David Hamann’s Cessna 195 at Landmark

Welcome New Members! Michael Barnard, Boise, ID

Tim Kurreck, Placerville, CA Mark Daily, Paul, ID

Kaye Gussenhoven, Boise, ID Kyle McCain, Idaho Falls, ID

Frank & BJ Clapper, Salt Lake City, UT Randall Crothers, Tucson, AZ

Nikita Clark, Payette, ID Timothy Noga, McCall, ID

Michael Crosby, Corrales, NM Donald Dressen, Fruitland, ID

Eric Peyrot & Sandra Slane, Summerland Key, FL David & Nora Savage, American Falls, ID

Michael Bailey, Coeur d’Alene, ID Greta Bailey-Gissel, Coeur d’Alene, ID

Mark Mac McElroy, Lincoln, CA Sarina Houston, Boise, ID

Ryan Christoph, Omak, WA James Hayes, St. Paul, MN

Steve Walsh, Boca Raton, FL

Renewing Corporate Sponsor Selkirk Aviation, Coeur d’Alene, ID

FUEL/OTHER DISCOUNTS FOR IAA MEMBERS!

Print your IAA membership card for your wallet, and call: Back Country Fuel Emmett 861-9056 Western Aircraft Boise 338-1833 Turbo Air Boise 343-3300 Jackson Jet Boise 383-3300 Arnold Aviation Cascade 382-4844 Aero Mark Idaho Falls 524-1202 Atlantic Aviation Hailey 788-7511 AvCenter Nampa/Pocatello 866-3740 Reeder Flying Service Twin Falls 733-5920 Rapid Refueling Caldwell 454-1669 Granite Aviation Sandpoint 263-9102 Northern Air Inc. Bonners Ferry 267-4359 Selkirk Aviation Coeur d’ Alene 664-9589 Frazier Aviation Ontario, OR (541) 889-9197 Stangel Flight Service Enterprise, OR (541) 426-3562 More information available at www.IdahoAviation.com

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Please send calendar and editorial submissions to: Editor@IdahoAviation.com

Deadline is the 15th of the month

July 2019

Events Calendar

June 26–30 Woman Wise Awesome Adventures: Cascade (U70). Seminars, flight instruction, and fun for women pilots, Christina Tindle, 208-315-3075, www.WomanWiseAwesomeAdventures.com. July 6 McCall Open House & Fly-In (MYL): 9 a.m.–2 p.m., biggest ever! Keynote Speaker Amy Hoover – renowned backcountry flight instructor, college professor, and co-author of "Mountain, Canyon, and Backcountry Flying.” Hands-on STEM events for kids. Helicopter rides (subsidized for 18 and under), raffle & prizes, food, aviation centered display booths, and more. Rob Tucker rob@InterEd.com. July 6 Kamiah Fly-In (S73): Breakfast starts at 7 a.m., $10 adults, $5 kids, 11 a.m. lunch $5. Spot Landing Contest, live music, 100LL available, for more info call 208-935-0089. July 9–11 Wilderness Within Reach: 30th anniversary at Flying B Ranch, contact John Davis 208-867-4600. July 12–13 Joseph Fly-In Breakfast & BBQ (JSY): Live music/BBQ Fri $25/adult or $15 for under 19. Pancake breakfast Sat; $15/adult, $5/kids under 12. Static aircraft display, Ravens Flight demo, classic cars. Mike Fleming at sagriver@icloud.com or 541-263-2793 or Bill Ables bjables@eoni.com or 541-263-1327. July 12–14 WSPA Priest Lake Seaplane Splash-In: Tanglefoot (D28), noon Fri–9 a.m. Sun, register by July 1, $75 includes meals, camping, t-shirt, www.washingtonseaplanepilots.org/event-3415528. July 20 10th Annual Fly-In Breakfast St. Maries (S72): 8–11 a.m. Carol Koelbel 208 245-2914 or carol.koelbel@gmail.com. July 20 Ontario (ONO) Airport Appreciation Day: 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Breakfast, lunch, cars, planes, Young Eagle flights, motorcycles, music, awards, more! FREE admission! 541-889-9197. July 25–28 Women’s Floatplane Splashdown! Cavanaugh Bay (66S), Tanglefoot Seaplane Base (D28), instruction, massages, more! 208-315-3075, www.WomanWiseAwesomeAdventures.com. Aug 9–11 RAF Regional Mini-Educational Conference: Boise. Call 970-209-5980 or email Erin White at ewhite@theraf.org for info. Aug 11 Huckleberry Festival Fly-In Pancake Breakfast Donnelly (U84): 8–11 a.m. Fly in! Transportation provided to and from breakfast and festival. Breakfast $8. Info: IAA member Ron Keller 505-681-5982 www.DonnellyChamber.com/events/huckleberry-festival. Aug 15–18 Women’s Mountain Checkout! Steamboat Springs (SBS) 208-315-3075, www.WomanWiseAwesomeAdventures.com. Aug 16–17 Cavanaugh Bay Fly-In: (66S) Bring something to grill and something to share for BBQ dinner Sat at 4 p.m. Don 946-8490. Aug 24–25 Warhawk Air Museum 17th Annual Warbird Roundup, Nampa (MAN): 9 a.m.–4 p.m., (208) 465-6446, www.WarhawkAirMuseum.org. Sep 14 Oregon Pilots Association Annual Conference, World of Speed Motorsports Museum, Wilsonville, OR: Keynote Speaker Rich Stowell, CFII, National Instructor of the Year & Gold Seal Instructor. Sep 25–29 Woman Wise Awesome Adventures: Cascade (U70). Seminars, flight instruction, and fun for women pilots, Christina Tindle, 208-315-3075, www.WomanWiseAwesomeAdventures.com. Nov 10 Warhawk Air Museum Annual Veteran’s Breakfast, Nampa (MAN): 8 a.m.–noon, (208) 465-6446, www.WarhawkAirMuseum.org.

FIRE SEASON! CHECK FOR TFRs BEFORE YOU GO!

President’s Corner Andrew George

So in the past 72 hours it has been a very busy time, during which I was able to visit multiple venues and events where aviation enthusiasts gathered. These included the Father’s Day Fly-In at Garden Valley, the Idaho Aviation Foundation Raffle at Big Creek, the unofficial gathering of people at Johnson Creek (SuperCub.org) to name a few…All of

which, by the way, a lot of volunteers helped pull off over the weekend and if you didn’t thank them, well, you should!

