Spring 2013 Vol 59, Issue 2

See Up and AwayContinued on page 3

Serving Idaho’s Aviation Community for over 65 Years

AERONA U T I C S

For the past two decades, Boise’s AnnMorrison Park has been graced with anarray of colorful hot air balloons inAugust, attracting spectators from allover Idaho. I’m referring to the Spiritof Boise Balloon Classic produced andoperated by Laurie and Scott Spencerof Boise. They are co-owners of LighterThan Air America, Inc. and partner withPeak Broadcasting to present the hotair balloon event. This year’s festivitiesbegin Aug. 28 at 7 a.m.

For all these years, I had no idea thatnative Idahoans were responsible forgiving us this exciting week ofamazement. It was even more surprisingfor me to learn that these folks are prettyfamous in aviation circles, operating ona global basis for clients such as TheWalt Disney Company, Disney Studios,the Kellogg Company, and Coca-Cola.This year, they have been on a majormedia adventure from HollywoodBoulevard, to the Daytona 500, to theHome Shopping Network, and finallyending in New York City’s Central Park.Shari Gale wrote about the Hollywoodportion of their journey in the Marchedition of AeroStats.

The Spencers picked up their newballoon christened ‘Great &Powerful’ just before they headed toHollywood. They tethered theballoon on Hollywood Boulevard outfront of the El Capitan Theaterwhere the Jimmy Kimmel Show is

national-television feed. Here’s whatScott had to say about the experience:

“While the full impact of this uniqueeffort for our Disney family stillhasn’t set in, I can tell you that Inever ever expected to see picturesof movie stars on our web pages withour balloons. Disney is calling the‘Oz the Great & Powerful’ moviepremiere one of the biggest in thecompany’s history and certainly theirbiggest to date involving socialmedia. With the first ‘explosiverelease’ of Oz images at the premiere,our ‘Great & Powerful’ hot airballoon was seen in 150 countriesby millions around the planet in amatter of minutes. It is a bitoverwhelming to be a part of that,and I’m just now getting Laurie backto earth after her time in the basket

Up, Up and AwayBy Laura Adams with excerpts fromAeroStats, March 2013 issue

with James Franco. We did theactual flying as you might expect.Laurie was in the basket the entiretime, and I prompted her via ourradios. She would tap James on theleg to get him to fire the burners. Itworked pretty good.”

“I’d say it worked very well,” Sharicommented. “It was fun to see it allunfold on my own television. But,they weren’t done yet. The next daythey were at the beautiful LanghamHotel in Pasadena to tether theballoon for television anchors fromall over the United States. TheDisney Corporation brought in themedia, the movie’s cast, and spacefor the production facilities. “All”

produced.The star ofthe movie‘Oz the Great& Powerful,’JamesFranco,shared thebasket withLaurie. Theymade it looklike he wasactuallyflying theballoon asJimmyKimmelintroducedhim on a live,

I N S I D E

World premiere for ‘Oz the Great & Powerful’ movie.

news is that from now on you’ll only haveto remember one state aviation-relatedregistration. Legislation that goes into effectJuly 1 eliminates Idaho pilot registration.

As you know, the Rudder Flutter hasbeen tied to the airman registration formany years. Beginning in July, we will

Page 2 Rudder Flutter

mail all Idaho airmen and aircraftowners, who were registered with us in2012-2013, an annual subscriptionrenewal postcard for the Rudder Flutter.This subscription will be free, but youwill need to complete the form and mailit back to us every summer to receiveanother year of the Rudder Flutter. Wealso plan to make our current editionof the Rudder Flutter available on ourwebsite immediately after publication,if you’d rather save the trees and saveus the cost of printing.

Next, I want to offer an apology to acouple of people who submitted articlesfor our winter issue. Patty Mitchell wasthe author of the “Women of Grit” articlein the Compass Rose section, and herbyline was inadvertently omitted. Also,Colleen Back submitted the Big Creekarticle along with captions for the twophotos; the photos appeared withoutthe captions. The “burning lodge” photowas taken in October 2008 by Walt

the Houston-Bugatsch architects havein mind.

