WA Copalis Beach - anybody ? Today? Monday may 14th?

[Christine]

I know most of you Maule drivers are GUYS and may not be able to bail out for Mothersday, but maybe you can entice your better halves to fly in this beautiful wx and meet midday at Copalis beach. Maybe promise a nice candle light dinner at night. Or after Copalis Beach another destination where we could BBQ?
Should be gorgeous!

Fleeing Alaska today and heading back to WA and feel the urge to do some fun flying.

Anybody else up for it?
Christine

N561TP 808-722-3811
Ps. Will be bringing Joe with me N5651D -Soldotna and ANC based but sans his Maule

[Paul Amstutz]

Christine,
A fly-in at Copalis Beach sounds like fun, always wanted visit. Not able this time around, working. If you ever head toward Utah and want to do the desert, let me know. If work doesn't allow me to go, I'd be happy to talk about where it's neat to visit. Paul

[Christine]

Paul, sounds good. Utah one of these days. So, no Copalis Beach today, but tomorrow it will be. I will check low tides and publish another MSG later. Hope that some other Maule drivers will be able to join us Tomorrow Monday the 14th

[Christine]

I never landed there. If anyone reads this who did, is a 1.44ft low tide at 2:40pm good enough? If so we will be there at 2pm tomorrow

[Mountain Doctor]

What's involved in landing a Maule nosedragger on a beach?

Sounds like fun but I'm a little nervous.

Soft sand?
Salt water?
People/pets/horses on beach?
Fog...
I also figure theres going to be a strong mandatory crosswind, although that shouldnt matter.
Does the paint on the rear of the plane or the prop get damaged/sandblasted?

[TomD]

there are a lot of spam cans w/ training wheels on the beach all the time.

#1 check the tide tables High tide no runway.

#2 On downwind ( almost always to the South) have a very close look at the beach for logs, people, etc.

#3 I normally fly base over to the river and line up from there.

#4 Always land in the dark sand. If there are some small puddles left from the tide going out, it is better to get a little salt and mud splashed than landing too far inland and burying a wheel.

#5 Wind is predominantly from the NW and blows almost straight down the beach.

#6 Don't get in a hurry to get your wheels on the ground. The touch down area just beyond the river can get soft. Carry a bit farther before touch down. You have almost 5000 ft so there is no hurry.

#7 Park just North of Wind sock but be really careful of the soft sand.

Here is an approach on Vimeo https://vimeo.com/28435890

I actually landed a little farther inland than normal on this one since I had been in there just the week before and found the sand really hard up there, but had an exciting landing early this year when I landed on that point and it was WAY softer than I was expecting. Next time I am going to trade a little salt water for firmer touch down.

Also I was having to land around beachwalkers who tend to stand in the middle of the touch down area staring at the incoming planes

[Mountain Doctor]

Thank you for the video. Very helpful.

So I should NOT land where you landed. Maybe stay on the dark sand but further down the 'runway' away from the river, and plan to wash the plane that day or soon thereafter?

I have a Trigear if that matters.

[TomD]

Yep do as I said not as I did.

I got away with it because I had been in there a bit before.

I landed there early this year and the tailwheel sank pretty bad, the 8.50's did fine, but plane slowed down REALLY quick.

Just use your soft field landing technique and you will be fine. The wet sand is really hard on Copalis and very forgiving.

TD

[Mountain Doctor]

I'm a go but I think I may not bring more than one other person to keep the weight down.

[TomD]

More people on board means more hands to push

Just land in the wet and you will have no issues.

I landed there w/ 7.00 x 6 tires way before I got my 8.50's

TD

[Christine]

We went there on Monday just before low tide. It was very easy. I will watch your video and compare. Took some iPhone pics and will publish when I am at a computer (vs iPad)
Wind was about straight across the beach, so we landed a bit more towards the sea, but it wasn't as strong as in Hoquiem or Westport.
There was some low fog, really pretty but visibility was still alright.
Nobody else went - hope we will be a few Maules next time.
@mountain doctor: no problem at all for your trigear