Idaho – Rivers and Mountains (June 6)

Idaho – Rivers and Mountains

The Flight Plan includes 45 bush strips / fire lookouts.  We will likely need two sessions to complete the journey. 

The first leg of the route includes 10 bush strips. It begins at Fish Lake in the north, follows Wounded Doe Creek toward the Selway River drainage, continues south along the Selway, and then climbs up Running Creek to Crofoot Ranch, perched on a ridge above Rattlesnake Creek near its junction with the Salmon River. From there, the route follows the Salmon south to Hettinger Ranch (IDHT).

The second section of the route includes 10 additional bush strips, including the Big Four. From Hettinger Ranch, the route climbs to Pilot Peak Fire Lookout, continues toward the bush strips in the Big Creek drainage, and ends at Hoodoo Meadows (4D2) after crossing the Middle Fork of the Salmon at Big Creek Junction.

The third section, a zig-zag route, includes 14 bush strips on both sides of the Middle Fork of the Salmon and ends at Sulphur Creek Ranch (ID74).

The final section heads south into the Boise National Forest, features 9 bush strips, and ends at Pine (1U9).

I have included a PDF in the flight plan archive with links to 36 freeware airport downloads and 5 payware scenery options for Idaho bush strips.  It is likely that you will already have many of these strips, but quite a few new strips have been added in the last six months and a number of airports have be updated for 2024 compatibility, so it is worth checking and updating your Idaho collection. 

FlightPlan and Airstrip Links Package Here

This tour was designed for a capable bush plane. The Cessna C-185 Skywagon is a strong backcountry option, but I will be flying the default Zlin Savage Norden in the Got Friends Classic Blue Bolt livery (link below) because of its excellent STOL performance. Its integrated G3X avionics are ideal for bush flying, since all airports in the scenery are recognized and imported correctly, so no external navigator is needed.

Norden: Classic Livery Pack – Got Friends

Videos about the Savage Norden and Eprops:

•         Zlin Norden In Depth

•         E-Props blades : ESR effect explained (English)

The GravityKnightFlying channel on youtube has excellent videos of Idaho backcountry flying including extended footage on quite a few of the airfields we are visiting. They are longish but worth a watch if you have the time.

•         Exploring the IDAHO Backcountry in a Bushplane - 2021 edition

•         Search and Rescue Idaho Backcountry - Bushplane Adventure 2022 part1

•         Adventure in the Idaho Backcountry 2022 part2

•         Backcountry Bushplane Adventure 2023 - episode 1

Recommend Departure time of 1:00 PM

Particulars:

•         Date and time: Wednesday June 6, 19:00 UTC    

•         RTWR Multiplayer Discord Channel

•         MFS Multiplayer: Southeast Asia Server

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!