When I am out in the backcountry or at local airports I am often approached for a conversation or questions about aviation-related issues. I enjoy the ability to share and discuss aviation matters, all the while enjoying the freedoms of flying as much as the next guy. It seemed, though, that in this small snippet of time, I was sought out more than usual. Understand that I not only volunteer my time as current president and member of the IAA; I serve on the Board of the IAF, participate in many focus groups for the Gowen Field expansion plans, and regularly attend Nampa Airport advisory meetings. I also fly Charter for SP Aircraft, which encompasses a lot of backcountry flying as well as some multi-engine time out of state. I own the pilot shop at Gowen Field—Aviator Supply—where we sell all the materials needed for training, along with electronics and other pilot supplies. On top of this, I conduct my General Contracting business in remote places, if only to provide another reason to own an aircraft. This can and has led to full days and many opportunities to discuss things with a lot of people on a wide range of topics. Here are some of the topics I was approached about just in the past few days…

Fuel Tax Revenue: Specifically, the accounting requirements required to document fuel used for aviation, and how the individual is burdened with maintaining these records for 3 years when the supplier already has recorded the sales as well. Any way to get a discussion with the IRS to look at this procedure? Way more to this …

Airport Etiquette: I am asked, “Is it possible to write an article on tips for pilots about how to act once on the ground? Can we communicate to newer pilots how to handle aircraft better? Prop blast, back-taxi considerations, planning on where to park before you land, and many other suggestions.”

Organization Fly-ins Insurance/State-Required Waiver: In order to hold an event at a public airtrip in Idaho, the State requires an indemnification waiver. Many pieces to this puzzle as well, but how can we improve this form, adapt it to current types of organizations, and/or pass it to the registrant, versus the organization, for liability release…again, way more to this as well. Organizations won’t come here or won’t sign it, as they feel it is a burden to the organizer. How can we try to visit this with the State to see if a better way is possible?

iPad Mounts: I’ve had pilots comment about the setups I sold them working well in the planes. I was glad to visit with

two pilots specifically on equipment I sold them and they were happy; made me feel good.

Labor Pool: The challenges we face in the Treasure Valley are not singular. Other contractors and I had discussions on labor issues and the lack of qualified help in all areas. Employment rates are very low, the pool to get people involved is smaller and smaller, and the price for quality is higher and higher. These times are side effects of the state’s growth and will not subside any time soon. Interesting how Pullman, Boise, and Salmon all share the same story. This is an example of the growth I keep talking about in our own aviation circles and how we must work to keep GA safe in the future.

Website Improvements: Lots of great suggestion on how to tweak the current site to be more friendly and easier to use and interpret information. Love hearing these. It’s a bit of a slow process, but believe me, we are constantly working to improve it.

Clients on Remote Projects: Asking how the aircraft is used in the business relationship. Transporting goods back and forth from cities to creek drainages. Utilizing the planes to make access and comfort possible in very hard-to-reach places. I love explaining how airplanes were a major player in how the Idaho backcountry came to be utilized. Remote-access costs support many people who benefit from the aviation side of things, even if you are not a pilot. My business paid out over $50,000 last month alone to Commercial Operators from Boise and Salmon who contribute to the overall impact of aviation related trickle-down benefits. Our aviation dollars for fuel and materials go a long way in the state economic impact for residents and tourism.

Medical Emergencies: Had two this past week I indirectly participated in, and the airplane was the savior. Two people injured themselves near Indian Creek and needed immediate evacuation. They were taken to Boise by another volunteer pilot who stopped what he was doing to help them. I in turn took up the mission he was on, picking up his clients at the Flying B and ferrying them to Boise for him. Then SP Aircraft brought out an injured rafter yesterday. I drove him to Urgent Care to get some serious stitch work done on his leg, so my crews working back there had to reorganize and shuffle out at different times without their gear. The airplane did the work, the people made it happen, and the attitude was outstanding from everyone involved. I’m really proud of how everyone just got to work to take care of business and made hard situations easy. Still, I’m always thinking of how we can be an even more effective response for emergencies or just very dire straits situations. How can the communication be better? How to improve what was a success in many ways?

Webcams: Can we increase the number? I’ve received many suggestions about where they would be helpful to increase safety and awareness. Just for the record, new ones will be going live soon…

The point I want to make to you, the members, is that I and we—the IAA—are listening, be it in person or via emails, phone calls, fly-ins, social media, or at a local airport. I try to take all comments and suggestions to heart because it must be important to you, if you are wanting me (continued on Page 3) Page 2

to hear it. The IAA wants to hear you, learn what concerns you, and move the Association in directions beneficial for us all in aviation. To do that it takes good communication, willingness to hear other ideas or points of view, and the attitude to want to make things more effective, productive, or even just better all around. I have always been told, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” but that doesn’t mean we can’t polish it up a bit. Thanks to all those who have reached out to me. If you have any suggestions for us, please drop me a line…

Andrew 208-794-4480 Andrew@BaseConstructors.com The Big Tires & Campfires Raffle drew some 80 aircraft to Big Creek on Saturday, June 16. Andrew George flew in with this Cessna 336. From there it was on to Pistol Creek for a work-related stop. “Don’t laugh, she can rock the backcountry!” he said on the IAA Facebook page. “Like” us at www.Facebook.com/IdahoAviation! Over 2,000 others already have!

Contacts State President Andrew George 208-794-4480 State Vice President Website/Secretary/Treasurer Nadine Burak 208-861-9056 Info@IdahoAviation.com Vice Presidents: Jerry Terlisner—Activities 208-859-7959 Joe Corlett—Communications 208-890-1819 Don Lojek—Legal Affairs 208-484-2292 Kyle Green—Commercial Operators 208-284-4575 Ron Graff—Scholarships 360-944-7751 Tom Tyson—Safety and Education 316-633-1801 John Gough—Government Affairs 208-421-1785 Andrew Simmons—Membership 208-473-9566 Directors: Director-at-Large Dist #1 Don McIntosh 208-946-8490 Dist #2 Bill Ables 541-263-1327 Dist #3 John Davis 208-867-4600 Dist #4 Kerry Requa 208-221-7417 Dist #5 Greg Cobia 208-785-5006 Dist #6 Mike Hart 208-528-7672 THE FLYLINE—Crista Worthy 208-906-4471 Editor@IdahoAviation.com

District 2 – Lewiston/Moscow

Bill Ables

Welcome to summer here in the Pacific NW, and as it often does, it came upon us fast. If you’re like me, you enjoy and hope for temps not to exceed 75 degrees. When it starts to creep toward 90, I perform a lot like my airplane…a bit sluggish. These aren’t complaints you’re hearing from this writer, but only the same thing I go through each year when

we suddenly go from winter to summer. My symptoms are very similar to those I see in 04D’s performance when I get out and fly in our warmer temperatures—beware that your airplane may also not be the steed it was back just a couple of months ago.

Like many of you, I have asked the IAA to send me any pilot reports that come from airstrips located within District II. I am pleasantly pleased with the number of timely pilot reports that our members are reporting and want to thank all of you who take the time to do so!

