Nancy and the French Air Force guard the gas pump; in the background is Mt Shavano, another fourteener. Salida's airfield lies at an elevation of over 7,500' and slopes steeply downhill to the east; as a result virtually all takeoffs are made to the east. Today the wind is blowing hard from the southwest, which means we're in for a downwind, crosswind takeoff. I'm a little concerned, what with all that wing and all that wind, but it turns out to be a non-issue. Stuart pushes the throttle forward to the stop, holds back pressure on the stick to keep tail planted firmly, and uses the steerable tailwheel to keep us straight down the runway until we have positive airflow over the flight controls. Piece of cake; very impressive. Full marks for the Stemme, and for Stuart.