Finally, I’ve saved the best for last. Youshould know about the IdahoHistorical Society’s “Night of Flight”film event scheduled for Thursday,May 23, at 7 p.m. in Boise at theHistory Center on Old PenitentiaryRoad. In March, Archivist MichalDavidson and intern Anneliese Warhankoffered the first “Night of Flight” toshare part of a recently discoveredcollection of aircraft films anddocuments from as far back as the1920s. Unfortunately, I didn’t learnabout this event soon enough to let youknow about it. But let me tell you, itwas a real treat. We viewed two 25-minute films: One, produced by theDepartment of Aeronautics and directedby Chet Moulton, depicted smoke-jumper training at McCall during the1950s. The other was a History ofHelicopters produced by Shell OilProductions about the development ofthe helicopter, from visionary drawingsof Leonardo da Vinci to “today’s” troop-carrying giants. Depending on interest,Michal is willing to continue offeringthese popcorn-and-old-aviation filmevents. Hope to see you at the next one.

Editor SquawkSpring fever is infull swing. I’ve seenmany of you in ouroffice this monthregistering yourplanes after towingthem out, only torealize that the2013 decal ismissing. The good

On The Fly

By Laura Adams, Editor

In an effort to accommodate more advertising in the Rudder Flutter, we areupdating our structure and rates. This summer we will also begin offering thefree publication to aircraft owners, as well as Airmen. At a minimum, this willdouble readership. As of June 15, we will offer two sizes of advertising space:

Size rate Annual Fee Dimensions(4 issues)

Half Page $700 7 1/2” wide X 4 3/4” tall

Business Card $300 3 1/2” wide X 2” tall(1/8 page)

We welcome new advertisers! As always, we gladly accept advertising thatpromotes aviation businesses, but do not run classifieds in this publication.To renew your annual advertising, please contact me no later thanJune 15. Laura Adams (208) 334-8775 or laura.adams@itd.idaho.gov

ADVERTISING CHANGES

Call Idaho State Communications

208-846-7600 or 800-632-8000

Worried? Aircraft late?Smith of RayArnold Aviation.The preliminarydesign of the newlodge illustratedthe generalconcept of what

AERONA U T ICS

Spring 2013 Page 3

From theAdministrator:

The PoliticalExperience

The recentlegislative sessionwas my firstopportunity torepresent theDivision ofAeronautics. It

was a fascinating experience, and Iquickly learned that Idaho legislatorsgenuinely know and care about ourairports. Our lawmakers understand therole airports play in the economicsuccess of an Idaho community, andthey value our backcountry airports ashighly as any super cub pilot. I alsolearned that they aren’t too keen onadding additional rules, taxes or burdenson our citizens.

All in all, I’m proud to report that weachieved some significant success duringthis legislative season.

The initial proposal to increase aviationfuel taxes by two cents per gallon wasdropped after hearing concerns from thelarger airports and fuel suppliers.Although the Idaho airport aid programremains significantly under-funded, mostLegislators believe the economy needssturdier legs to support that investment.

knowledge and dedication make hiscontinued service extremely valuableto Idaho aviation.

My favorite part of the legislativesession was meeting with our manyaviation stakeholders. It waseducational for me to hear about theconcerns of a large airline one day, anda small agricultural operator the next.I also heard from operators of largeairports working on internationalconnections and small airports workingon self-serve mogas. Pilots thousandsof miles away called to support ourbackcountry airports. And legislators“gently” sparred over who had the mostairports in their district.

Idaho aviation has its challenges.However, after my first legislativeexperience, I have become even moreoptimistic about its future role in Idahotransportation and economicopportunity. Because when all of usparticipate, Idaho aviation will continueto maintain a healthy cruising ascent.

Pilot registration will be deleted fromstate law, effective July 1. The fiscalimpact of registering pilots was so smallthat the requirement was easily removed.Legislators were more than happy totoss out a burdensome statute.