We have been working with the USFS and the FAA to get several of our airstrips charted, plus, get some of those already charted, charted correctly. As of May 23rd, you will notice that two of our airstrips are now on the charts. Lord Flat, on the Oregon side of the rim of Hells Canyon, is once again on the charts and depicted as OR9. Dug Bar, inside Hells Canyon, also on the Oregon side of the Snake River, has been charted and depicted as OR8. Unfortunately, Red’s Horse Ranch, 6OR9, a public airstrip, is still incorrectly depicted with a circled R, but bear with us, we are working with the FAA to get that corrected.

We still have a couple of small work parties to complete, one at Red’s Horse Ranch and one at Peavine. One will involve replacing a culvert and the other will be the mixing of cement for the base of a new windsock stand. I will send out emails to our members when those materialize. I’m hoping to get these both completed by the end of June.

Again, I hope that you’re able to take advantage of and enjoy this time slot with smoke-free summer weather before

the fire season weather that is soon to follow. Fly safe and watch those Canyon winds, Bill Ables

Take a Friend flying! Mike Fleming, enjoying Hells Canyon. Mike is

the brains behind the Wallowa Co. Fly-In this July 12-13. Page 3

District 4 – Magic Valley

Kerry Requa As the summer develops into the hot dry days, our flying conditions change, presenting pilots with plenty of challenges. Everything from density altitude problems to afternoon thunderstorms, and then the smoke from the inevitable forest fires that crop up somewhere every

summer. Most of these can be planned for, expected, or avoided, if you are doing what you should as a pilot.

One hazard I have experienced numerous times that can really get your attention is the dust devil. These mini tornados can really cause problems. I know here in south-central Idaho they are most common March–June. I have flown through them at low altitudes and even had a few on short final. One hit just after touchdown on the landing rollout. I was in a light sport tailwheel airplane and it nearly got me. I had about a two-second warning as I watched a small clump of weeds swirl across the runway in front of us. The doors were off the airplane that day and as the winds hit us, we could feel the air blow through the cockpit as the airplane started to skip sideways across the runway. I applied the flight controls, brake, and a blast of power. Then the winds reversed, and we had the same thing in the opposite direction. It was an eye-opening event that I will never forget.

I have seen dust devils as high as pattern altitude and higher, but most don't last long enough to present many problems above 500 feet AGL or so. I know many of you have been tossed around by them, but not everyone realizes what they experienced and how hazardous they can be. Some people may think it is low-level turbulence, but if you get into a strong one you will know it. When you get tossed in one direction and then quickly in the other direction while flying over the valleys at lower altitudes, it’s likely you just got hit by the "Devil’s tail." That's what I call it, kind of like flying for a few seconds in a washing machine. I am very careful when conditions are favorable for the dust devils to form. If you fly low and slow and encounter the Devil’s tail it might bend your prop, or worse. No kidding, these mini tornados can cause you to lose control if you are not prepared. If you encounter one on short final, you will have your hands full. If you are a low-time pilot, I suggest you talk with a flight instructor or an experienced pilot about what you should do if you get hit by the Devil’s tail. Remember they vary in strength and wind velocity, if you encounter a small one you might not even know what it was. I know the bigger ones can give you a brief a wild ride. The best advice I can give you here if you encounter one, is fly the airplane, use your rudders correctly and don't panic, because they don't last long. Do some research on these dust devils and take note of the conditions in which they are most likely to form so you can be prepared.

I hope to see you at one of the many fly-ins or events the

IAA and others are having this year, fly safe. Kerry Requa District 4 208-221-7417

June Safety Tip—Turbulence Tom Tyson, VP—Safety

Turbulence is one of the most

unpredictable of all the weather phenomena that are of significance to pilots. Turbulence is an irregular motion of the air resulting from eddies and vertical currents. It may be as insignificant as a few annoying bumps or severe enough to throw an

airplane out of control or cause structural damage. Turbulence is associated with fronts, wind shear, thunderstorms, etc. Make sure to report it correctly.

Light turbulence momentarily causes slight changes in altitude and/or attitude or a slight bumpiness. Occupants of the airplane may feel a slight strain against their seat belts. Moderate turbulence is like light turbulence but somewhat more intense. There is, however, no loss of control of the airplane. Occupants will feel a definite strain against their seat belts and unsecured objects will be dislodged. Severe turbulence causes large and abrupt changes in altitude and/or attitude and, usually, large variations in indicated airspeed. The airplane may momentarily be out of control. Occupants of the airplane will be forced violently against their seat belts. In extreme turbulence, the airplane is tossed violently about and is impossible to control. It may cause structural damage. Chop is a type of turbulence that causes rapid and somewhat rhythmic bumpiness.

Mountain waves are turbulent eddies, found downwind from mountain ridges. They are caused by and are therefore stationary with respect to the mountain ridges. Mountain waves produce some of the most severe turbulence associated with mechanical agencies. NOTE: The most intense turbulence is associated with stable air above and to the lee of the mountain barrier.

Favorable conditions for mountain waves include: Winds 25 knots or greater, blowing perpendicular to the top of the mountain ridge; little change of wind direction with height; wind speeds increasing with height; stable atmosphere (there should be some cold air advection across or along the mountain range, a layer of low stability near the ground, a very stable layer at mountain top level, and finally, a less stable layer above the stable layer). This causes air parcels forced to rise over the mountain crest to sink toward their initial altitude (or equilibrium level). Parcels then rise and fall in a damped oscillatory pattern, much like a weighted spring. Mountain waves often extend from the surface to slightly above the tropopause and may extend 100 miles or more downwind from mountain crests. The main updraft and downdraft of the wave can displace an aircraft up to 5,000 feet per minute (Editor’s Note: or more; ask me how I know…) Downdrafts may extend to surface on lee side of mountain. The most intense turbulence is usually located at low levels, leeward of the mountains in or near the rotor cloud, if present, and may be (if there’s enough moisture) denoted by Cirrocumulus Standing Lenticular clouds, Altocumulus Standing Lenticular clouds, or Rotor clouds (often associated with the most intense turbulence). Search Mountain Wave Turbulence on

www.Weather.gov for more information. Page 4

Have You Been to the Tower Grill? Crista Worthy, Editor

Nampa Municipal Airport (MAN) has hosted a restaurant

upstairs from the airport office for years. But October 2016 brought a welcome change when Nate Lindskoog opened the Tower Grill, www.TheTowerGrill.com.

This tall, blond-bearded man of Viking heritage has a quiet yet friendly demeanor and a penchant for hard work. He has brought a consistently good menu to Nampa and now wants to make his restaurant, and the Nampa airport, into the perfect place to stop before pilots set off for the Idaho backcountry.

