fiebichpvJuly 15, 2013, 2:43am
Beaumont, Kansas Breakfast Flight
July 13, 2013
Planning & Departure
What could be better than a $100 hamburger flight? How about the same flight but for a free breakfast? Beaumont hotel/restaurant (07S) makes that offer to any pilot flying in. Their website is http://www.kansastravel.org/beaumonthotel.htm Check it out, it is a destination with some Kansas railroad history.
Early Saturday morning, Rick, Lou and I planned to depart our respective airfields and fly the 50 miles to Beaumont, Kansas for breakfast. Surface winds were less than 10 mph, temp was 80 degrees and the sky had a scattering of clouds. We would meet at Beaumont.
Rick and Lou took off from Cherokee Strip (18KS) in their Northwing Trike while I did the same from Selby Aerodrome (35KS) flying my AirBike single. Departure time was about 8 o'clock. Climbing above the bumps at 1000' AGL, and heading East, we flew into the rising sun. Even sunglasses couldn't reduce the low-lying haze's flare. We flew on knowing visibility would be better when returning.
Once airborne, a 15 mph wind from the SSE caused each of us to crab while maintaining our ground tracks. Rick said he was running about 60 mph and me at 75 mph. It is neat to watch our shadows slide over the ground obstacles of trees, buildings, wheat fields, livestock, and then skim the watersheds without leaving a wake.
Arrival
Beaumont's sod airfield is about 1/4 mile east of town. After landing, planes taxi on a one-lane paved road until reaching the stop sign at Main Street. Parking is on the grass in the Bent Prop parking lot.
The facility has been revived from the mid-1950's when it went out of business because cattle hauling by truck on the new Interstate became more profitable than using Beaumont as a railhead. The cafe portion hasn't changed much since the doors were re-opened, tables dusted off, and floor mopped.
Countertops are linoleum, red upholstered stools pivot on stainless steel pedestals, and airplane and motorcycle memorabilia is displayed everywhere. Table seating is for groups of two, four and six people. Rick and Lou were already seated at a two-person table, I chose a counter stool next to them so we could visit and eat.
The free pilot breakfast was entirely adequate: hot coffee, two eggs, two slices of bacon and two pancakes. I also ordered one of their homemade sweet rolls. Anymore, and I would have had to re-do my AirBike's weight and balance calculation. All was delicious and served by a waitress who seemed to be operating at redline speed. This was a busy restaurant.
When finished, I paid for my sweet roll then tipped at a rate greater than would have been for a fully paid meal. That waitress earned it! We signed the guest book, visited a bit more and looked at photos signed by famous aviators and aviation demonstration teams. To date AirBike Ace has not earned the right to have his plane's photo displayed with these greats. Some day???
Flying Home
Rick and Lou climbed into the trike's pod, secured themselves, and fired up the HKS 4-stroke engine. Soon they were on the taxiway/road leading to the runway. The runway is sloped sufficiently so that no matter which way the wind is blowing, one always takes off downhill.
Following takeoff, Rick banked the trike and flew over the plane parking area. Once past, he set course for Cherokee Strip and stayed at about 100 feet AGL as he now faced a headwind.
With pre-flight completed and engine running, I strapped myself into my AirBike and followed a similar route to Selby Aerodrome. I too, flew over the hotel parking area but also let out a stream of beautiful white smoke to the joy of those patrons sitting and waving from the hotel veranda.
I stayed low to keep out of the quartering headwind. My speed going home was in the low 60's. About 50 minutes later I was landing at Selby Aerodrome having an additional 1.8 hours on my hour meter.
Making note of a few maintenance items to be done the next time at the hangar, I pushed my plane to its parking space and put on the cockpit and wing covers. Closing the overhead door and securing the two over-center latches signaled the end of that day's flying.
Photos below will give a good visual image of flying over the Flint Hills for breakfast at Beaumont hotel/restaurant.
Paul Fiebich
July 13, 2013
Planning & Departure
What could be better than a $100 hamburger flight? How about the same flight but for a free breakfast? Beaumont hotel/restaurant (07S) makes that offer to any pilot flying in. Their website is http://www.kansastravel.org/beaumonthotel.htm Check it out, it is a destination with some Kansas railroad history.
Early Saturday morning, Rick, Lou and I planned to depart our respective airfields and fly the 50 miles to Beaumont, Kansas for breakfast. Surface winds were less than 10 mph, temp was 80 degrees and the sky had a scattering of clouds. We would meet at Beaumont.
Rick and Lou took off from Cherokee Strip (18KS) in their Northwing Trike while I did the same from Selby Aerodrome (35KS) flying my AirBike single. Departure time was about 8 o'clock. Climbing above the bumps at 1000' AGL, and heading East, we flew into the rising sun. Even sunglasses couldn't reduce the low-lying haze's flare. We flew on knowing visibility would be better when returning.
Once airborne, a 15 mph wind from the SSE caused each of us to crab while maintaining our ground tracks. Rick said he was running about 60 mph and me at 75 mph. It is neat to watch our shadows slide over the ground obstacles of trees, buildings, wheat fields, livestock, and then skim the watersheds without leaving a wake.
Arrival
Beaumont's sod airfield is about 1/4 mile east of town. After landing, planes taxi on a one-lane paved road until reaching the stop sign at Main Street. Parking is on the grass in the Bent Prop parking lot.
The facility has been revived from the mid-1950's when it went out of business because cattle hauling by truck on the new Interstate became more profitable than using Beaumont as a railhead. The cafe portion hasn't changed much since the doors were re-opened, tables dusted off, and floor mopped.
Countertops are linoleum, red upholstered stools pivot on stainless steel pedestals, and airplane and motorcycle memorabilia is displayed everywhere. Table seating is for groups of two, four and six people. Rick and Lou were already seated at a two-person table, I chose a counter stool next to them so we could visit and eat.
The free pilot breakfast was entirely adequate: hot coffee, two eggs, two slices of bacon and two pancakes. I also ordered one of their homemade sweet rolls. Anymore, and I would have had to re-do my AirBike's weight and balance calculation. All was delicious and served by a waitress who seemed to be operating at redline speed. This was a busy restaurant.
When finished, I paid for my sweet roll then tipped at a rate greater than would have been for a fully paid meal. That waitress earned it! We signed the guest book, visited a bit more and looked at photos signed by famous aviators and aviation demonstration teams. To date AirBike Ace has not earned the right to have his plane's photo displayed with these greats. Some day???
Flying Home
Rick and Lou climbed into the trike's pod, secured themselves, and fired up the HKS 4-stroke engine. Soon they were on the taxiway/road leading to the runway. The runway is sloped sufficiently so that no matter which way the wind is blowing, one always takes off downhill.
Following takeoff, Rick banked the trike and flew over the plane parking area. Once past, he set course for Cherokee Strip and stayed at about 100 feet AGL as he now faced a headwind.
With pre-flight completed and engine running, I strapped myself into my AirBike and followed a similar route to Selby Aerodrome. I too, flew over the hotel parking area but also let out a stream of beautiful white smoke to the joy of those patrons sitting and waving from the hotel veranda.
I stayed low to keep out of the quartering headwind. My speed going home was in the low 60's. About 50 minutes later I was landing at Selby Aerodrome having an additional 1.8 hours on my hour meter.
Making note of a few maintenance items to be done the next time at the hangar, I pushed my plane to its parking space and put on the cockpit and wing covers. Closing the overhead door and securing the two over-center latches signaled the end of that day's flying.
Photos below will give a good visual image of flying over the Flint Hills for breakfast at Beaumont hotel/restaurant.
Paul Fiebich
