Wendell's Aeronca Champ Heading to Amarillo - - Page 7.

May 7, 2013:  Heber Springs Airport is the first fuel stop in Arkansas after crossing the Mississippi River.  Terry had planned the route and fuel stops to get the best fuel prices and to go around the Memphis Class B airspace.  Since the Aeronca Champ has no electrical system, there is no radar transponder on this classic airplane built in 1946.  It does have a communications antenna allowing a handheld radio to get better range.  The GPS runs on its internal battery.

The airport is popular with General Aviation aircraft with a nice-sized ramp and a runway that is 4,000 feet long and 75 feet wide.

The stop at Heber Springs was short.  The last photo on approach was taken at 3:42 PM Eastern Time.  This departure photo taken just after takeoff was taken at 4:17 PM as the guys are departing the pattern westbound.

From this angle, the Heber Springs Airport is almost obscured by the trees west of the runway.  The long gap in the trees shows where the runway is located beyond the wing strut in this photo.

The forest is very dense in this part of Arkansas.  You definitely want to have a reliable airplane when crossing this type of terrain.  This photo was taken about 30 minutes after leaving Heber Springs and is probably 40 miles from there.   Wendell took this photo from the back seat.

From the near trackless forest in the photo above to signs of civilization below only took 10 minutes of flying time in the Champ.

Even with some grazing land below, the low mountains are here, just as they are back home in North Georgia.

A short flight compared to the others earlier today is to get fuel before heading into Oklahoma. 

Terry is flying the approach to Clarksville Airport in Arkansas.

Looking good as always.  Terry flew choppers in Viet Nam.  He has a list of type ratings on twin turbo props, and private jets up to the most current models including the Phenom business jet.

Wendell realized he could put all the appropriate information in this one photo.  The reflection of the Champ parked at the fuel pumps in the windows of the FBO is GREAT!  Welcome to Clarksville, Arkansas.

The time is now 5:56 PM Eastern Time, 4:56 Central Time.  The guys originally planned to stay overnight here, but with plenty of daylight remaining, they decide to make one more flight to the next point in the route.