Originally published at: New Airstrip Opens In Idaho’s Backcountry - AVweb
The Jim Richmond Backcountry Aviation Foundation has opened a new public-use airstrip in Idaho’s remote backcountry.
We need coordinates!
94 nm on the BOI 194^ radial; 42-10-15N, 116-51-49W.
Nice idea in theory, but a 1,250-foot strip at nearly 5,000 feet elevation? That’s not public-use in any practical sense. It’s a niche destination for expert bush pilots only. Let’s be honest—this isn’t a public-use airstrip, it’s a bragging-rights badge for STOL junkies. All five of them.
That’s pretty high and short for the Idaho backcountry but it’s not only for expert bush pilots . The highest strip that I landed my Maule at was Cold Meadows at 7,030 feet but it’s 4,550 feet long. Density altitude there can reach over 10,000 feet in hot weather. I landed at Lower Loon which is 4,200 feet elevation and 1,200 feet long without a problem in the morning in about half the runway length. I also landed at Soldier Bar, which is 4,190 elevation and 1,650 feet long without a problem in about half the runway length. My Maule MX-7-180 will land in about 500 feet so my lower limit on airstrip length is double that. However, depending on weight and density altitude, it may take 800 feet to take off. The climb rate of the 180 hp engine and constant speed prop isn’t as good as a 235 hp engine so takeoffs need to be done toward lower terrain, which makes many Idaho backcountry airstrips one-way. In Summer density altitude can dramatically increase with temperature so most backcountry pilots fly in the morning.
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