Hi Y'all and Shalom,
My name is Yori Meerovich. I am an Airline Captain rapidly approaching my 60th birthday with a very special fondness for a 75 years old airplane called the Boeing Stearman
I've lived and worked in the U.S. for more than 17 years and although I flew big jets all over it, I never really got to see it the proper way.
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I will fly with my wife, my kids, my friends, colleagues and on some legs (Solo) by myself . Not only I hope to meet as many interesting and friendly people as I can, interact with my blog readers, but also, once again, come to appreciate this magnificent country called the United States of America.
KVIS first fuel stop following a 2+ hour Test flight. June 2017 |
The airplane:


On a hot summer day on August 22nd 1970 while on a low pass, spraying Alfalfa, the plane's landing gear collided with a dirt mound at the field's edge, resulting in a crash. The pilot survived but N67119 was badly damaged and was sent to the airport's ''Corrosion Corner'' to slowly turn into dust.
Nine years passed until the wreck was bought by a Los Angeles couple, who for the next 2-3 years completely restored it and gave it a new lease on life. N67119 returned to the air in 1982.
Now fitted with a new engine, a Continental Motor W670-6A, a beautiful polished Aluminum Hamilton Standard Propeller, a Generator, a king KY97A comm, and a Mode C Xponder, N67119 will spend the next 35 years flying rides in airshows and fly-ins and even once made a visit to the National Stearman Fly-in in Galesburg IL.

5 long months filled with repairs/parts overhauling/modifications which were done by this MX magician and AI named Matt Jakson of Classic Airworks in KVNY, Also, some serious flight training and pattern work and here we are, embarking on this epic journey we really hope to complete.
My friend Nati Niv:
Nati Niv was a very good and dear friend of mine. We go back almost twenty years. He lived in Champaign IL. and was the one who introduced me to LSA. We flew together very many hours in his Rans ultralight airplane named after his late wife Dara.To my profound regret Nati passed away unexpectedly last May at the age of 64. He suffered a cardiac arrest shortly after landing his airplane at the Frasca airport (C16) on a beautiful Friday afternoon. Nati was supposed to join me and crew many legs of my trip with me. I've decided he still will. I named N67119 after him. R.I.P buddy, for ever in my heart.
Nati Niv 1954-2017 |
The Journey:

So, after all the reading, meeting and talking to other Stearman pilots and instructors the ground rules for this journey were set and the are very simple:
1) Three points landings on grass runways only.
2) Fly a max of 5 hours a day.
3) First takeoff at sunrise.
4) Latest time for last landing of the day is 12 noon.
5) Try to avoid night flying.
6) No Weather flying.
7) No Crosswind over 8 knots. (always carry enough reserve fuel to find a better airport)
8) Always respect Density Altitude.
9) No Hot doggin'.
10) Always carry the means to allow relief in flight.
I used SKYVECTOR for the route planing where I tried to stay practical as much as I could but still visit (fly by/over) interesting places that might lay near our route, (like Mt Rushmore for example).
On June 2017 , we took N67119 on a testing flight to see what is it really like to sit in an open cockpit for 2+ hours on a long single leg as well as see how she performs at high (7000ft) altitude.
We ended up smarter at the end of that day. We can fly for 2+ hours but we can also shorten it 30 minutes and still enjoy. And, that 7000 ft is just about where we feel we still have enough margin of power to get out of a sticky situation but will definitely try to avoid it where unnecessary. (Original planned route in WA, ID, MT was changed to avoid high elevations).
The Journey consists of three parts, varying in length from 8-11 days.
Part A - 8 Days
CA, OR, WA ID, NV, UT, AZ, NM,
Part B - 9 Days
TX, LA, MS, TN, AK, OK, KS, NE, CO, WY, MT, SD, ND, MN, IO, WI, IL, MO
Part 3 - 11 Days
IN, KY, TN, AL, FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, DE, MD, WV, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI, MA, NH, MA, VT, OH, MI,

In some cases we will fly through 3 states or more in a single day. In some cases we will spend more than two days in a single state.
There are currently 28 planned flying days and I allocated 80 days for completion.
I hope weather conditions are in our favor, the Goddess of wind smiles on us and the Lord of Radial engines will also be on our side.
When completed, the route will have taken us through all lower 48, at least once.
The return to CA will be done over RT 66 and will take some 5-6 days of easy riding.
Here is where I will post daily reports and will answer all your questions if I can.
Departure is now planned for 7/17/2017
Godspeed.
See you on the trail.
Yori
WTG Yood!!
ReplyDeleteAll the best! Enjoy every minute, every state, every nautical mile flown!
ReplyDeleteFly safe! :=)
Thank you Gil I intend to do just that!!
DeleteGodspeed Yori!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ran, keep following here.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood luck, enjoy the ride��
ReplyDeleteThanks Ira
DeleteFly like the wind. All the best
ReplyDeleteThank you Ofer
DeleteA man with endless ambitions...
ReplyDeleteGood luck
Join up Rami.
DeleteThank you all. Please stay tuned. It is bound to be the ride of a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteLove it! Thank you for doing this and documenting it, so I can live my life vicariously through you. B'hatzlacha!
ReplyDeleteLuvit Moshe!!
DeleteIf you come through MEM, try 2M8. Several Stearmans on field and cheap gas.
ReplyDeleteWilco Dale,
DeleteA stop in Memphis is planned. Can't pass up on a good dry rub MEM style rib dinner.
May the force be with you!
ReplyDeleteKeep it low and slow, and enjoy the ride.
Kudos, Shimon
Thank you Shimon
DeleteWow... V'Behazlacha Yori. Both me and zeevik are going to follow you and this blog.
ReplyDeleteGreat, Thanks. Keep following
DeleteGreat! Have lots of fun and be safe. Will follow you with best wishes.
ReplyDeleteAmit B.
Thank You Amit. Please keep following
ReplyDeleteHey we follow you. It looks great. Keep going
Delete