Looking for a good breakfast or convenient place to buy fuel before you fly to a wilderness airstrip? Nampa is the perfect place to do that, and the Tower Grill offers indoor and outdoor seating with panoramic views of the runway. Nate will be happy to pack you a lunch to go as well.

The Tower Grill’s outdoor patio lets you see the entire runway. Crista Worthy photo.

The Tower Grill offers catering services, too. They cater

our lunches for IAA board meetings when we meet at Nampa and they’re always excellent! Working with the on-field AvCenter, they are happy to prepare meals for bizjets that zip in with their busy executives.

Many pilots who visit the Idaho backcountry fly in from far away. In such cases, it makes sense to stop short of the wilderness, stay the night, and depart early the next morning when temperatures are cool and winds are light. The first time we visited Idaho was in 2001, when we lived in Southern California. We landed at BOI, rented a car, and stayed in a hotel before departing early the following morning. But wouldn’t it be easy, convenient, and a big money-saver to camp right at the Nampa airport? That’s what Nate thinks, and he hopes the airport will be able to provide camping facilities for pilots. (They do this in Fairbanks, AK, and many other airports, and it’s a great service.) Nate, who grew up around airplanes, would like to see Nampa become a staging airport for backcountry visitors and so contribute even more to the local economy. He’d even like to provide a service where pilots can phone in a list of supplies they need, and he’d pick those things up and have them ready. If you think a place for pilots to camp at Nampa is a great idea too, come to the next public planning meeting for the Nampa airport and speak up.

So how about that food? It’s good cooking, all from scratch, with menu items first loved by Nate’s family, and

now by his customers. Breakfast items run the full gamut from biscuits and gravy to French toast, pancakes, omelets, chicken-fried steak, and the “tank buster” A-10 Warthog burrito.

That’s some seriously delicious-looking French toast and hash browns! Crista Worthy photo.

Lunch offerings include fish tacos, fish & chips, salads,

soup, and several darn good hamburgers. They also have a nice smoothie and many a la carte items.

The Tower Grill is open Wed–Sat 7 a.m.–3 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–2 p.m., closed Tuesday. “Friday Nights at the Tower” happen every Friday 5–8 p.m., when you’ll find cold beer, an appetizer menu, and a special like paella, seafood, or steaks. Prime rib is usually offered on the 1st Friday of each month. Call for info or reservations, 208-468-0460.

Stop by for a great meal, say hi to Nate and his very

friendly staff, and you’re on your way to a great day!

Quotes by Famous Pilots

Chuck Yeager, WWII hero, Air Force test pilot, and the first person to break the sound barrier: “I was always afraid of dying. Always. It was my fear that made me learn everything I could about my airplane and my emergency equipment and kept me flying respectful of my machine and always alert in the cockpit.” Bob Hoover, a U.S. Army Air Forces fighter pilot, USAF and civilian test pilot, flight instructor, air show pilot, author, and aviation record-setter: “I’ve survived so long flying because I’ve thought about things. The ‘what ifs.’ I think ahead about what if this goes wrong, what if that goes wrong. I’ve already thought it out, so I know what to do. And I could tell you stories by the hour of situations I’ve walked away from yet didn’t have to think in the moment about what to do, because I just did what I’d already thought of.” Col. Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson, U.S.A.F. (ret), triple ace of WWII and the highest scoring flying ace in his P-51 Mustang squadron: “My, what I would have given for a GPS during World War II!” Wilbur Wright, who, along with his brother Orville, is generally credited with inventing, building, and flying the world's first successful airplane: “I confess that in 1901 I said to my brother Orville that man would not fly for fifty years.” Clyde Cessna, after an unsuccessful 1911 attempt at flight: “I’m going to fly this thing, then I’m going to set it afire and never have another thing to do with aeroplanes!” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, pilot and author: “I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things.” Ernest K. Gann, American aviator, author, sailor, and conservationist, known for his novels Island in the Sky and The High and the Mighty and his classic memoir of early commercial aviation Fate Is the Hunter, all of which were made into major motion pictures, on flying through thunderstorms: "A pilot may earn his full pay for that year in less than two minutes. At the time of incident, he would gladly return the entire amount for the privilege of being elsewhere.” Wolfgang Langewiesche, German aviator and author, whose book Stick & Rudder is considered a primary reference on the art of flying fixed-wing aircraft: “Flying is done largely with the imagination.” Harrison Ford, actor and pilot: “The focus and the concentration and the attention to detail that flying takes is a kind of meditation. I find it restful and engaging, and other things slip away.” Elbert Leander "Burt" Rutan, an aerospace engineer noted for his originality in designing light, strong, unusual-looking, energy-efficient aircraft: “The criticism is, once I get something flying, I lose interest in it.”

Richard Bach, author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Stanger to the Ground, Biplane, A Gift of Wings, and other books, about his SeaRey, Puff: “I've owned 41 airplanes. A few of them would talk with me. This little seaplane, though, we've had long conversations in flight. There's a spirit in anything, I think, into which we weave our soul. Not many pilots talk about it, but they think about it in the quiet dark of a night flight.” Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III, retired airline captain who, on January 15, 2009, landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River off Manhattan after both engines were disabled by a bird strike; all 155 people aboard survived: “There's simply no substitute for experience in terms of aviation safety.” Amelia Earhart, American aviation pioneer, author, and the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She received the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this accomplishment: “I have often been asked what I think about at the moment of take-off. Of course, no pilot sits and feels his pulse as he flies. He has to be part of the machine. If he thinks of anything but the task in hand, then trouble is probably just around the corner.” Howard Hughes, billionaire businessman, film director, and aviator: “I want to be remembered for only one thing: my contribution to aviation.”

Page 6

DESTINATIONS Where Will You Fly This Year? This Month? This Weekend?

Crista Worthy, Editor Welcome to the “Destinations” section of The Flyline, where we offer a selection of vacation destinations for adventurous aviators across the U.S. Share this section with your family members and start planning your next adventure together today!

IDAHO

PRIEST LAKE SPLASH-IN—July 12–14, more info here! DRIGGS—The “other” side of the Tetons!

Tucked into scenic Teton Valley and straddling the Idaho-Wyoming border, this town of just under 2,000 people offers world-class fly-fishing in summer, and fantastic skiing in winter. Plus, with lower FBO and fuel costs than Jackson Hole Airport (JAC), it makes a great base for exploring Grand Teton National Park. Just land at the beautiful Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport (DIJ), rent a car, and you’re good to go.

