Flying Wild Alaska, anyone ? - Page 3

Joeaksa · 03-13-2011, 01:26 PM

What I do not get along with are the "if everything is not right, then this landing might end in everyone dying on the plane" sort of crap.

Pilots know that the most dangerous part of the journey is the car ride to the airport in the car, but the hollywood pukes feel that they have to try to get everyone on their toes all the time, and its just not that way. Its all about ratings with them and not real life.

I have done bush flying and while it does get "sporty" from time to time, 99% of the time its pretty sedate. It is nice to watch Jim T do his "off airport" work in the C-180. I have done quite a bit of that and thats where you show if you can control the bird or not. He is pretty good at it, but then with a set of 32" tundra tires and the right airplane, it sure helps. So does 30+ years experience in Alaska.

Joeaksa · 03-13-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Normy

Oh I've landed in Alaska- yeah, that was just....jolly!

Airline pilots like me will NOT patronize "F-Street Station" anymore,

N!

PS: I really do not understand Alaskan bush flying. That stuff is SOOO dangerous! You people think that your flying with a safe airline when you take one of those charters up there, but you are deluding yourselves! Those guys are good, but they work in a dangerous environment. I do not, generally, and that was the point of this post. Those guys do it EVERY day, and if you fly with them, then you are putting yourselves into that dangerous environment.

I just wanted you LL Bean types to know that when the grizzly comes at you, it's teeth are real-

Normy,

First off you have barely landed in Alaska. ANC is not what we are talking about, its just another commercial airport, period stop, so please climb off of your throne.

Second you are NOT an airline pilot. You fly boxes for a living. That makes you a cargo pilot. Just because you fly for FexEx you are still a CARGO pilot.

Thank God that you finally realize that you do not understand something. We have been hoping that you would finally get to this point for years now.

As for you being an expert on aviation in Alaska, go back to your comment "I really do not understand Alaskan bush flying." then stop typing. That was all we needed to hear.

Joe A

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

I like when Jim was landing by swooping down, touching the tundra tires on the river surface, and slowing down before stopping on a gravel bar.

I wonder if Gordo Cooper ever saw Alaskan bush pilots fly?

(I know, way different than being a military jet test pilot, but still takes a lot of skill and bravery.)

Joeaksa · 03-13-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flieger

I like when Jim was landing by swooping down, touching the tundra tires on the river surface, and slowing down before stopping on a gravel bar.

I wonder if Gordo Cooper ever saw Alaskan bush pilots fly?

(I know, way different than being a military jet test pilot, but still takes a lot of skill and bravery.)

Friend of mine knows Gordo but thats been a long time ago. Agree and loved that segment. Thats a bit above my skill level right now!

I had dinner with Gene Cernan (the last man to walk on the Moon) a few months ago and he was not the slightest bit interested in bush stuff. He has a C-421 that he flies and Learjet gets him in a Lear 45 from time to time but thats it.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

I met Gordo at an airshow about 5 years ago (he was grand marshal). It was nice to meet a legend like him, but it was sadly clear that time had taken the edge off his sharp mind.

Wilhelm · 03-13-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flieger

I met Gordo at an airshow about 5 years ago (he was grand marshal). It was nice to meet a legend like him, but it was sadly clear that time had taken the edge off his sharp mind.

Right. Gordo died in 2004. He was living in Ventura Ca.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wilhelm

Right. Gordo died in 2004. He was living in Ventura Ca.

Wow, I did not realize that show was that many years ago- 6.5 (it was in the summer).

Deschodt · 03-23-2011, 05:25 AM

This week's episode sounded a lot like the last episode, not just of the season. Does anyone know if there will be a season 2 ? I doubt it... Oh well, "Justified" started ;-)

cashflyer · 03-23-2011, 05:53 AM

Wiki says they have been contracted for a Season 2 run.
Season 1 was probably "in the can" before the executives had decided on a Season 2, so made the last episode a "wrap up" in case there was not.

AbbyAk · 03-23-2011, 12:51 PM

That show is actually pretty good. Our core business is remote Alaska heavy civil construction and I have used many of the air taxis etc featured on that show for logistical support of our remote construction jobs.

We do have our own pilot and 3 aircraft: an Arctic tern, a Cessna 206, and a Caravan type aircraft called the Kodiak--fairly new single turboprop.

