Adventure Flying

Part 2: A turbulent flight, a pair of unexpected mascots and a lesson in flexibility.

A college graduate’s cross-country flying adventure starts with a call from his dad—and a few surprises before takeoff.

Four backcountry airstrips in Idaho’s Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness known as the “Big Creek Four” have been deemed emergency use only as outlined by a recent legal settlement. The ruling stems from a lawsuit between environmental groups and the U.S. Forest Service, with the State of Idaho intervening on behalf of recreational […]

Legendary Alaska bush pilot Jim Tweto has been confirmed as one of two men who died in the crash of a Cessna 180 near Unalakleet, Alaska, on June 16. Tweto was flying the 180 and the other victim was Idaho guide Shane Reynolds, a family friend. Witnesses said the aircraft failed to gain altitude and […]

At workweek’s end, winding down only to wind back up might seem antithetical to that hungering for a few days’ break. But for Mike Silvernagle, this routine makes perfect sense. The responsibilities of managing his construction business actually compel him to welcome the end of the typical workweek with yet another set of projects. The […]

Adrian Eichhorn has completed his overflight of the North Pole and is on his way south along the  west coast of North America to Portland, the terminus of the flight. Eichhorn and Shinji Maeda took off together in nearly identical V-tail Bonanzas from Manassas, Virginia, on May 6 and flew together to Iceland via Maine […]

As of May 1, international travelers who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will not need to receive a RT-PCR test before entering the Bahamas. Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis also announced a rollback on domestic travel restrictions throughout the island nation for fully vaccinated individuals. Indoor dining and culture activities have also restarted for those who have […]

Personal aviation opens up a world of interesting and beautiful places to visit and recreate, places that reward us for the time, training and skill to get there. Some places would be inaccessible except by horse, foot or airstrip, like the canyons, rivers and vistas of the Mountain West. Some places beckon because they offer […]

I gazed through the canopy‭ ‬at the‭ ‬dark mountains‭, ‬range upon range‭ ‬marching into the distance‭. ‬Even‭ ‬though it was August 9‭, ‬fresh snow‭ ‬dusted several ragged peaks‭. ‬Our little RV-9‭ ‬purred along beneath a layer of scattered clouds while below us steep scree and rock slopes descended sharply into thick forest‭.‬ I met my […]

For those who have experienced it, the fun of going on a flying trip with your friends and their families in the airplanes you built comes pretty close to maxing out the fun factor for many of us. What really makes this experience enjoyable is being able to share it with a group of competent […]