Teton Aviation Center is more than a great, full-service FBO. It’s home to both the Warbirds Café and the Warbird Airplane Museum Collection. The Warbirds Café easily ranks in the top five airport restaurants I’ve dined in. And they mean it when they say farm-to-table, locally focused cuisine. Their beef comes from Crowfoot Ranch, just down the highway in Victor. Their artisan bread is baked in Driggs. Fresh greens come from just up the road in Tetonia. Wyoming elk, local steelhead, locally brewed beer, locally-produced hard cider, and a nicely balanced wine list from across the U.S. and around the world ensure a memorable dining experience.

Lamb with cherries, fresh peas, and fingerling potatoes

Stop by the Warbird Airplane Museum Collection to see

the F-J4 Fury, T-2 Buckeye, T-28 Trojan, MiG 15, MiG 17, North American SNJ (T-6), L-39C Delfin, Bell 47 helicopter, Extra 300, N3N biplane, and an Aviat Husky.

Compared with Jackson Hole, its flashier Wyoming cousin, many accommodations on the Idaho side of the Tetons are a fraction of the price. We love the cozy-simple Teton Valley Cabins, a convenient place to rest before and after a wonderful hike in the nearby Jedidiah Smith Wilderness. Try the Teton Canyon Trailhead and take the South Fork, which follows the river up the canyon to the Alaska Basin, eventually intersecting the Teton Crest Trail, where you can look down on Jackson Hole.

Teton Valley Cabins. All photos below by Crista Worthy.

Fly in early to avoid these! They dwarf 13,776-foot Grand Teton!

At first the hike up the South Fork of the Teton Valley Trail is in the

open. Later, the trees close in and you’ll cross the river. Page 7

Even in June, there is snow in the Alaska Basin, near the crest of

the Tetons on the Idaho side. It’s an all-day up-and-back to get to Hurricane Pass at 10,400 feet and look down into Wyoming.

After that hike, you will have earned yourself a treat! In Driggs’s old-fashioned downtown, you’ll find huckleberry milk shakes at the century-old Corner Drug soda fountain. You can’t miss it—it’s at the only stoplight in town. Check out the moose paintings at The Local Galleria; Shakespeare in the Parks on a midsummer’s night; and free outdoor symphony concerts in the Driggs City Plaza. Try the tacos at Morales Home Made. Grand Teton Brewing Company even has horse parking spaces; this is legit cowboy country! Don’t miss the giant potato on a flatbed truck at the edge of town; it’s at the entrance to the Spud Drive-In Theater. For a different way to get into the air, book a flight with Teton Balloon Flights. Want to see how things are looking today on the “other” side of the Tetons? Check out their webcam!

MONTANA BANNACK STATE PARK—Bannack was Montana’s first territorial capital and today is America’s Best Ghost Town. Today, over 60 structures remain standing, most of which can be explored by visitors. At the annual Bannack Days event, held the third weekend in July, the historic townsite comes alive with historic displays, re-enactors, and family fun activities.

Fly to Dillon Airport (DLN), about 40 nm east of Salmon, Idaho. Dillon Flying Service is one of the West’s friendliest; call a couple of days ahead so they can arrange a rental car

for the 30-minute drive to Bannack.

It’s July, when some 600,000 aviation fans head to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I put off going for many years, mostly because I thought it would be too crowded and too hot. Well, this event is so incredibly well-organized, you don’t have to worry about the crowds. And everything is so clean! We even got lucky on the weather when we finally made the pilgrimage last year—it was perfect! So, if you’ve never been, you owe it to yourself to go. And if you have been, this year will bring an especially large number of exciting fighter jets, so think about going again. Below, we have some ideas for fun places to stop on the way to or from Oshkosh. Even if you’re not headed to the big fly-in, these are all worthy destinations in their own right.

SOUTH DAKOTA

BLACK HILLS—Roughly halfway between Idaho and Oshkosh, the Black Hills of South Dakota offer a wealth of vacation opportunities. Visit Mt. Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. If you have more time, you can continue up the highway to the towns of Hill City, Deadwood, and Sturgis.

Fly to Custer County Airport (CUT); every time we’ve landed on Runway 26 there’s been a bit of wind shear on short final. Not bad; just be ready in case. Call the friendly folks at the airport office to arrange for a cab or rental car. We overflew Mt. Rushmore National Memorial before landing. If you do, be polite and maintain at least 2,000 feet AGL. No trip to the Black Hills is complete without visiting this gigantic stone carving of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln. Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the design to honor those who helped birth the U.S. (Washington), expand its territory (Jefferson with the Louisiana Purchase), preserve the Union (Lincoln), and increase America’s world influence and preserve its resources (Roosevelt with the Panama Canal and our national parks, refuges, and monuments).

OK, so your flyover will look a little different. Nice photo though, isn’t it?

Photo courtesy USAF.

(South Dakota continued on Page 9) Page 8

There’s more to see near Custer: Take a drive and/or hike through Custer State Park. We saw buffalo, elk, and wild burros, along with lots of prairie dogs. You can find more info here. Spending the night? Sleep in a treehouse or a teepee at Buffalo Ridge Camp Resort.

On this trip, I picked up a book that is perhaps my favorite of all time, Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail, written by Theodore Roosevelt. He bought a ranch in North Dakota and ran cattle there before he became president, during that brief time that actually was what we think of as the “Wild West.” The buffalo (unfortunately) were gone, yet the land had not yet been fenced. Thus, the real need for cowboys to tend precious cattle. This book is a first-hand account of life in those days, from saloon fights and card games to chuckwagons and Indian encounters. Roosevelt even followed a group of thieves for several days in the dead of winter, arrested them at gunpoint, and marched them many more miles across the frozen prairie to jail. This future president was tough! Hunters will appreciate Roosevelt’s descriptions of game animals. You may think I digress, but this brings me to another fine Western author, Dan O’Brien, who owns Wild Idea Buffalo in the Black Hills of South Dakota. O’Brien has restored vast sections of prairie and raises pure grass-fed buffalo out here. We share a love of Roosevelt’s book. You can arrange lodging and a ranch tour. Learn about the buffalo and how they are restoring the land to look as it did even before Roosevelt had his ranch.

Photo courtesy Wild Idea Buffalo.

Just three miles from Mt. Rushmore is the town of

Keystone, where the National Presidential Wax Museum showcases life-sized wax figures of all 44 presidents. Continuing past Keystone, Hill City is a charming small town, with a selection of locally-owned bed and breakfasts, brand-name hotels, timber lodges, secluded cabins, and some of the area’s largest campground resorts. Main Street offers an eclectic blend of restaurants, stylish stores, outdoor outfitters, boutique shops, fine art galleries, and museums. You’ll also find South Dakota wineries and homegrown breweries with unique tasting rooms. Take the 1880 Train, a 2-hour, 20-mile ride aboard a historic steam train that runs between Hill City and Keystone.

