AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018 - 77

TEXAS TO NEW MEXICO

En route to Las Cruces, New Mexico-the first fuel
stop-DuPuis flies at 6,000 feet to avoid punishing
headwinds at higher altitudes. The groundspeed is
painful: 155 knots, 180 knots true airspeed. Fuel burn
is 30 gallons per hour. On the second leg, the 414 will
climb to the low flight levels and see 205 KTAS. The
best performance is seen at 18,000 to 19,000 feet. The
airplane's service ceiling is 30,000 feet.
When Cloud Nine outgrew its Cessna 310, there was
no question that the next aircraft would be another twin
Cessna. "The [Beech] Duke has too small of a cabin,"
DuPuis says. The 414 won out over the 421 because
DuPuis prefers direct-drive engines, which he said are
more efficient and have lower maintenance costs.
The 414 was an "upgrade/downgrade" from the
310, DuPuis says. The 414 is 10 years newer. The airframe has just more than 4,500 hours but is a more
capable aircraft than the 310, DuPuis says. Cabin pressurization and the ability to fly at 16,000 to 18,000 feet
offer more flexibility. Cloud Nine can fly more transports to and from the western United States.
The 414's dated, gap-toothed panel is the downgrade. DuPuis hopes to modernize the center stack
with a Garmin 750 GPS, and install a Garmin G5 electronic attitude indicator and HSI on the co-pilot side.
For now, the airplane is Slant A, which means the pilot
can't perform any RNAV approaches in IMC.
"We try to make our fuel stops at places that have
less-expensive fuel," DuPuis says. "Our number one
expense is fuel, and when you're buying more than 100
gallons at a time and saving $1 per gallon," that's a significant savings. The 414 holds a total of 203 gallons of
fuel in its six tanks. Unfortunately, most airports with
cheaper fuel only have RNAV approaches in IMC.
Cloud Nine looks to sponsors and outside contributors for help with the care and feeding of the 414, as
was the case with the 310 and the Aztec. Sponsors offer
free or discounted parts and services that help to keep
Cloud Nine flying. DuPuis credits RAM Aircraft in Waco,
Texas, as a major contributor, and he praises the 414's
new composite propellers from MT Propeller as perhaps
the single best upgrade made thus far. "We see a noticeable performance improvement and they are 27 pounds
lighter," he says. Other improvements include LED lighting by Aveo Engineering. Tempest supplies spark plugs
and oil filters; AeroShell donated a 55-gallon drum of oil.
As Cloud Nine's president, DuPuis seeks to operate the airplane as efficiently as possible. He removed
antennas and plugged holes from outdated navigation
equipment to cut down on drag, which he says has
had a noticeable impact on cruise and climb performance. New engine baffles help the Continentals to
run cooler, and produce less engine-related drag.
A typical mission costs about $500 per hour.
Most other pilots couldn't operate a 414 as efficiently,
DuPuis says, and he attributes it to Cloud Nine's
sponsors, oil changes performed every 25 hours, and
owner-assisted annuals.

"We try to do maintenance smartly," choosing repairs that will make the
most sense long-term, DuPuis adds. "You can do things the cheap way and
it'll get you by, but eventually you'll have to go back in and fix something."
'THE RIGHT THING TO DO'

During a handoff to El Paso Approach, the air traffic controller says, "Thanks
for doing what you're doing." Controllers frequently acknowledge public
benefit flights when their status is noted on flight plans.
One hour into the second leg, the puppies get restless. One starts a tentative whimpering, which prompts a few more to join in with yowls. The drone
of the Continentals eventually lulls everyone back to a doze.
Afternoon sun is sparkling on the Pacific Ocean as the 414 lands at
McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California. Volunteers with the
California rescue are standing by at the Western Flight FBO when the 414
taxis up. Crate by crate, the puppies are transferred from DuPuis's hands
to the waiting arms of the volunteers. They pet and coo at each pup before
placing it into another crate.
The urge to gather all the puppies into your arms and take them home is
strong, but DuPuis says he long ago recognized that he could help one dog at a
time, or he could help many dogs by transporting them out of animal shelters.
"These are pretty clean. I was expecting a lot worse," says a volunteer as she
removes a dirty pad from a crate. The pups' worried faces disappear into the back of
yet another van, but hopefully their journey will soon conclude with forever homes.
Cloud Nine's 414 departs Carlsbad late Saturday afternoon, climbing easily over
mountains painted with a rosy glow from the setting sun. Five hours and one fuel
stop later, DuPuis lands the 414 at Wheeler Downtown. It's well past midnight, and
the chilly November night air whisks the odor of puppies out of the 414's cabin.
DuPuis has logged more than 50 hours in 10 days-and that's on top of a
full work week. "The only reason to do this is if you believe that it's the right
thing to do," he says.
Cloud Nine had no more trips scheduled in November, and DuPuis admits
he's looking forward to the break. In December he headed to St. Croix, U.S.
Virgin Islands, hoping to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals-40 at a time.
AOPA
EMAIL jill.tallman@aopa.org

Editor's note: Just before this article went to press, Cloud Nine Rescue
Flights acquired a Mitsubishi MU-2. The Cessna 414 is for sale. Taxdeductible donations may be made to Cloud Nine Rescue Flights
(www.facebook.com/cloudninerescueflights).
www.aopa.org/pilot AOPA PILOT | 77

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2018

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