And They're Off!

The Maule Parked in front of her former home

After meeting at the hangar at 0545L and spending a few minutes with media and camera crews, the Maules broke ground at 0630L and headed to SE Kansas to pick up their 4th member, spending a few minutes in the kitchen with family (and homemade cookies, coffee, fruit & yogurt). :)

The Maules then turned NW to the Boulder CO area where we enjoyed dinner, a nights rest, and wonderful hospitality from Ken's sister Jill and husband Walt. It was a great day of flying, even if hot and bumpy at times, and we had a tailwind all the way.

The Crew is completed in SE Kansas

The birds are flying well, and the adventure continues... :)

Two Maules & Four Friends Off to Alaska!

Sunday @ Dawn

Well the day has come. Our comrade is well. We met for lunch yesterday with our wives for fun and additional witnesses to confirm Ken wasn't rushing it. Everyone feels good about a Sunday dawn launch. So in about 12 hours we'll be off on our adventure.

Thanks for your interest, prayers, tracking us, and communicating with us along the way! :)

Click HERE to track Doug & Dwayne

Click HERE to track Ken & Jim

Not So Fast!

One of our members has fallen a bit ill upon his return from a mission trip in Nicaragua, so at his Dr.'s suggestion we've delayed our departure until he's well enough to fly. Stay tuned. :) We're all ready to get under way, including him, but there is no rush. We want a peaceful departure with healthy crews. :)

Tomorrow We Launch

At dawn on the 18th our friendship adventure in flight will take wings! Can't believe it's here!?!

Last minute tidy up preparations are underway. I'll try to post here as oft as there is time and internet connections with snippets of our journey.

Thanks for your interest in following us, your well wishes, and your prayers! :)






   “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:9–10)

18 Days to the 18TH

Well, here we are, 18 days and a few hours from departing for Alaska!! :) I got my permission letter to land on USAF bases yesterday, and Ken should get his any day! :) We've both packed and weighed  our cargo. And our pre departure checklists are almost complete!

The fun and easy part is about to begin! I can't wait!

Ken and I have been testing the InReach satellite text and email devices we purchased for the trip to stay in touch with family, friends and business associates. It will show our track and more or less real time position, as well as, provide a way to send messages or email. You can click here and see what that will look like. Feel free to  play with it now if you wish and send some test messages. [The device called "Billy Bell" will be with Doug & Dwayne. I'll put a link to Ken & Jim's device when Ken returns from his Nicaragua mission.]

Ken and I met for four hours yesterday, discussed remaining items to accomplish, things to take or leave behind, and made spread sheets of our airplane weights, so we'll know where we are with provisions. He leaves for his Nicaragua mission in a few days, so he won't have much time when he returns.

I think we each only need to pack a bag with our clothes and personal effects weighing less than 30 lbs. and we're off! I'm trying to do that this week so it won't be a fire drill. Happy packing! See you on the 18th!! :):):):)

Alaska "Flight's On!"

Well, let the planning for Alaska 2017 start spooling up to take off RPM, or at least mag check RPM. :) The four pilots and crews for the two Maule's from FSM met by the fire on our patio last night until late, and it seems like "Fight's on!" I mean "Flight's on!"

Ken & I have started revisiting all the preparation items on the blog, making a list, checking it twice, and spoon feeding it to our partners for their purposes.

Mike Mills is out for this round, but someone has to fly balloons in ABQ! :)  Chip & Dave from VBT may be in? And we'll just basically see who can show up on the appointed day and launch to the great NW. :) I think the general plan is for the Maules crewed by fighter squadron mates will stick together for the duration. And our Bentonville friends will make the trek up with us (safety & joy in numbers), then meet their wives for flight seeing in Alaska. Then we'll see if it works out for us to fly back together or not? We'll have the process down by then, and it's not a big deal if we come back 2x2?

It was mentioned that it works for everyone committed at  this point to leave a little bit sooner than planned, a few days after Ken returns from his Nicaragua mission, say July 18th, 2017, 9:00 a.m..

That's 54 days 21 hours 23 minutes 08 seconds. 

See you then! Get or check on those passports! And let the preparation begin spooling up!

2017 Alaska Adventure Dates Set

 The 2017 Alaska Adventure Dates are July 23-August 23 for your planning purposes. Those dates have been cussed and discussed among others and have the most favor. :)

Plan accordingly and stay in the information loop with each other sharing pertinent information as it's discovered or comes to light.

It's going to be real, and fun, and real fun!!!

There will be time this fall, winter, and spring for camping, packing, research and shaking our airplanes down. Have fun! Be safe! Enjoy!!