Continue up Highway 385 to historic Deadwood. Walk the cobblestone-lined Main Street where you’ll meet Old West re-enactors who bring history to life. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery—loved this place!—to learn how western legends met their end. It’s the resting place of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. You’ll find plenty of 24/7 casinos, unique shops, and award-winning restaurants. By chance we came across “Tatanka: Story of the Bison,” an amazing sculpture of 14 bison being chased over a cliff by three American

Indians on horseback at full gallop. Commissioned by actor Kevin Costner, who starred in the acclaimed motion picture Dances with Wolves, it is quite an impressive sight.

Tatanka Sculpture, near Deadwood. An associated museum has costumes from the film “Dances with Woves,” and much more.

Photo courtesy Black Hills & Badlands Tourism Association.

After leaving Deadwood, you’ll wind your way northeast to

join Interstate 90, where you can head south to Rapid City and eventually back to your plane. But first, stop in Sturgis, famous for its Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The 79th rally takes place Aug 2–11, 2019, which is right after Oshkosh! The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame celebrates the history of motorcycling while honoring the heritage of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Lodging? Rent a nice cabin here!

Photo courtesy Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

When you get to Rapid City, you could visit the South Dakota Air & Space Museum, just outside the main gate of Ellsworth AFB. Exhibits include a B-1 bomber, Minuteman II ICBM, B-29, B-52, T-38 Talon, and dozens more. From Rapid City, you complete the loop by driving west to Custer and your airplane. (continued on Page 10)

Photo courtesy Biker Belles. Page 9

BUT WAIT!—Would you like to join in the Sturgis festivities? The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is like nothing else. Bikers from around the world descend upon the town for 10 days and nights of riding, food, and music. If you’d like to ride too, then fly to Rapid City Regional (RAP), grab a cab or Uber, and pick up your rental motorcycle! (Reserve ahead.) You can ride this whole loop on the bike instead of driving, and then join the rally too.

Get yourself outfitted for the rally right in Eagle, Idaho, where you can pick up authentic Bill Wall Leather jackets and some amazing handmade biker rings and other jewelry. They also carry the finest hand-carved Indians like you see in places like Deadwood and around the West, hand-carved by John Gallagher; check out the photo below!

There’s one more place of note in this area—Wall Drug Store. Never heard of it? When it opened in 1931, owners Ted and Dorothy Hustead waited for customers but there were almost none. Americans were suffering through the Great Depression. After 5 years, Dorothy decided to build signs along the highway advertis- ing free ice water. The signs were placed up and down the high- way for hundreds of miles: “300 miles to Wall Drug! Free Ice Water!” and so on, counting down the miles to the store. Folks in sweltering, un-air-conditioned cars saw the signs…and you bet they stopped for the water, but they bought things too! Today, up to 20,000 people might arrive on a summer day for some of that free ice water, a 5-cent coffee, a burger, or to let their kids play on the giant jackalope outside. Nowadays, there are literally signs all over the world—including in Afghanistan and Antarctica, erected by soldiers and scientists—that say “XXXX miles to Wall Drug! Free Ice Water!”

You can drive to Wall from Rapid City, but it’s 45 minutes east of town. Instead, fly there! It’s a 62 nm flight east from Custer (CUT) to Wall Municipal (6V4) and a 1,100-yard walk from aircraft parking to the drug store. If you call ahead, you might be able to get a vehicle. With a vehicle, I’ll tempt you further by saying it’s only a few miles to Badlands National Park! (If you’re coming from Oshkosh headed west, land at

Wall first so you don’t backtrack.) Have fun!

The jackalope in front of Wall Drug Store.

PIERRE—Aside from all the attractions in the Black Hills, there’s another reason many pilots like to fly to South Dakota: pheasant hunting. Pheasant hunting season runs mid-October until the end of December. Although I haven’t tried it myself, I have it on good authority from an experienced hunter with a bird dog that Warne Ranches is an excellent outfit. Hunting pheasants is done in the traditional style alternating walkers and blockers behind well-seasoned gun dogs, both shooters having excellent opportunities at fast-flying roosters. Habitat is a mixture of 2,400 acres of chest-high prairie grasses and alfalfa, blended with food plots of milo, millet, corn, and sunflowers. Shelterbelts of Russian olive, cedar, juniper, cottonwood, and plum trees provide ideal winter habitat and protection for all kinds of wildlife. You’ll see hundreds of wild pheasants daily. Sharp-tail grouse, Hungarian partridge, and the greater prairie chicken also inhabit these same areas. Waterfowl and whitetail hunts are available too.

Sharp-tailed grouse (top) and ring-necked pheasant

To get there, fly to Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) just east

of the wide Missouri River, dead-center in the state of South Dakota, and 119 nm east of Rapid City. The folks at Mustang Aviation will take good care of you. They have on-site rental cars and numerous hotels are within 5 miles. Pierre (pronounced ‘peer’) is the state capital. With a population of only 14,000, it’s the second-smallest capital

city in the U.S. Page 10

WISCONSIN

NEW HOLSTEIN—Are you flying a taildragger to EAA AirVenture? You might want to pop in to New Holstein Municipal (8D1), just 20 nm east of Oshkosh. For five days before the big EAA fly-in, SuperCub.org holds their New Holstein Fly-In, an event with camping, contests, and camaraderie, July 19–24 this year. Begun in 2002, the event is gaining in popularity, generally attracting over 60 aircraft the past few years.

You do need to register, which you can do here. Advance registration is necessary to plan for catering and other necessities. Showers are available in the terminal.

You don’t need a Super Cub to fly in, although tricycle-gear airplanes must park on the hard-surface ramp. The camping event begins the Friday before AirVenture and ends the Wednesday of the show.

Different things will be going on each day: Friday and Saturday will feature lunch fly-outs. There’s a fly-out to Washington Island on Tuesday, and a pig roast on Saturday evening. On Monday, chartered buses will take you to Oshkosh if you’d rather not fly there.

But the big event is Sunday, New Holstein Airport Day, with a special breakfast and Young Eagles flights, followed by STOL events, a flour drop, and dinner.

The city has been very supportive of its airport and loves hosting this fly-in. So, if you’re going to Oshkosh, register, fly in, and say HI!

For photos of the fly-in, click here.

MINNESOTA MILACA—

Can’t get enough STOL? A new event is being launched this August 3rd, right after Oshkosh, at the Milaca Municipal Airport (18Y). The Sod Buster STOL Competition Is organized by Jeff Pohl and will feature four aircraft categories. Competitors will pay $50, but spectators will be admitted free—no tiedown or camping fees, either. The evening award ceremony will include a pig roast. The pig roast will be extra and there will be a very bountiful $8 breakfast served Sunday morning. Camping space will be

available beginning July 29.

