Flatlander heading to Boulder, CO -- need sage advice

Doug wrote:
Just take off in Atlanta and climb to 6500'. Stay at that altitude and
when you get to Boulder, you will be at pattern altitude! (actually
pattern altitude is 6300'). Run at full power. Lean for best rpm (at
6300'). See how far out the lean knob is? That is how far out it should
be for takeoff too (plus 3 half turns in). We lean on the ground at
runup for takeoffs at these altitudes. Learn how to do that if you
don't know how. This time of year is bumpy below the cumulus and if we
have rain, it is thunderstorms you can see and go around. So go around
them. The weather is good for flying in the summer in Colorado. Have
fun and see ya!


By September, the Tstorms will be gone (we hope!) but it'll still
be a bit warm. Mid-Kansas, go up to 8500 -- air will be
smoother (usually), and a great view of the Rockies.

wrote:
Hey all,

I'm planning to head out in my 68 Cherokee 180 the first week of September
with my 20 yr old son to visit my brother in Boulder, CO. I'm a flatlander
(Atlanta, Georgia area) and though I have no plans to do any mountain flying
and wouldn't without instruction, I'm flying towards the mountains. That's
enough to get me looking for some good advice/pointers. An old pilot friend
of mine said carry more speed on final than usual, that sort of thing.
We'll be loaded lightly.

Give me some good pointers if you will.

Thanks,
Biker Bill
(N6422J)


The real mountains begin just west of Boulder, so you will not have to
do any serious mountain flying to get to Boulder from the east. Density
altitude may be a factor, but if you are lightly loaded, that would not
be an issue either. The runway at Boulder is 4000 ft, which may seem
long, but will disappear faster than you are used to if the DA is high.
So DO NOT carry extra speed on final. If you are not comfortable with
that, land at Jeffco which is only a few miles away and has much longer
runways.

I live in Boulder and rent a '65 Cherokee 180 there sometimes, just a
few points:

1. Your Cherokee 180 should have enough performance there as long as
your engine is in reasonable condition, I fly Cherokee 180 to Leadville
(9927ft highest public airport in North America) several times.
2. Real mountains start a few miles west of Boulder, so you won't be
flying over them from where you come from, and you can grab an
instructor in Boulder to have some real mountain flying experience --
that will be a lot of fun.
3. Remember set your mixture properly!
4. Do NOT carry extra speed, fly the same INDICATED airspeed (while the
true air speed will be higher). Boulder has 3900ft runway and that
should be enough even for a hot day, if you fly the normal indicated
airspeed.
5. For early September, the best bet is to arrive in the morning, when
the convective activity is not too high.
6. Boulder airport has glider activity, but gliders and tow planes
usually fly a tigher and lower patten and land to the parralel grass
runway on the north side, so should not be a factor most of the time.
See the Boulder traffic pattern info at:

http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index...1&Item id=746

Enjoy your flight.



wrote:
Hey all,

I'm planning to head out in my 68 Cherokee 180 the first week of September
with my 20 yr old son to visit my brother in Boulder, CO. I'm a flatlander
(Atlanta, Georgia area) and though I have no plans to do any mountain flying
and wouldn't without instruction, I'm flying towards the mountains. That's
enough to get me looking for some good advice/pointers. An old pilot friend
of mine said carry more speed on final than usual, that sort of thing.
We'll be loaded lightly.

Give me some good pointers if you will.

Thanks,
Biker Bill
(N6422J)

I suggest you land at Jeffco, KBJC, rather than Boulder. It's about a half
hour from Boulder by car -- unless Hwy 36 is jammed, which it sometimes
isn't. g

wrote in message
news
Hey all,

I'm planning to head out in my 68 Cherokee 180 the first week of September
with my 20 yr old son to visit my brother in Boulder, CO. I'm a
flatlander
(Atlanta, Georgia area) and though I have no plans to do any mountain
flying
and wouldn't without instruction, I'm flying towards the mountains.
That's
enough to get me looking for some good advice/pointers. An old pilot
friend
of mine said carry more speed on final than usual, that sort of thing.
We'll be loaded lightly.

Give me some good pointers if you will.

Thanks,
Biker Bill
(N6422J)

No, This September BJC will be in the middle of this year's
construction work, the primary runway could be closed and taxi route in
a mess, probably not good for some one who is not familiar.

Jon Woellhaf wrote:
I suggest you land at Jeffco, KBJC, rather than Boulder. It's about a half
hour from Boulder by car -- unless Hwy 36 is jammed, which it sometimes
isn't. g

True, but still better than Boulder, in my opinion.

"navghtivs" wrote in message
oups.com...
No, This September BJC will be in the middle of this year's
construction work, the primary runway could be closed and taxi route in
a mess, probably not good for some one who is not familiar.

Jon Woellhaf wrote:
I suggest you land at Jeffco, KBJC, rather than Boulder. It's about a
half
hour from Boulder by car -- unless Hwy 36 is jammed, which it sometimes
isn't. g

I don't know what's better in BJC: he would spend more minutes taxiing
and more minutes on the Highway 36, $0.20/gal more on the fuel, fly in
a busier traffic pattern. Unless it is for someone prefer flying in
and out on IFR plan, or afraid of the traffic procedure in a
non-towered airport, or fly an airplane too big for the 3900x75 runway,
I won't recommend BJC for someone visiting Boulder, but then each pilot
has his own preferences/priorities.


Jon Woellhaf wrote:
True, but still better than Boulder, in my opinion.

Several folks mentioned maintaining your normal approach speeds. What
they did not mention is that your higher than usual groundspeed may
cause you to flare too high if you use that as a guide to flaring. So
just be aware of your indicated airspeed and don't let outside visual
references tempt you to flare high.

If your plane is capable, get a knowledgeable instructor to accompany
you to Leadville.

Ron Lee