After the previous day's events, I gave some considerable thought to my own plane's performance. The handling has been mushy, and required almost full forward trim in order to fly level. This is because of all the baggage causing a rear center of gravity. First thing in the morning, I jettisoned the emergency supply of water, a full gallon and a liter, about 8 pounds combined, a half gallon of Marvel Mystery Oil, and other miscellaneous stuff.
Then I moved the computer from the baggage compartment up to the front passenger compartment, and emptied the 4 quarts of reserve oil from the rear baggage compartment into the main oil tank behind the engine.
The results were quite noticeable, requiring a somewhat shorter takeoff roll, and definitely less forward trim in level flight. The handling improved in all phases of flight.
Page was a calm take off on the main runway, and we passed by the wreckage of Steve's Stearman lying on the side. A grim reminder that flying is unforgiving of poor judgement.
The flight thru Lake Powell area was spectacular. The filmmakers were having a field day. I can't wait to see the footage. We arrived at Monument Valley to some rough air around the main monuments, but the airport was still calm and my landing was excellent. I was glad I made the changes to the weight distribution.
During lunch the wind kicked up. The airport at Monument Valley is one of the rare ones where you land and take off in only one direction. That is, you land in one direction, and take off in the other. There is a 400' sheer rock face at one end of the runway that makes this necessary. So if the wind is not favorable, you just don't have any options except to stay there. We felt that it was do-able, and Art got off first with not much trouble, but a long takeoff roll. I started next, but the engine coughed almost immediately so I aborted and taxied back around behind Dan, who started his roll right away.
What came next was one of the most bent-out-of-shape takeoffs I have ever seen. He went from one side of the runway to the other and then back again, as he speeded down the runway much longer than anyone expected. He finally made it off the ground, but it left me wondering about what my chances were if he, with his thousands of hours of experience, had that much trouble. I decided quickly that if I gave it a whole lot of thought I would probably still be there thinking about it. But the windsock made the decision for me. It suddenly went slack and the time was ripe. I gunned the throttle and headed down the runway for a perfect takeoff.
Later in the day, Dan's passenger Brian said that as Dan was struggling to recover from the windy takeoff, he could hear Dan screaming over the intercom "Fly you sonofabitch, you. FLY!". Was it a curse, or a prayer? Whichever, it worked.
The flight from Monument Valley to Durango was filled with uninspiring landscape, and lots of rough air. A very tiring flight. Thankfully, the winds were right down the runway at Durango airport, and the landing was easy. In town that evening, we found a pub serving Guinness on tap, and had several. Tomorrow we fly up over the Rocky Mountains.