IOWA AMANA COLONIES, Iowa’s Happy Hideaway—Seven small villages in eastern Iowa, the Amana Colonies, are home to a unique, thriving community founded in 1855 on the principles of religious freedom and a truly communal lifestyle. Fly to the beautifully-maintained grass airfield in Amana and walk right into town.

A pilot based in Iowa emailed me about the Amana Colonies as a great destination on the way to or from Oshkosh, 197 miles to the northeast. Land at Amana Airport (C11) and it’s just a 200-yard walk into the tiny, prosperous, sparkling-clean town of Amana. Enjoy a delicious meal, shop for unique hand-crafted furniture, woolen goods, and gifts, or stay overnight at a friendly inn so you can taste the locally-produced wines and microbrews.

Amana Airport is owned by Thompson Aero and is open to the public. Runway 8/26 is 2,600 x 95 feet of well-maintained turf; it can be slightly soft if there’s been a recent big rain. Transient aircraft should remain clear of the paved ag spray refueling area and the Quonset hangar (bring your own tiedowns and park on the grass). Before you walk into town, look for the welcome board and slip the $5 landing fee into the yellow box. Let the merchants in Amana know that you arrived by aircraft! Photo by Edd Soenke.

If you don’t want to land on grass, need fuel or a longer

runway, or want a car, Cedar Rapids’ Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) is 9 nm northeast, while Iowa City Municipal (IOW) is 17 nm southeast. Both of these airports have fuel, rental vehicles, and courtesy cars.

From the Amana Airport, just walk north on 48th Ave. across the train tracks; you’ll see the old depot on your left. After a 2-minute walk, you cross over the old, seven-mile mill race and find yourself at the Millstream Brewing Co., Iowa’s oldest brewery. My dad would pick the good German Pilsner, while I’d go for the Back Road Stout (or the extra vanilla-y cream soda, if I was flying). Millstream offers seasonal brews, especially around Oktoberfest, and live music Saturday evenings. A few steps beyond the brewery on your right, you’ll see the Amana Woolen Mill. Wool products have been major contributors to the colonies’ economy from the start; Amana's first settlers brought their looms in crates from Germany. Continually working to improve their machinery and manufacturing practices, Amana’s weavers declined to patent their inventions, which they shared with other woolen mills, royalty-free. Page 11

Built in 1859 and periodically expanded until 1943, the Amana Woolen Mill is still in operation. Tour the mill or stop by the store for scarves, blankets, and other textiles. Photo by Edd Soenke.

Hungry? Turn left at the mill and you’ll see the Millstream Brau House, where you can pair those Millstream brews with local bratwurst made the traditional way, or a chicken schnitzel, Rueben, or pork loin sandwich. If you’re looking for wine tasting, continue past the mill to find White Cross Cellars on your left and the Village Winery on your right. Village Winery specializes in dandelion, rhubarb, and berry wines. White Cross Wines tend to be less sweet; they also host occasional 5-course vintner’s dinners, including one on July 20 this year, right before Oshkosh.

Since we’re comfortable, with some food and drink, let me fill you in on the fascinating history of this place! Then you’ll understand why the brick, stone, and clapboard buildings, quaint lanterns, and carefully-tended flower beds evoke a long-past age…

The year 1714 marked the beginning of a German religious group called the Community of True Inspiration. Persecuted for their beliefs, the Inspirationists fled Germany in 1843–44 and settled near Buffalo, New York. The community lived and worked cooperatively, sharing their property. In 1855 they purchased roughly 26,000 acres of land in Iowa and established a group of six small villages: Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana and Middle Amana. The village of Homestead was added in 1861, giving the Colony access to the railroad.

In the early days of the Amana Colonies, residents received a home, medical care, schooling, and other necessities from the community. Jobs were assigned, and there were no wages. Over 50 communal kitchens provided three daily meals and two snacks. In Old Amana, children attended school six days a week year-round, until age 14. Boys were assigned jobs on the farm or in the craft shops, while girls were assigned to a communal kitchen or garden. A few boys were sent to college for training as teachers, doctors, and dentists.

In 1932, suffering through the Great Depression yet seeking to maintain their community, Amana changed its governing systems. While maintaining the Amana Church, they simultaneously encouraged private enterprise and established the Amana Society, Inc., a profit-sharing corporation to manage the farmland, the mills, and the larger enterprises. It didn’t take long for the Amana Society, Inc., to become productive. Lest you think the Amana

Colonies are just a group of tiny religious villages—two years after its establishment in 1932, the corporation was manufacturing walk-in coolers. Business expanded to refrigerators, dishwashers, washers and dryers, stoves, air conditioners, ovens, and microwave ovens. Have you ever heard of an Amana Radarange? That first countertop microwave oven was introduced in 1967 by the Amana Corporation! After selling off various divisions, the appliances are now manufactured by other companies, including Maytag and Whirlpool.

While treasuring their communal past, the residents of the Amana Colonies are also fully integrated into the American economy and society and warmly welcome visitors…

OK, so let’s continue to the good stuff! You might need a

bigger plane to bring some home! Just past the wineries, you’ll come to the Amana Furniture & Clock Shop, founded in 1855. The shop is filled with hand-crafted, solid oak, cherry, and walnut furniture in a variety of styles, plus Iowa’s largest clock selection, keepsake boxes, signs, and more. I have friends from western Missouri who recall driving all the way to Amana with their parents to buy heirloom-quality furniture, not once, but many times.

At Amana Furniture, the focus is on fine woods and fine craftsmanship, using century-old methods. Even many of the craftsmen’s tools are handmade. Today, each piece of Amana furniture is signed by its maker. Photo courtesy Amana Colonies CVB.

Next, turn left on 220th Trail toward downtown. As you walk down the street, take a close look at how the historic buildings are constructed, using local sandstone, brick, or wood. The Amana Colonies were listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

You can really get lost inside the General Store: More cute tchotchkes than you can imagine, plus handmade pottery, a huge selection of specialty taffy, unusual and retro candies, and foods like preserved tomatoes, olives, and fruits, flavored coffees (try the Snickerdoodle!), and teas.

Just a few of the many other stores include Amazing Grace Antiques & Gifts, Heritage Winery & Cheese Haus (73 kinds of cheese!), Painted Cupboard, and Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse, handcrafting fine meats since 1855.

Stop by the Amana Colonies Visitors Center (it’s in a restored corn crib) for information, maps, menus, and tours. If you’d like to stay overnight, the knowledgeable staff is happy to help you find accommodations. Among the many choices are the Guest House Motel and the pet-friendly Touch of Home Bed & Breakfast. With a car, you could visit the other colony towns, stay at Die Heimat Country Inn B&B, Zuber’s Homestead Hotel, or Rose’s Place B&B, and hit the links at the Amana Colonies Golf Club. Opened in 1989, the 18-hole course lies 3.2 miles northwest of the Amana Airport. The course meanders through a forest of white oak, punctuated by ponds and streams. Designed to accommodate players of all skill levels, it offers 5 sets of

tees, ranging from 5,228 to 6,824 yards.