We were able to increase aircraftregistration fees by a small amount, fromone cent per pound of gross aircraftweight to three cents, also effective July 1.This new rate, still low in comparisonto most states, will allow us to makesome much-needed investments in ourbackcountry airstrips, search and rescuetraining and pilot safety programs.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS)development was given a boost this yearwith the passing of two important bills.One, a resolution to combine efforts inbuilding a UAS industry in Idaho, andanother that addressed privacy concernsthat could have stalled suchdevelopment. Both position Idaho tobecome a national leader in thepromising UAS industry.

Chip Kemper, owner of Queen BeeAviation in Rigby, was re-appointed tothe Idaho Aeronautics Board for a secondterm. Chip is a Fixed Base Operator(FBO), supporting aerial applicationsand firefighting activities. His experience,

Up and AwayContinued from page 1

Scott and Laurie had to do was tetherthe balloon for 14 hours one day.The next day they ran into a littlewind and lost part of the afternoon.They still had time to work withmany media outlets. The day afterthat, they were in Anaheim atDisneyland Resort, tethering theballoon on Main Street. Immediatelyafter the Disneyland inflation, ‘Great& Powerful’ balloon team members,Rob Ryerson and Rich Furman, leftfor a 41-hour drive to Florida. Scottand Laurie followed (via airline) thenext day.”

At the end of the tour, Scott has someadvice: “For my ballooning colleagues,I hope this tour finally opens theireyes (sadly) to the fact thatcommercial or corporate hot airballooning cannot be supported anylonger by simple appearances at

balloon rallies. To grow the sport,pilots must think bigger in theircustomer pitches. In this day andage, the success of any promotionrides on the success of the associatedsocial media program.”

If you know Scott, then you understandthat he walks this talk. His big dreamshave materialized into greatopportunities, not to mention how farhe’s come from his first professionalflight, which was executed for theWestern Idaho Fair. “They paid me $50to fly a sign that said ‘FAIR’, so I tooka bed sheet from my mom, bought a

Mike PapeITD Aeronautics Administrator

See Up and AwayContinued on page 11

James Franco with Laurie Spencer.

Page 4 Rudder Flutter

country during the summer months.Heat is definitely a concern for all ofus, but a hot and humid day will createflying conditions rare to most Idahoans.In general, it will increase your take-offand landing distance and reduce yourclimb performance. I urge you to takethis into consideration!

In 2012, Idaho had 39 general aviationaccidents, with five fatalities, a rate thathas remained consistent over the lastfew years. Nearly all of those accidentswere avoidable. Be aware of thelimitations of high-density altitudeoperations. Refer to the performancesection in your airplane’s POH. Anddon’t forget about our iPad App for Idaho

airports that includes a density altitude(DA) calculator.

Also, be sure to read the copy of myletter regarding Johnson Creek (JC),which was forwarded to all of our 2013JC Fly-In organizers. I plan ondistributing a similar letter for otherairfields with a history of DA incidentsand accidents. Please let me know ifyou have any recommendations.

Summer Safety ConsiderationsSafety Wire

us to convert it into a training deviceusing a 121.6 or 121.775 MHzfrequency. I’d like to give a special thanksto Mike Metcalf, of Aero Services inNampa, for donating two 121.5 ELTsand Doyle Thomason, of PrecisionAircraft Maintenance in Twin Falls, forhis donation of four ELTs. With theirsupport, we have received six ELTs thatsoon will become useful training devices.These training ELTs will be used by oursearch volunteer leads such as Bill Miller,from District 3 and Mark Doerr, fromDistrict 4.

My goal is to get one training ELT intothe hands of each of our district-searchleads throughout the state along with anL-per, a handheld training devicespecifically designed to locate aircraftELTs. Last month, our internal searchcoordinators trained at the Caldwellairport. The following week, our pilotsused the Cessnas to track the ELT trainers,a biannual proficiency requirement atAeronautics. Job well done!

