The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Alright all of you Alaska Guy’s.

I just finished watching the video Big Rocks Long Props and I must say it was incredible. First are those guys nuts or is that typical Alaska flying? Second how long does it take before you go and try that type of flying?

Great movie, they do some amazing things in airplanes. I wrote a pretty in-depth review of it...there is a link to it on the BIg Rocks Long Props website.

As a C-130 FE I have been there and done that in a large turbo prop but what those guys are doing defies the laws of aviation as I know them. Down here in the deep-south we just don’t see that kind of terrain. It sure made me want to drop every thing and move up there.

OBTW most of the sciens were shot in Oregon

Typical Alaskan flying? That depends on who your are and what your occupation is and where you might be flying. Alaskans aren't typical to start with. Yes I know pilots that this is typical for. Usually has something to do with the hunting world. Transporter or individual that is in pursuit of that trophy Dall Sheep. But if you owned a plane like that (the younger you are the bolder), wouldn't you be out playing? The fun in flying is the challenge of where you can get in and out of. There is a cost for living in this adventurous state. Alaska has a goal of 100 plane crashes a year. There were several this week.

I have a very good friend that is a rescue 130 FE in Anchorage and he said last week was a busy week for them.

Let your pocket book be your guide.

While very entertaining to watch, the flying in that particular video is not the norm. Watching that video you will notice the use of maules a light weight aircraft to begin with, light fuel loads and pilots that have a gazillion hours flying those birds. I hang out with pilots that occasionally fly the Alaska back country, and I'm sure theres Alaska pilots on this forum that will tell you that a smooth unobstructed land zone is preferred. But then again theres nothing like the thrill of flying you airplane to the extreme.

I know of a neat airplane you can get bush training here in NJ, it's a blast to fly. And the course is a good primer for those intrested in bush flying



The link for the school is
http://www.andoverflight.com/

Cheers

I recently went for a ride with Greg Miller in his modified Maule, Bushwacker. I posted an article with photos and videos on my site. Enjoy!

You can watch some of the video on the Alaskan Bushweel site.... http://www.akbushwheel.com/BushwheelMovie.html
Neat stuff.

Take note than neither of the aircraft in these videos was made by Cessna. They are very light, have high HP to weight ratios and are operated by guys who are taking water sliding during landing to the extreme. Definetely not the norm up here that I have witnessed anyway.

Not sure what prompted me to post this, but if you want to see some 'extreme' flying: http://blogs.aviation.ca/index.php/stev ... exan_style

I personally know a guy who wrecked a beautiful 180hp 170B doing that. I can see no reason to ever take the chance except in a true emergency. The guy got a new plane at no charge thanks to his insurance company and all of the rest of us who buy insurance.

Don't know if this one is new or not!

http://www.bigrockslongprops.com/index.php

Lonnie and Graig are both friends of mine and are very good at what they do. They would be the first to tell you its the quickest way to ruin a good plane. Lonnie teaches this type of flying in Oregon when he is not guiding in Alaska. You have to use your own plane and he is in his 160 h.p Super Cub showing you how its done after some class room work.
We put on a SuperCub flyin every year at a private grass strip just 3 miles east of Snohomish Airport in Washington state. Some fun competition. One plane got off the ground in 17 feet. The Carbon Cub. This year we want some factory planes to come in and challange CubCrafters and other companys. Happens every June last week end Fri, Sat. and Sun 27th, 28th and 29th.
Some 170s compete and 172s. ect. As far as rough stream side landing on big rocks. Don't do it.

Bill