Wilkommen to Amana! Visit the Amana Colonies any time of year for the best in Midwestern hospitality, good home-style cooking, and handcrafted furniture, textiles, and gifts. Oktoberfest begins with a keg-tapping ceremony, followed by a parade, contests like keg tossing, log sawing and brat-eating, live music, demonstrations, and art activities. Raise a glass of that good German-style beer, and—Prost! Photos courtesy Amana Colonies CVB.

ART & RODEO IN CALGARY, CANADA AND GREAT FALLS, MONTANA

BACKGROUND…In 1919, inspired by Allied celebrations around the world, Calgary hosted the Victory Stampede to commemorate the end of the Great War. Stampede organizer Guy Weadick invited artist C.M. Russell, well-known for his depictions of the Old West, to headline its fine art show. GREAT FALLS, MT.—An exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Russell’s participation in the Victory Stampede now hangs in his namesake museum in Great Falls, Montana, through Sep 29, 2019. “Return to Calgary: C.M. Russell and the 1919 Victory Stampede” brings together 21 of the original 24 paintings and all eight bronzes, the majority of which were created during the war, plus sketches and ephemera from the 1919 Stampede, including event posters and a handwritten invitation letter to the Prince of Wales.

Courtesy C.M. Russell Museum

Great Falls is a great destination! Find out more and see lots of photos here. CALGARY—A concurrent exhibition of every painting from the 1919 show in giclée will hang in the art building at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede July 5–14 in Alberta, Canada.

Do you love rodeo?? Have you been to the Stampede? If not, get thee to Calgary! They don’t call it The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth for nothing! Along with rodeo, they have a mind-boggling array of shows and events, including the art listed above, music, motocross, and the classic, wild, chuckwagon races. The Western Showcase offers multiple venues showcasing artwork from established as well as emerging artists working in everything from fine art, photography, and crafts to culinary and performing arts. Venues include the Artist Ranch Project, Maker Market, Kitchen Theatre, and Window on the West stages, photo gallery and artist studios. NEW, EASY WAY TO GET E-APIS DONE!—This popular app, which eases cross-border operations by allowing you to file electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) manifests from your mobile device, has made the

process even easier. Fly to Canada! Page 13

Why I Fly: The Joys of Flying Crista Worthy, Editor

The article below first appeared in the blog for Hangarbot, a company that makes cool hangar accessories. We invite you to send in your own story: Why do you fly? What do you love most about flying? Send your story, in 700 words or less, to Editor@IdahoAviation.com. Over the next few months, we’ll put the best ones on our Facebook page or in The Flyline.

I’ve been looking up at airplanes as long as I can remember. My parents immigrated to America from Denmark in the early 1950s. They arrived via ocean liner, not airplane. They had never even seen a television until their first day in New York, when they watched men in funny-looking pajamas trying to hit a small, white ball with a stick. I was born in Los Angeles, and every weekend my parents either took me to the beach or to LAX. Back then, anyone could stand right next to the fence, less than a hundred yards east of the approach end of the runway. My dad would hold me up so I could be just that much closer to the airplanes. As a giant Boeing 707 or DC-8 roared directly overhead, moments before it touched down, I clasped my hands over my ears and squealed in delight as the roar of the engines filled my body. Soon, I learned the names of all the different airline aircraft types.

Unfortunately, it never occurred to me that I could become a pilot myself. Maybe that’s the way girls were raised back then. But, in 1994, I met the man who later became my husband. Fred was a pilot, but his ex was afraid of flying, so he had allowed his currency to lapse. I wasn’t afraid. He got current and we began renting Cessna 172s, making trips to places like San Francisco and Las Vegas. I wanted to know everything about everything: the radios, how to navigate, etc.

It wasn’t long at all before Fred would take off and, as soon as we were established in a cruise climb, hand the controls to me. I would do all the flying (unless we hit bad turbulence), navigation, and radios until we entered the traffic pattern; then he would take over again. Later, we purchased a Cessna 210. I flew in the right seat this way for nine years, to every corner of the continental U.S., accumulating over 1,000 un-loggable hours. One night, I had a vivid dream that I was going to fly alone. I got into the left seat and inserted the key. But then I was stuck — I didn’t know how to start the engine! I woke up, incredibly frustrated. That was the moment I decided to become a pilot (officially) myself. I only really needed to know how to taxi, take off, and land, so I got my certificate in the minimum time of 40 hours. After my complex and high-performance sign-offs, I could fly the 210 solo. What I Love Most About Flying

The first thing I fell in love with about flying came in through my ears: listening to and talking on the radio frequency. When my husband gave me my first headset, it became a favorite possession because of what it represented. Even when I used to wax our airplane, and later when I had an aircraft detailing business, I would set a

hand-held radio in the hangar so I could listen to the tower and nearby pilots. It’s just a different world up there on the frequency. I love listening to pilots and ATC and forming a mental picture of everything that’s going on in the air.

The second thing I fell in love with about flying was the ability to see and understand the geography and geology of the West. You could probably take me up in an airplane blindfolded anywhere west of the Rockies, and when the blindfold comes off, I could look around have a good idea of where we are. My favorite area of the world to fly over is the Colorado Plateau; all the sandstone areas surrounding the Colorado River—300 million years of Earth’s history laid bare, if you know how to read it.

Hubbard Airstrip, Colorado. Fred Worthy photo. The third thing I fell in love with about flying happened

when we first started flying into Idaho’s backcountry airstrips. You can take off from a city and land next to a wild river deep inside a canyon, camp, hike, and not see a single other human except your companion. This is my heaven on Earth. You need the third edition of “Fly Idaho!” to choose which airstrips to visit.

Moose Creek, Idaho. Jason Rinebold photo. The last thing I love about flying, control in maneuvering,

came as I gained confidence flying the 210 alone. I would skim over the ocean, offshore, just a few feet above the water at high speed. What a rush! That is, until my husband pointed out that if I hit a pelican, I would almost certainly die. So, I stopped that. At SMO, when traffic allowed, I loved coming into the pattern at top speed. Deploy the flaps and then the gear; it feels like speed brakes and your weight strains at the seat belt and harness. Ask for a short approach, throw in more flaps, slip, and the heavy plane drops like a boxcar, VSI pegged. Touch down gently and

pull off before the first taxiway. Now that is fun! Page 14

Idaho Aviation Association PO Box 2016 Eagle, ID 83616

The FLYLINE July 2019

The Monthly Newsletter

of the

Idaho Aviation Association Celebrating 30 Years! 1989–2019