By Kevin Szalapski, EAA 792226
This piece originally ran in the January 2025 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
All winter long, I had envisioned a long cross-country flight with my weight-shift trike. I meticulously planned the route and had the perfect co-pilot in mind. My friend Aaron Hoffmann will be in the back seat, and he can fly the trike using the training bars, allowing me to monitor weather conditions, check wind information for landing, or simply rest my arms and daydream.
The weather had to be perfect — and June 30, 2024, promised just that.
On June 29, I checked the weather for our route to ensure we wouldn’t have to spend the night somewhere due to adverse conditions. I reviewed the forecasts for Osceola, Ashland, and Hayward in Wisconsin and Duluth, Minnesota. It was predicted to be a sunny day with clear blue skies and low winds at all the airports. It was just one of those perfect days.
One weather phenomenon that can occur around Lake Superior is advection fog — when warm, moist air from the land moves over a colder surface, such as Superior. This can create fog over the water that can drift inland, challenging shoreline flights. Fortunately, there was no advection fog in the forecast, except perhaps in the heads of the beer drinkers below.
Video for the Trip
We had a GoPro camera mounted on the wingtip, controlled by a wrist remote, and a Sony Action Cam on the control bar. Both cameras were set up for HD video, and I use Adobe Premiere to edit the footage and produce short movies about our trips.
Part 1: Osceola to Sky Harbor, Duluth: We departed early from Osceola (KOEO) with a full tank of gas and extra batteries for the cameras. The temperature was forecasted to reach a cool high of 70 degrees, which is unusual for the middle of summer. At 2,000 feet, the temperature was 54 degrees all the way to Sky Harbor. We were cold and didn’t have the luxury of a heated cab, but pilots are tough, and the day was expected to get warmer.
Sky Harbor (KDYT) is an airport situated on a narrow strip of land called Park Point. Lake Superior is to the east, and Duluth Harbor is to the west. Thirty miles from our destination, I tuned into frequency 122.7 for the airport and heard numerous floatplanes taking off and landing in the bay. As we descended to pattern altitude, we set up to land on Runway 32. It felt calm, but turbulence from the tree line and hangars kicked in as the wind came in from the lake on short final. The runway is 2,600 feet long, giving me enough time to float the trike level and set down with a firm thump. Did I mention pilots are tough?
On the ground, we stretched, warmed up, and checked the trike to ensure nothing had fallen off. We managed to refuel, replace the GoPro and Action Cam batteries, and brush off mayflies. The next route was the one I was most excited about, so without wasting any more time, we were off and flying. Farewell, Sky Harbor. Lake Superior shoreline, here we come.
Part 2: Sky Harbor to Ashland, Wisconsin
This route was full of rivers, harbors, boats, kayaks, and people enjoying a sunny summer Sunday. One advantage of flying over water is the absence of thermals, providing a serene experience just off the beach. The world passed by below us — families on vacation, beach cookouts, kayakers waving from the shore, and kids playing in the water.
Our groundspeed averaged about 70 mph. Ahead, a river flowed into Lake Superior, forming a long sandbar as it made a 180-degree turn. A little farther, a river harbor hosted 10 sailboats anchored, awaiting the wind. Then, suddenly, civilization faded, and the shoreline stretched for miles without a soul in sight.
The total length of this 85-mile route seemed to rush past too quickly. Passing the village of Cornucopia, we entered the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, known for its numerous islands northeast of the Bayfield Peninsula. One notable feature is the sea caves — sandstone cliffs sculpted over centuries by Lake Superior’s waves and freeze-thaw cycles, forming tunnels that kayakers love to explore.
We climbed inland to see State Highway 13 cutting through a forest of tall pines — long, straight, and devoid of cars or power lines, offering a perfect emergency landing spot. Thermals over the land once again provided challenges for our lightweight airframe. Turning south into Chequamegon Bay, we flew past Bayfield, a town operating a ferry to Madeline Island.
Madeline Island’s airport (4R5) offers a courtesy car or, reportedly, the bartender from Tom’s Burned Down Cafe might pick you up if needed. The island features restaurants, tourist services, and amenities. Perfect for a break from daily routines.
Switching to frequency 122.8, we contacted John F. Kennedy Memorial Airport (KASX) in Ashland, Wisconsin, where a quiet radio indicated we were the only aircraft landing at that time. Touching down on Runway 31, we taxied to the rustic log cabin airport building to retrieve the courtesy car key. After refueling the trike and grabbing lunch in town, we prepared for the last leg of our journey.
Part 3: Ashland to Osceola
With the day now comfortably warm, the journey back home promised a smooth ride. Aaron took over flying for a while, giving me a chance to rest my arms as we encountered thermals over the land again.
The final leg spanned approximately 20 miles of dense woods, exacerbated by the rainy season turning any open areas into swampland. Throughout the trip, the Rotax 912 engine ran smoothly, ensuring our comfort. As we approached Sawyer County Airport (KHYR), open farm fields began to replace the dense forest. By nearly 6 p.m., I switched to frequency 122.9 to guide us into a smooth landing at my home airport, Osceola.
It had been a busy day with 6.5 hours of flying, and a memorable one without any issues. The cameras captured excellent footage, we enjoyed a satisfying lunch, and we hadn’t received any reprimands from the FAA — having, of course, adhered to regulations.
Lake Superior has always embodied a spirit of adventure for me, whether in the air, on the water, or strolling along the shoreline as the sun sets in the western sky. With every lift of my wing, I anticipate soaring into the next adventure.
Kevin Szalapski, EAA 792226, has flown weight-shift trikes for 20 years. He owns an Airborne 912XT trike with an Evolution Rival S wing. He flies out of Osceola in northern Wisconsin.