Good morning!!

Today was a continuation of my flight in SE Alaska taking a US Forest Service project manager to some cabins to prep them for the winter ahead.

This leg was flown in FS2024 and was from Virgina Lake to Eagle Lake just north of Ketchikan

The flight took about 30 min and we got lucky with the weather...again (I flew with live weather enabled).

Did the return flight in weather conditions that were as challenging as on the first flight, but made it safely to the ground

Hi all,

Opened the rusty hangar doors today and dusted off the DC-3, pushed her outside on the tarmac tried to start the engines. It was a beautiful day at Ketchikan airport (lovely scenery from Northern Sky Studio). Toon off, flew over the town and strait and headed for Sitka at a cruise altitude of 7500 feet. Started my descent and dived into some horrible weather in the Sitka bay. Some sleepy head forgot to turn on the airport lights and visibility was lousy. Did a flyover at Sitka airport (also from Northern Sky Studio) and the lights were turned on. Made a safe landing in the typical "summer" weather conditions. Great to be back though!

Time to get back in the saddle!!

Being new to the Ketchikan area, I had no intention of flying today and instead study up on local flying rules and checking out the Alaska Winds Cessna 185 before taking on some jobs.

About 10:00am a US Forest Service project manager who was in charge of the US Forest Service cabins in SE Alaska came into the office and needed a ride to 3 cabins in order to make sure they were ready for the winter season.

I told him I was new to the area and not sure how to charge for this flight, but told him we'd figure out the financials after we got back.

He needed to visit these three cabins in the Ketchikan area:

Honker Lake Cabin (HONK)
Virginia Lake Cable (VRNA) (Close to Wrangell)
Eagle Lake Cabin (EAG1)
Then back to PAKT

This flight was flown with live weather (I got lucky lol) :-)

Map of the flight:



Departing Ketchikan and flight to Honker Lake:









Thorne Bay!!


Honker Lake:



Departing Honker Lake and heading to Virginia Lake:





Virgina Lake is dead ahead:



Arrived at the cabin and decided to spend the night. There was some damage to the cabin that needed to be repaired.

I loaded up the C185 with a load of canned food bound for PATK and departed.  I arrived at PATK, unloaded the can good and loaded three bags of US Mail.  After a quick break, I departed for UMM.  At UMM, I unloaded one bag of mail and loaded a couple of packages bound for PANC with the rest of the mail.  I used the restroom, grabbed a cold drink and headed back to PANC where I unloaded the cargo and put the plane away for the day and headed home.



ON approach to PA
TK.





On

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Here are nice screenshots showing action of Alaskan Winds flight number FBF006 fulfilling the mission requirements as described in the Flight Board subforum

Greetings, Eagles!
Here are the results for August. 
Formats are still being worked out so check out your data, please, and report by PM any errors you may encounter.
Thank you!


PIREPs Report - August 2025

1. TOTALS BY PILOT

So Frank Seigler had me departing PANC this morning for the first leg of this three-part mission - the positioning flight to pick up three execd at Talkeetna Village Strip.

As soon as I departed from Anchorage weather was cooperating nicely, good visibility heading north. The direct route took me right over some beautiful Alaskan terrain - always love this stretch, following the Susitna. Like hinting at the next Iditarod there it was, the Willow Lake as I was flying by Willow PAUO - from where many races take their official start. (...in few months!)

About halfway there I could see Talkeetna in the distance, that little strip nestled in the valley. Radio was quiet, no other traffic around, so I set up for a straight-in approach. 
Wind was right down the runway, couldn't have asked for better conditions.
Touched down smooth and spotted the three guys in suits right away! 

Frank's coordination was spot on, they were expecting me at exactly the right time.
Quick turnaround, got them loaded up with their bags. They seem like regulars on this route to Victory, very businesslike but friendly enough. One mentioned something about quarterly reviews - sounds riveting! 

Ready for leg two - should be a quick hop over to Victory Strip!

(actually I took this flight twice as I forgot to bring my camera on the first one!   )

AWPIREP AW640 DHC2 20250826 PAEG-PFYU 125

The Great Yukon Adventure - Part 4


After taking a short break in Eagle, Alaska we are eager for the next flight. This will lead us to Fort Yukon which is located at the confluence of the Yukon and Porcupine Rivers. A small city with a population of just over 400.




The Beaver ready to go at Eagle, AK. Beautiful weather for now.



Climbing to 5,000 feet.



Yukon. Weather still looking good. However expecting deteriorating conditions further north.



Cruising.



Approaching Coal Creek. There is also a small landing strip which can be spotted above the left wing.



This landscape never fails to amaze me.



Further north. Approaching Circle City on the left bank of the Yukon River.



Circle City and airport.



As we get closer to Fort Yukon, rain showers are visible ahead of us.



Dark skies ahead.



Descending towards PFYU.



With the rain pouring down we are crossing mid-field and position ourselves for a left-hand pattern for runway 04.



Landing roll. Visibility was enough to keep the airport in sight.



Taxiing in. Note the reflections of those trees in the river.



And here we are! Fourth leg completed.

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

This is flight number PFF000 from CHP to PAFA

Presenting historic Wein Air DC-3 flight from CHP Circle Hot Springs Airport located in Circle Hot Springs in the Yukon-Koyukuk area of Alaska to PAFA Fairbanks International Airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of FairbanksCircle Hot Springs was very famous for its hot spring resort with a 4-story lodge that gained statewide and international attention where rich people in Alaska usually went to that hotel for vacationThat is why Wein Air had regular service to CHP Circle Hot Springs airport as seen on this official airline timetable below that you can find my recreating of the historic flightReady to load up returning vacationers and their luggagesClosing the passenger doorCheck out the reflection of clouds on the shiny wingStarting engines!!Spooling up engines because of sub zero temperatureStarting to taxi to runway 27Still taxiingIncreasing throttle power to start take off run which results into snow blowing behind the enginesAirbone on climb to 10,000 ft while retracting landing gear

TO BE CONTINUED BELOW...........................