My plan this year is to send four pilotsto the Montana Search Clinic. Pleasegive me a call if you’d like to beconsidered for the September class. Icertainly could use another volunteerlead pilot for District 6!

As a reminder, Boise is hosting the five-day, Inland SAR course Oct. 21-25.Please let me know if you would liketo attend. There is no fee for the class.

By Dan Etter,Aviation SafetyManager

Althoughhumidity isrelatively low inIdaho, I realizethat many of youtravel all over the

Look for DA postersat Johnson Creek,Smiley Creek,Cavanaugh Bay,McCall, Jerome,Challis, Burley andSalmon. They arelaminated and willbe displayedoutdoors during thespring and summer.

SAR ProgramUpdate

To increase theeffectiveness of ourSearch and Rescue(SAR) trainingprogram, I’ve askedour volunteers tospread the word: weare looking for moredonations of oldsingle frequency121.5 EmergencyLocator Transmitters(ELTs). The divisionwill replace the ELT’scrystal, which allows

DENSITY ALTITUDE

Safety WireContinued on page 5

Spring 2013 Page 5

inadvertently mislead folks intoattempting maneuvers beyond theircapabilities or better judgment.

The Bryant family, which provided theland on which Johnson Creek Airportnow sits, owns the ranch house on thehill at the south end of the airport. Thefamily fully supports all flying activitiesat Johnson Creek. Here are a couplerequests:

• Please make all landings to the southand all takeoffs to the north (undernormal conditions) at Johnson Creek(pronounced “Johnson Crick” forthose from out of state).

• Landings to the north are permittedwhenever wind or weather dictatesthat landing to the south would beunsafe. Be sure to offset your baseleg to the south and final approachto the east to avoid flying over theranch house.

Lastly, takeoffs to the south are stronglydiscouraged: Why?

1) Your takeoff path is directly towardthe ranch house.

2) Your takeoff is towards rising terrain.3) High-density altitude conditions

have contributed to severalaccidents and multiple fatalities; ineach case, the aircraft failed to climbabove the rising terrain to the south.

4) Unfavorable southerly winds

I’ll have application information andclass details by this summer.

Addressing Johnson Creek

In February, I circulated the followingletter to the 2013 Fly-In organizers.However, all Idaho aviators should beaware of this safety information specificto the Johnson Creek Airport.

Fellow Aviators,It is our goal to ensure a safe, accessibleand positive experience while flying inand around Idaho’s backcountryairstrips. As pilots, it is our duty toconduct an orderly and safe flow oftraffic. The FAA Airport/FacilityDirectory, the Idaho Division ofAeronautics Airport/Facility Directory,the Apple iPad App for Idaho Airports(which includes a density altitudecalculator, aerial airport views and noiseabatement procedures for Hailey andDriggs), and Galen Hanselman’s FlyIdaho are four great sources. Theyprovide the most current approach anddeparture recommendations for themost popular Idaho airports. Contrarily,please be aware that information passedby word of mouth or over the Internet,although well intended, can distortthose recommendations and

“Hell Above Earth” by Stephen Frater

“Hell Above Earth” is an incredibly true World War II story. A youngAmerican man named WernerGoering volunteered for the ArmyAir Corps early in the war and turnedout to be an exceptional pilot/bombercommander. And, incidentally, hewas the nephew of Hermann Goering,a leading member of the Nazi partyand commander-in-chiefof Germany’s Luftwaffe. The FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover becameaware of this strange happenstance andwas concerned the young American

pilot might be a spy. However, Goeringwas desperately needed and too talenteda pilot to release from duty. Nevertheless,it was important that young Goering notfall into enemy hands causing apropaganda coup in the case of livecapture or desertion. Hoover taskedagents with finding a man able and

Review by Gene Nora JessenAuthor of The Powder Puff Derby of1929, and The Fabulous Flight of theThree Musketeers

Bookworm

generally prevail in the lateafternoon. Aircraft should remainon the ground until more favorableconditions prevail.

