to the mechanic about the work that he did, and also about the leaking fuel from the caps. I'll have to have the cap seals replaced when I get home, but for now they are fine.

At 1:15pm, we fired up the engine and started our next flight leg. Based on our bladder situation, we decided that we'd either stop at Billings, Sheridan, or Gillette. The flight basically followed interstate 90 through Montana. In a few places, we were able to cut some corners and shorten the route. Soon after take-off, we contacted Great Falls radio and opened our VFR flight plan. Once up to 9,500 feet, we contacted Salt Lake Center on asked for flight following Gillette. The towns quickly passed below the wings and it wasn't long before we reached Wyoming. We were both feeling fine at Sheridan, so we continued to Gillette, as planned.

At 4:35, we were on the ground in Gillette. We looked at the sun and considered continuing on to the next destination - Rapid City, South Dakota - but decided to call it quits for the day. The folks at Flightline helped us arrange a room at the Fairfield Inn.

The plan for tomorrow is to get a very early start and see if we can make up some of our lost time.

Highlights from the day

Billings, Montana

Yellowtail Dam in Big Horn Canyon

Approaching Gillette, Wyoming

On the ground in Gillette, Wyoming