North America’s Highest Airport in a Cessna 172M | Leadville, Colorado

We flew our stock 1975 Cessna 172M with a 150 horsepower Lycoming engine to the highest airport in North America, Leadville, Colorado. (9,934 feet) Careful flight planning, including performance calculations and weather, allowed us to complete this flight safely. This was the most beautiful flight I have ever done and the F16s were just icing on the cake.
Instagram - @thepilotblake

[@GingerThePlane]

Great video! I’d love to fly there someday, glad to know it can be done in the “Mighty M!!” 👍👍

[@christophermcsherry2655]

I was stationed near there at Fort Carson. Never been in a Cessna but have a lot of time in the UH-60 Blackhawk & CH-47 Chinook. Beautiful country.

[@traviseggl3794]

I was at Carson as well. 94-96. Rode motorcycle all over up in the mountains. Crewed the M1A1 Abrams 2-77AR.

[@christophermcsherry2655]

@@traviseggl3794 Nice 4th CAB(4th AVN Regt)

[@boogerwood]

Definitely clicked to watch because I was curious about the 172m handling. Thanks for sharing. Creep was a nice touch.

[@CaptMoo]

Beautiful indeed. Great video.

[@finite01]

Great Video Thanks for taking the time to make it.

[@bobninemire5154]

Good thing it was cold out. Nice video

[@nicholaskennedy4310]

45 yr Colorado Pilot here ; those long straight in approaches are not the best. I ALWAYS overfly the AP to look at it no matter what unicom says. Be CARFUL in those low powered AC! Always know what the wind is doing and NO MT flying over 2o knots wind if your from out of town, it can and will kill you. nice Vid BTW!

[@crazyralph6386]

Curious, does the 20kt rule apply to piston powered A/C? Flown tons of mountain time in turbine helicopters, and I can’t recall many days when it was anything below 20kts? In fact, somedays you’re counting on it for landings and takeoffs at GW!

[@eugeneweaver3199]

Wow!😮 Gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

[@gordonfeliciano4315]

Awesome...

[@terrywilliams5568]

Awesome job thanks fo the ride

[@clarissamead8354]

Great video Blake.

[@ksuav8r2011]

Great video. I was wondering if you would be able to provide the route you took to get to Leadville? We are based out of KSLN and are considering taking a flight to Leadville and I am just trying to determine the best route and which passes would be best to plan. Thanks in advance.