We strongly encourage our fellowaviators to honor the Bryant’s requestsand to follow the precedingrecommendations.

In 2012, Idaho had 39 general aviationaccidents with five fatalities, whichreflects the consistent rate over the lastfew years. Nearly all of these accidentswere avoidable. Be aware of thelimitations of high-density altitudeoperations, and use the DA calculatorand Koch Chart found on our free iPadIdaho Airport App.

Lastly, please understand that not all ofthe folks in the area are involved inaviation. Some are visiting thebackcountry to experience the serenity.Be courteous and minimize the numberof takeoffs and landings. Avoid makinglow passes and flying in formation asthe sound is tremendously amplified inour Idaho canyons.

We encourage pilots to monitor theaircraft emergency frequency 121.5.Please contact us to report overdueaircraft or ELT signals at (208) 334-8775. Please enjoy Idaho’sbackcountry airstrips and make yourflying a safe experience.

willing to killGoering should itbecome necessary toavoid hiscapture. Hooverfound his man,another talentedpilot, who flew B-17co-pilot with Goeringwhile holding hisorders under thegreatest secrecy. Bothsurvived the entirewar and during that

Safety WireContinued from page 4

time Goering never learned of his co-pilot’s orders. If you have been a pilot in the Boise valleyfor long you will be acquainted with theco-pilot. I knew him for 40 years andnever knew his secret. You will beastounded reading this fascinating book.

Page 6 Rudder Flutter

Spring 2013 Page 7

ARTHUR-ITISAviation Medical Matters

By: Paul Collins, MD, AME andMike Weiss, MD, MPH, AME, CFII If you experience pain only in a

single joint, it may indicate aninfection, especially if the skin hasbeen broken by a cut or scraperecently. Immediate intervention isnecessary to avoid the destructionof the joint by infection.

Another common cause of arthritisin a single joint is gout resultingfrom needle-like crystals of uric acidthat precipitate in joint fluid. The

Arthur Itis: that’s exactly how mygrandfather pronounced the mostcommon disabling conditionexperienced almost universally by theaging population. He didn’t haveanything against the name “Arthur,”rather; this was the way he referred toarthritis, which he interchangeablycalled rheumatism. Grandpa swore bya daily spoonful of apple cider vinegarand honey for treatment of all ailments,including ole’ Arthur Itis. Thankfully,we have more options today.

Arthritis is defined as inflammation ofany joint in the body indicated by pain,and secondarily by redness, warmth,and swelling. Osteoarthritis or “wearand tear” joint degeneration is the usualvariety, but other causes include eithersingle joint conditions such as infectionand gout or conditions affecting specificjoint patterns resulting from variousimmune disorders. Besides making itdifficult to get into and out of a Huskyor Supercub, the diagnosis is aconsideration for pilot medicalcertification depending on treatment.Relief can vary from aspirin and dietarychanges to prescription drugs or toartificial joint replacement.

If you hear a distress signal or radio call:Note your altitude, location and time

• ATC or FSS• FSS: 800-WXBRIEF (800-992-7433)• Idaho State Communications (800-632-8000)• Local FBO• Local County Sheriff

MONITOR GUARD FREQUENCY1 2 1 . 5 !

andPASS IT ON . . . IMMEDIATELY!!

early enough,newermedicationshave proven tobe quite effectivein preventingparalysis.

When aspoonful ofapple cidervinegar andhoney justdoesn’t cut it,

arthritis symptoms can be controlledby small doses of non-prescription,anti-inflammatory medicines such asaspirin or ibuprofen. However whenthe pain prevails and requiresprescription medication, a SpecialIssuance from the FAA is mandatory.Your AME is allowed to issue a medicalcertificate if the prescription is merelya stronger version of anti-inflammatorywith medical record documentationreflecting it as well tolerated andwithout adverse side effects.

