Today we return to our express plane, the Lockheed model 9 Orion, to fly our longest leg to the Biggest Little City in the World. We're making extra stops - because we can and because it's fun - as we fly through the pleasant Nevada countryside, racing at road level between trees and down a few canyons.
Week 14: Elko, NV to Reno, NV via Battle Mountain, Winnemucca and Lovelock. (Note the original flights did not have intermediate stops; that is just for our convenience.) Depart: KEKO (Elko Regional). Original 1920s airmail departure airport. Intermediate stop 1: KBAM (Battle Mountain). Intermediate stop 2: KWMC (Winnemucca Municipal). Intermediate stop 3: KLOL (Derby Field, Lovelock). Arrive: KRNO (Reno/Tahoe International). Nearest airport to original 1920s airmail destination. The original 1920 airport was called Reno Air Mail Field, renamed Blanchfield Field in 1924 (after pilot William Blanchfield, who lost his life when his plane plummeted to the ground as he tried to circle the Hillside Cemetery to drop a wreath on the grave of Samuel Garrrons, an air mail service mechanic), and later contracted to Blanch Field. In 1928 the airport moved 2 nmi east to Hubbard Field, which was renamed Reno Municipal Airport in 1956, Reno International Airport in 1960, and Reno/Tahoe International in 1994. The original Blanch Field is now the site of Washoe County Golf Course. Aircraft: Lockheed model 9/9D Orions only. You can download the airplane from my Vintage Hangar here: http://tinyurl.com/storms-orion. If you use the Chrome browser, and you haven't downloaded the plane before be sure to read the "CHROME HAS BLOCKED IT! HELP" file there first! Altitude: Low! Speed: 200 mph (174 kts) cruise. Flight plan: Following Interstate I-80. Maps and more details here. Scenery:
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