Finally to the oilfields, first real flight, but aborted...

Now at Tioga aiorfield,  

The weather at Old Fort Mandan didn't show any signs of improvement, so got on the road....  Really would have liked to fly there, as the start of the Lewis and Clark Trail, but couldn't wait around for questionable improvement.....  Maybe I'll get back later.  The Lewis and Clark Trail is part of what I came to see, so better do it right....

Had a a look at Stanley airfield, but that was just the start of the oil wells, so went on to Tioga, and this is the real oil patch.  Big tanker trucks everywhere, but many are parked today cause this the the Labor Day long weekend, and many are gone home to family, or just gone fishin'....   Temporary accommodation everywhere. Trailer homes stuck in every corner of land, and all sorts of accommodation advertised at very high prices.  Three taverns on main street, open on a Sunday.....  Big changes in this little Lutheran conservative town....  New rumbling diesel pickups everywhere.....

I set up at the very quiet airfield.  Flew a half hour overhead, just checking things out, since this is still just checking the aircraft out, haven't really done an exploratory flight yet.....  Did a couple of touch-and-goes to get a feeling of the aircraft, but then the front  portion of the turtle deck covering ripped loose and went through the prop...  Luckily it was a Warp Drive, cause it just made confetti out of the aluminum, with no damage to the prop.  As I had mounted that turtle deck this time, I noted that I would like to add some zip-ties to secure it better than just the old velcro.  Well, should have done it sooner rather than later....  Now a real problem, where to get the .016 aluminum, to replace it??  Not much chance out here...  So I removed the aft portion of the turtle deck as well, and went for a test flight - felt just fine, so I'll fly that way, it was a pain to install anyhow.....  Keep It Simple, eh.....

So all fueled and ready to explore the center of the oilfield chaos at first light tomorrow....  Good timing, cause it will be Labor Day so no commuter jets in the air right now....  Don't like mixing a slow ultralight with high speed traffic like that.  Then I'll split to a smaller, quiet airfield for more exploring   for the next couple of days.  Finally starting to happen for real.....


p.s.- Boy this 'Steel Reserve, High Gravity Lager', at 8.1%  packs a punch in a 24oz. can (710ml) ....  Brewed in Milwaukee where they do know how to brew beer, who says American beer is all weak piss.....  Tastes good too, so much better than those light 'pretend' beers....  But can't type straight anymore, so to bed early.....  Got some photos, but they'll have wait until I'm sober.....  Sounds like mosquitoes tonight, so I've also got to rig my net......