Hips and knees, mainly, but also fingerjoints, wrists, elbows, shoulders andankles that are severely deterioratedcan be surgically replaced. If there areno complications following the surgery,and the artificial joint is functioningwell, than medical certification for anyclass is not a problem. These artificialjoints are not as long-lasting as theoriginals. They typically requirereplacement after a number of years,and unfortunately, the subsequentsurgeries are often not as successful asthe first.

Physical conditioning and weight lossare helpful with almost all types ofarthritis. Extra pounds put extra stresson weight bearing joints. Strongmuscles working around a joint relievethe stress across it. Keep moving! Anddo not procrastinate in seekingtreatment if you are in pain. Remember,pain is the bodies’ master cautionmechanism, and it should alert you totake action.

symptoms can become so painful that apilot may have a hard time operating thecontrols of the plane. Although the painresponds rapidly to strong, anti-inflammatory medication, continuedtreatment with other medication isoftentimes necessary to preventrecurrence and complications in the heartand kidneys. And while gout is typicallyhereditary, the symptoms are worse whena pilot is overweight and consumes adiet rich in red meat and alcohol.

Several types of arthritis are related todisorders in the body’s immune system.The classic diagnosis in this category isRheumatoid arthritis which tends toaffect the hands, arms, shoulders, feet,knees, and hips in a symmetric pattern.There are other types of autoimmunearthritis that vary with the joint pattern:Ankylosing spondylitis affects the spinemore than the extremities or other bodysystem involvement, Lupus affects theskin and kidneys, and Reiter’s syndromeaffects the eyes and urinary tract. In thepast, these disorders led to severe,crippling deformity. However, if thedisease is detected and treatment begins

Page 8 Rudder Flutter

Tower Changeslike to call these points the “Triple B”of Non-Towered Operations. Be heard!Be predictable! Be ready!

Be heard! What I am getting at here is:communication. While two-way radiocommunication is not required atuncontrolled airports, it certainly is goodoperating practice in promoting safety.

“The key to communicating at anairport without an operating controltower is selection of the correctcommon frequency. Using properphraseology and procedures contributeto the pilot’s ability to operate safelyand efficiently in the airspace system.A review of the Pilot/ControllerGlossary contained in the AIM assistsa pilot in the use and understandingof standard terminology. The AIM alsocontains many examples of radiocommunications.” (FAA Pilot’sHandbook of AeronauticalKnowledge)

our comfort with certain aspects offlying. I learned to fly at an uncontrolledairport in a state with only two controltowers. My exposure to airports withcontrol towers was very limited, and asa result, I was terrified of flying to them.It was not until earning my commercialpilot certificate that I gained enoughexperience and confidence to overcomemy “tower fears.” I was surprised whenI discovered pilots for whom theopposite was true. I have met folks wholearned to fly in metropolitan areas

where every airport they flew to wastowered. Because of their fear of theuncontrolled airport, they plan theirtravels, the best they can, to airportswith towers.

Idaho has six operating control towers.However, because of the recent federalbudget sequester, on June 15, 2013,those towers at Idaho Falls, Lewiston,Pocatello, and Sun Valley may close.The airports that will definitely remainopen are Boise and Twin Falls. It is notyet determined if Boise will reduce itsschedule, closing during the latenight/early morning hours.

With the pending tower closures, Iwould like to take the opportunity tohighlight some important points aboutsafe operational procedures at airportswithout an operating control tower. I

Cockpit Conversation

By CadePreston,Director ofFlightOperations

Our backgroundsand experienceusually determine

Tower ChangesContinued on page 9

Spring 2013 Page 9

I like to begin monitoring the commontraffic advisory frequency (CTAF) ofmy destination airport about 10-15minutes before my arrival to theairport traffic pattern. This allows meto get an idea of the situation. Howbusy is it? What runway(s) is (are)being used? What types of aircraftshould I plan to encounter? These arethings I like to get a good “feel” aboutbefore I set up for traffic pattern entry.You can do the same thing beforedeparture by listening to CTAF for aminute while you are doing a pre-flight inspection of your aircraft.

