To all my pilot friends: TELEVISION IS HORRIBLE AND IT ROTS YOUR BRAIN. I'm reminded of that every time I see it. While I love the subject, the location, and the airplanes--the latest installment is no exception.
To all my pilot friends: BEWARE OF ALASKA. It is such aviation paradise that once you sample it you will quit your job and move here. Seriously. That is precisely what I did.
To all my pilot friends: This may be akin to selling crack to kids on the street corner, and you can blame me (not television) for the demise of your life and livelihood, but I'd like to cordially invite you to Alaska. Fly on up. We even have our own beer. Just be prepared to never leave, or leave your heart here.
I recommend the summer. (This morning was -40 here in the Fairbanks area).
I got to see the show at a friends house, last night. Looked like a hour long ad for ERA. I like Richards Idea about a 16 R type of film about flying in Alaska.
I watched it last night, too. The second episode wasn't that much different from the first. I'll probably give it a miss next week....
John Renwick
Minneapolis, MN
Former owner, '55 C-170B, N4401B
'42 J-3 Cub, N62088
'50 Swift GC-1B, N2431B, Oshkosh 2009 Outstanding Swift Award, 2016 Best Continuously Maintained Swift
Watched an episode that some friends had recorded and boy was it lame, He flies the airplane to Anchorage to fix a rudder problem that could have been diagnosed and repaired locally. He flew through Rainy Pass and the Mountain tops were visible with high clouds overhead. Oh yeah it was the pilot seat rudder that was the problem so, on the take off from where it was broke he flew from the right seat but, miraculously, he was able to fly to Anchorage through a pass on a pretty much clear day in the left seat. I think I will stay from reality shows.
My $0.02 worth - I also have wathed a couple episodes of Alaska Pilot and also being an amateur Prospector, I have watched at 5 of the "Gold" series. I also talked to a gold mine operator friend of mine who said he was initially contacted to be part of the "group." He declined.
From what we can tell, at least with the Gold series is that these are "staged" productions rigged to increase viewer numbers. I would suspect but do not know for sure, that these "actors" and real folk are getting compensated for there theatrical prowess or lack thereof.
I'll read a book
Joel
N3437D
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