Most of the places we work have fun names like: Shemya, Amchitka, Atka, Savoonga, Kivalina, Huslia, Nulato, to name a few. Those air outfits on that show are a pretty integral part of life in rural Alaska.

Nice to see a program that features those folks.
A.B.

t6dpilot · t6dpilot's Garage

Hey Max, you wanna talk crosswinds? Yeah, they are sporty - especially with the steering wheel in the back, right Joe?

Max, PM me your email address and I'll send you a good x-wind video.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

So they made it to season 2 after all. I had not heard about it since I have not been watching much tv at all for the past two months. Tonight during dinner I tuned into Discovery Channel at 10PM and there was a new episode on. I am not sure when the new season started (I saw Ice Pilots by the way).

Ariel flew a couple times with predictable results. She got the trim wheel the right way around but is getting the throttle/engine controls backwards. Then her dad was having her do coordinated turns. "If I am turning left I step on the left pedal, right?" "No"

Step on the ball.

Wilhelm, you would have loved it. Her first landing was a little scary but the second one with her Dad there she did a much better flare.

Wilhelm · 11-05-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flieger

So they made it to season 2 after all. I had not heard about it since I have not been watching much tv at all for the past two months. Tonight during dinner I tuned into Discovery Channel at 10PM and there was a new episode on. I am not sure when the new season started (I saw Ice Pilots by the way).

Ariel flew a couple times with predictable results. She got the trim wheel the right way around but is getting the throttle/engine controls backwards. Then her dad was having her do coordinated turns. "If I am turning left I step on the left pedal, right?" "No"

Step on the ball.

Wilhelm, you would have loved it. Her first landing was a little scary but the second one with her Dad there she did a much better flare.

Hey Flieger:
I will check it out for sure. That Ariel is cute as a bugs ear, but I dont know if I would want to fly with her in the left seat !

She reminds me of that old flight instructors "First Rule"... "Remember, your student is always trying to kill you". I dont know how flight instructors do it. I couldn't.

Thanks for the heads up on the show.

Don Ro · 11-06-2011, 08:20 AM

Gentlemen, gentlemen...the cute little Ariel is learning...she's a neophyte - cut her some slack (and 4 - 6 more yrs. of growth

).
.
I guess if I had the money and the hunger I would also pay $67 for a cold pizza.
$30 for the pie and $37 for someone to fly it to me.

Wilhelm · 11-06-2011, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Ro

Gentlemen, gentlemen...the cute little Ariel is learning...she's a neophyte - cut her some slack (and 4 - 6 more yrs. of growth

).
.
I guess if I had the money and the hunger I would also pay $67 for a cold pizza.
$30 for the pie and $37 for someone to fly it to me.

True. She is a student pilot after all. But it seems that growing up around airplanes she would have a little more knowledge by now. And for some reason when I watch her it doesnt seem that she is focused on learning to fly. Maybe her attitude is just an act for the TV show.

gshase · 11-07-2011, 06:39 PM

Ariel is so cute, What CFI wouldn't love to give her several hours of stick time. But as an instructor, I would bet she is never allowed to solo. She just does not have it.

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

The flight instructor would probabyl feel like every hour was actually 10 with Ariel as a student!

Wilhelm · 11-07-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gshase

Ariel is so cute, What CFI wouldn't love to give her several hours of stick time. But as an instructor, I would bet she is never allowed to solo. She just does not have it.

Roger that. I am no CFI for sure, but I think you are right. She just doesn't seem "focused"...or something like that. Then again, maybe some of it is just 'for the show". Whatever....It is entertaining

ShakinJoe · 11-07-2011, 07:19 PM

Greg,

We are watchers of the show. I must say the limelight really seems to have hit Ariel and Ponts hard and quick. Yes she is cute but that will fade quick. I think Jim is a neat guy.

Deschodt · 04:47 AM

It's gotta be an act, partially at least. Nobody grows up around airplanes like that and has no clue about *any* instruments / flight controls to *that* extent. You'd pick up more by osmosis ;-)

I sure feel the pain of flight instructors though, I bet there are a few people like that out there.. Stories anyone? I know when I went for my first flight lesson at Ariel's age (or younger? hard to tell bambi's age), I had read all the student pilot books cover to cover, knew all the book knowledge there was to know (at my level), had flown countless hours on all (circa 1988) crappy simulators available... Maybe it's possible that because it's free to her, she never cared... Stilla great show though... Are we getting more "Ice pilots" on Nat geo too ?