Realize that not everyone operating atthe airport will be familiar with thelocal “tribal knowledge.” Consider thisself-announcement: “SkyHawk 12ABis over the stockyards, at 6,500 feet,inbound for landing.” To the transientpilot this means nothing, except thatyou are at 6,500 feet and inbound.Where are the stockyards? A better wayto make this announcement would be:“SkyHawk 12AB is over the stockyards,

Educate yourself on your departure anddestination airports before operatingthere. What is the direction of the trafficpattern? What is the traffic patternaltitude? (They are not always 1,000foot AGL for piston and 1,500 foot AGLfor turbine.) Are there any specialconsiderations that may make an airportnon-standard in its operations? (Haileyis a good example: checkout theAirport/Facility Directory.)

Be ready! There are always threats thatwill take you by surprise. However, youcan reduce the severity of those threatsby taking time to identify anticipatedthreats and mitigating them before theyoccur. For example, the Idaho Fallsairport has converging departure pathsfor runways 2 and 35. To make mattersworse, there are multiple structures andtrees that obstruct the view of most ofthe other runway. With a tower, thereis someone coordinating the departuresof aircraft from both runways. And thetower serves as a third eye in collisionavoidance. Without a tower, thisbecomes a much bigger threat. Bytaking the time to identify this threatbeforehand, you can come up with a

mitigation strategy to reduce the threatseverity. A good mitigation strategy inthis scenario would be:

1. If wind conditions permit, chooseto depart off runways 17 or 20,which have diverging departurepaths.

2. If a departure off runways 17 or 20is not possible, consciously lookfor traffic departing the otherrunway. And shortly after takeoff,make a good visual scan of theother runway, since that is the timea clear view is available.

3. Keep a listening ear on CTAF, payingclose attention to theannouncements you hear and createa mental picture of airport traffic.

4. Make clear self-announcements ofyour intentions and actions.

While the possibility of the towersclosing is still in question, each pilot’sincreased vigilance and awareness inproper non-towered operations cankeep us all safe.

10 miles southeast ofthe XYZ airport,inbound for landing.”Now the unfamiliarpilot is in the loop asto your geographicallocation.

Be predictable!Following standardtraffic patternprocedures and usingstandard radiophraseology promotesunderstanding andpredictability in non-towered airportoperations. When apilot starts making uphis own traffic patternprocedures, makesunexpectedmaneuvers in thetraffic pattern, or usesimproper radiophraseology, he cancreate confusion,misunderstanding,and chaos.

Tower ChangesContinued from page 8

Page 10 Rudder Flutter

See BarnstormersContinued on page 11

As Memorial Day approaches, I findmyself thinking of my dad morefrequently. Many of you Idaho old-timers will recognize the name PennStohr as that of an Idaho aviationlegend, but this may be the first timethat younger generations and new Idahoresidents have heard of him.

As an 83-year-old veteran, second-generation pilot, and the first born ofthree in our family, it is of the utmostimportance to me that you know aboutthe roots of aviation in Idaho, includingmy father who made a 34-year careerout of flying before anyone reallyconsidered it to be a career choice. Ontop of that, he became well known formaking a living delivering cargo of alltypes into the backcountry whilevolunteering for mercy flights,pioneering ski-equipped use for aircraft,and dropping the first Region Foursmokejumpers as Richard Holmsdescribed in his new book titled “Boundfor the Backcountry.”

Dad was inducted into the Idaho AviationHall of Fame and the Museum ofMountain Flying Hall of Fame. In 2006,the new airport in Plains, Mont., wasnamed Penn Stohr Field in his honor.His plaque, along with those of otherinductees, including jumper pilots JimLarkin and Bob Fogg, is located on theWall of Fame at the Boise Air Terminal.

