One of the big motivators to amateur aircraft builders is simply dreaming about the adventures that their personal aircraft will allow them to accomplish. One of the ways to “power out” of occasional dips in enthusiasm is to remind oneself of why you chose to build in the first place and daydream about the adventures that could lie ahead.
My wife and I have always looked for interesting adventures to “air out” our RV-10 as the prime traveling machine that it is. In August of 2017, we decided to fly from our Arizona home up north to catch the solar eclipse. To that end, we embarked, along with our pilot son Riley, to Rexburg, Idaho (KRXE), for the eclipse.
To be honest, my prime motivator for the Idaho trip was the airplane trip itself and the opportunity to airplane camp. Having never experienced more than just a partial eclipse, I wasn’t expecting much from the event itself and it was more just an excuse to go fly. However, as nice as the air camping event and hospitality were at the Rexburg airport, the total eclipse itself was spectacular. We immediately vowed to attend another and even from that moment, we were converted umbraphiles. We etched the upcoming April 8, 2024, date into our minds even years in advance.
Fast-forward about seven years and it was time to start thinking about another eclipse trip. The closest location in the path of totality to our Arizona home would be in Texas. Weeks prior, I asked a couple of friends who live in Texas (but don’t know each other) for any suggestions that they would have for a place to consider for a fly/camp eclipse trip. Ironically, they both recommended the same place: Sulphur Springs (KSLR), which would be positioned directly in the path of totality. My friends also agreed that the airport was well-known in the region as a friendly and well-managed place to visit. After speaking with airport manager Joey Baker and being impressed with his preparation plans, we made a reservation as soon as their reservation window opened.
A Week Before Launch
As the event got closer, we began to refine our plans and started looking at weather forecasts. When the first weather forecasts and prog charts started appearing for northeast Texas, the results weren’t very encouraging for those wanting clear skies for the event. That fact got a lot of airplay on national news. It was slightly discouraging until I read a report from an eclipse chaser who had attended a dozen or so worldwide who said that clouds or even overcast skies don’t have to be a deal killer for full eclipse enjoyment. He mentioned that some cloudy skies can add their own mystique to the experience and the inherent day-night-day and stark temperature changes part of the experience remain essentially the same.
Five days before launch, the weather forecasts looked the gloomiest. We had chances of significant weather along the way, upon arrival, during the event and coming home. We briefly thought about taking the RV (motorhome) instead of the RV (airplane). We even considered aborting altogether, which, apparently, many did.
Three days before launch, the weather forecast showed improvement, especially at the destination upon arrival and for the event the next day. We decided to press on with the original plan to take the airplane and shoot for KSLR and be flexible enough to divert or modify as required.
Launch Day
At launch day, the weather forecasts continued their trend for improvement for arrival and next-day eclipse viewing. There were, however, some troublesome indications of significant weather during the hours and days following the event. We launched early and enjoyed beautiful views, clear skies, smooth rides and significant tailwinds. Depending upon the destination, sometimes we make specific plans for a fuel stop. This time, however, since there are so many airports in West Texas, we decided to launch without a specific destination in mind and let fuel range, bladder range and live fuel prices from FlyQ form the plan for us. As we got out over the plains, the skies were still clear, but the tailwinds that we had enjoyed were now whipping up serious surface winds out of the west (high 20s gusting high 30s). For easy turnaround times and generally cheaper fuel, I prefer small country airports, but with that kind of wind, we decided on Lubbock (KLBB), which I was familiar with from the airline days and had a nice big runway pointed right into the wind. Lubbock treated us well, and in short order we were back eastbound to Sulphur Springs, which showed on SkyView as having clear skies and light winds out of the south.
Based upon our previous eclipse experience in Rexburg, Idaho, and the (then) nice weather in Sulphur Springs, I was expecting heavy traffic in and around KSLR. However, when I called for an airport advisory on Unicom, I was surprised to hear that we were the only airplane in the vicinity. After a beautiful pattern over the adjacent lake, we landed and were greeted by a dozen or so enthusiastic CAF cadets who were lined up in all their livery and safety equipment to guide us to our parking spot, but only after we placed our requisite preprinted registration certificate on the glareshield.
Eerily, there were two, maybe three other airplanes visible anywhere on the field. We had the good fortune to choose our preferred camping spot because the designated area happened to be completely empty. Joey Baker, the airport manager, came and met us. He told us that they had taken dozens of cancellations but still were expecting 50 or so more arrivals that day and dozens more the next morning.
We parked on nicely groomed grass adjacent to the inner taxiway. I got the airplane secured with my new “The Claw” tiedown stakes and straps (that worked very well) and began setting up the tent. An hour or so later, we were still alone at the camping area. One airplane landed, got refueled and took off again. Other than that, crickets (or chiggers considering Texas).
After getting set up, we decided to explore the airport facilities. In one large hangar, there were a couple of Red Bull aircraft and a dozen or so folks associated with them who were there to do some promotional photography with the airplanes and the eclipse. Airport management had done a masterful job of preparing for the event. There were food trucks, porta-potties, tables and chairs, vendors selling commemorative T-shirts and trinkets, fire trucks and even mechanics standing by on loan from the American Legend Aircraft facilities on the field in case someone needed them. Everything a nice country airport might need to accommodate a large crowd experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event directly in the path of totality. All we needed was a large crowd.
When we got back from exploring the airport and having a nice meal from a taco truck, we discovered that we had a neighbor. A friendly father and son team from the Seattle area had arrived in a nice Comanche and were setting up next to us. By then there were a couple of airplanes on the main ramp and a couple of motorhomes parked behind the hangars. Finally, as daylight waned, we were joined by a Rutan Defiant who had come in from California. The seven of us in our “community” were treated to a sunset airshow by the Red Bull aircraft as they practiced the circuits that they would fly the next day to get the eclipse photo ops they were seeking.
Eclipsing
After a tranquil night, we awoke to clear skies and light winds. Soon after sunrise, a few more aircraft showed up. I didn’t count, but I would guess that by eclipse time there were less than 20 visitor aircraft present. Manager Baker said that at one point they had over 150 reservations on the books. He said that a couple of large business jets that had canceled had decided to go somewhere in New England instead.
During the eclipse itself, we enjoyed mostly clear skies. The only exception was a short passing of a thin cirrus layer that was interesting in its own right and did not impair visibility at all.
The eclipse itself was spectacular. People who have done it know, and those who haven’t are never going to fully appreciate the experience from mere written or spoken words. I’ll just say that the day-night-day experience coupled with the stark temperature changes are visceral and surreal. For me and my wife, the experience is quasi-spiritual. It makes the universe feel larger and our world and our place in it smaller. We’ve experienced one with hundreds of people and another with mere dozens. Both times there was spontaneous cheering when it started and finished and reverential silence during totality.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip. The weather cooperated and the airplane arrived home without a single squawk. It was exactly the type of adventure that we dreamed about during the building stage. It was sad to see the low turnout at Sulphur Springs, especially after the monumental effort they put into it. Even though the weather worked out fine, the last thing I want to do is be critical of those who canceled due to the early forecasts or any other reason. There is wisdom in not embarking on any trip that would make the pilot uncomfortable. I also recognize that depending upon departure point, there were other options for many that would present a better choice when all things were considered. That’s part of the beauty of personal aviation.
Photos: Myron Nelson and Marie Hawke.
