Going for broke

[Baradium]

I did my "normal" Galana run today (albiet now there are high winds everywhere).

Anyway, when we landed there was an R44 parked on the ramp with a website on the side (I was sure it was www.helicopters.org but that doesn't seem to go to much of a site so I must have misread it unfortunately).

A lady and two guys in flight suits were around it.  At the time they were wanting to pump avgas into a 5 gallon can to put in their helicopter and then fill up the can again for spare fuel (so 10 gallons... this as I'm pumping 200 gallons of Jet A into our 1900).

Now, Galena is literally in the middle of nowhere.  Absolute nowhere.  There's nothing there but some natives (well and the associated infrastructure to support them), moose, bears, and billions of mosquitos (although fortunately with the low water they aren't too bad right now).

Being that this is the case and they were very obviously "not from around here."  I asked them what they were up to.     They are from Europe and flew (from the sound of it) across Canada into Alaska to Deadhorse (Prudhoe Bay) and then South from there... I still don't know why they stopped in Galena instead of just going to Fairbanks since they are about the same distance from Deadhorse (I also believe they took a day and flew to Barrow and back to Deadhorse so they covered the northern tip of Alaska).  Then they are going to fly down from Alaska, through Canada again, through the continental US and down to the southern tip of South America and back.    Apparently they are trying to set a world record for helictopters and they are doing all of this in the piston engine R44.   They are 3 weeks into a trip that they estimate will end up taking 3 months.   


I can't find a website talking about the trip, but will keep searching.   And I still think I'd prefer to pick up a turbine engined helicopter for that kind of trip...

[cj5_pilot]

I'm not a sling wing junkie (I like my wings to stay where the manufacturer put them  ) but doggone that sounds like a long trip in a R44.  As you say Galana is NOPLACE and that is coming from an Alaskan!  They'll be lucky if that fuel isn't 50-1 outboard fuel or something!  Talk about FAITH!!!!

On the plus side, Alaskan's are very helpful to pilots in need.  When they break down in McGrath I'm sure we'll find somebody to help em!   

[Baradium]

I'm not a sling wing junkie (I like my wings to stay where the manufacturer put them  ) but doggone that sounds like a long trip in a R44.  As you say Galana is NOPLACE and that is coming from an Alaskan!  They'll be lucky if that fuel isn't 50-1 outboard fuel or something!  Talk about FAITH!!!!

On the plus side, Alaskan's are very helpful to pilots in need.  When they break down in McGrath I'm sure we'll find somebody to help em!   

Hahaha!



As far as the fuel.... Frontier is the FBO for Galena.... which is probobly why Galena has the most expensive avgas in the nation 

Actually, apparently the bulk plant there in Galena rips everyone off big since the only other way to get fuel is to get it off the barges in the summer, and you have to have your own truck to do that.  So amazingly it might not be entirely because an airline is running the only fuel game in town... 

[airtac]

So, you're saying that if I fly into Galena and buy 60 gallons of avgas, I should expect to pay more then the 4.60 a gallon we're paying here, exactly HOW much more

[Frank N. O.]

Interesting read indeed. Interesting choice of bird though. The two other records I've heard about used a JetRanger and an Airwolf (222/230/430, can't remember what version except it had skids instead of wheels).

And I'd like to hear what avgas cost too. RON95 car-gas is around 7 USD/usgallon her atm (10DKK/l)

Frank

[airtac]

Seven dollars a gallon
We Americans are such spoiled babies, we complain about paying 3 bucks a gallon for our cars

[Fabo]

Seven dollars a gallon
We Americans are such spoiled babies, we complain about paying 3 bucks a gallon for our cars

Well, it is propably since you use petrol with much lower octane number, like somewhere round 81 or so, while European standart is 98, and 100+ is no exception. From this comes lower consuming with same driving style. Europeans also use smaller engines to get same power out of petrol 

[tundra_flier]

Well, now you know why it's inadvisable to leave your plane unattended in many villages.  Seems to be a common misconception that avgas will make 4wheelers and snowmachines run faster.  In reality the lead just fouls out the plugs.   Course if they try that with me all they'll be getting is Chevron 87 octane unleaded.  Unless of course I had to stop for fuel in Galena, where 100LL is the only thing available at the airport, and it's a long walk to town with a gas can.

Phil

[airtac]

Seven dollars a gallon
We Americans are such spoiled babies, we complain about paying 3 bucks a gallon for our cars

Well, it is propably since you use petrol with much lower octane number, like somewhere round 81 or so, while European standart is 98, and 100+ is no exception. From this comes lower consuming with same driving style. Europeans also use smaller engines to get same power out of petrol 

That's it, but our lowest octane available in California is 87
As far as smaller engines go, that's true also but some folks just like big engines, our new car has 6.3 liters and puts out 380 HP--only gets about 18 MPG though

[Franz]

[. . .]
And I'd like to hear what avgas cost too. RON95 car-gas is around 7 USD/usgallon her atm (10DKK/l)

Frank

Still, in Denmark AvGas is cheaper than MoGas is in Germany.
I think the difference is about 0.30$ to 0.40$ / Gallon.
And most of the people think there should be taxes on AvGas, because all those people who can afford to fly "just for fun" (which equals all of GA for the most) could pay them anyway.
What they do not know is that we pay taxes on AvGas / JetA1 / whatever, as long as we do not use it for comercial purposes.

Good Night to all of you
Franz (dreaming of cheaper fuel. Gliders are great, but there are more flying machines . . .)

[Baradium]

I'll get the current price tomorrow when I'm over there.      AOPA gave Galena credit for the most expensive in the nation a few months ago... I'm sure it hasn't changed since. 

[Baradium]

The current avgas price for Galena is 5.99 a gallon (self serv).   The rampers thought it was around $7 a gallon, not clear if it really got that high or not, but does sound like it may have gone down a little recently.

[airtac]

The 185 uses about 16 gallons an hour, YIKES, that's almost a hundred bucks an hour for gas!
But that's not bad considering the countryside you can see in an hour @ 160 knots.