My dad was an extremely modestindividual. I found out about his heroicdeeds after the fact, throughnewspapers and various other sources.I never heard him boast. Even after hisdeath, when we sifted through hismemorabilia, all we found were acouple of scrap-book pages with anewspaper clipping or two, a picturemarking his first solo flight and a wornletter from the mother of one of themen he had rescued from Loon Lakein 1943. A portion of the letter washighlighted in the Idaho CentennialAir Guard Show program from July1963: “I want to thank you a milliontimes for rescuing my son. I had beenpraying day and night that God would

Last of the BarnstormersThe Color of Aviation:

By Dan Stohr

bicycle tour following the plaques in thesequence of events at the lake, and I’lltell you what, it just about killed me. Ina nutshell, Dad rescued five crewmembers from a B-23 Army bomber 17days after the crash. The plane was on atraining mission from Nevada to McCordAir Force Base, Wash., when it becamelost in a snowstorm and was forced downafter running low on fuel. The NationalGuard attempted to locate the aircraftand failed, but Dad ended up spottingthe swath in the snow on the lake and acouple of men waving. He made twohazardous landings with his ski-equippedTravelAir to bring out the crew. One ofthem described the second departure toRichard Holms as follows:

“It was late afternoon when Mr. Stohrreturned to Loon Lake to pick up Cpl.Beaudry and myself. Mr. Stohrinformed us that we had to leaveimmediately as he feared the plane’sskis would freeze down... We tied arope onto the end of one wingtip, andBeaudry and I hung to the rope inorder to turn the plane around. Havingaccomplished this, we untied the ropeand got into the plane and Mr. Stohrstarted his takeoff… Once again, Cpl.Beaudry and I were looking straightinto the trees we had crashed into.Mr. Stohr used up the space on thelake in order to get airborne, and wewere still below treetop. He bankedthe plane and on wing tips we circledthe outside circumference of the lakeuntil he gained enough altitude toclear the trees. What a ride that was,and thanks to God for the pilot with

the ability to accomplish such atakeoff. Many stories have been toldabout Mr. Stohr’s abilities and featsas a pilot, but really, the amazing partof it all was how calm and casual hemaintained himself as though it wasall just normal procedure.”

Coming from an Army pilot, that is quitea compliment. And on March 22, 1943,the Assistant Secretary of War for Airalso thanked him for a mission welldone in an official letter on behalf of theArmy Air Forces. I was 13 years oldthen. We lived in Cascade, Idaho, whereI met Marian in grade school, now mywife of 61 years.

Beginning in the early 1930s, Dadworked for Bob Johnson deliveringairmail under a contract with the U.S.Postal Service. During my teens, wefrequently relocated between Boise,Cascade, McCall and Missoula, Mont.,depending on various flying contracts.A close relationship developed with theJohnsons, which proved to beadvantageous for both of our familiesduring the Great Depression. Johnson’sFlying Service won a contract with thenew U.S. Forest Service smokejumpingprogram that originated in Missoula.While Johnson managed the Missoulaoperation, my dad ran the sisteroperation out of McCall. In 1945, wereturned to Missoula so Dad could helpout there, flying TravelAirs and Ford

direct someone tothe boys, and it wasyou He directed tothem. Those wereterrible days ofanxiety and stress.”Because this well-documented LoonLake event won somuch nationalattention I won’t gointo great detail.

Three years ago, Idid ride a 10-mile 2010 photo of Loon Lake crash

Spring 2013 Page 11

Trimotors. This was the setting for myfavorite story that I overheard Dadrepeat more than once over drinks.

With a natural flair for storytelling, hehumorously recounted a flight that tookplace 60 miles outside of Missoula whileflying with Bill Farris, a Forest Serviceobserver. A head blew off the lowercylinder of the Wright engine in theTravelAir 6000 he was flying. Whiletrying to clear the last ridge to makean emergency landing at Cayuse Creek,the engine froze and propeller stopped.Thinking that the end was imminent,Ferris retreated to the restroom to writehis last will and testament. Fortunately,with extreme skill, my dad somehowmanaged to make it over that last ridge,around a blind turn and onto the ForestService field without injury. Boy did heenjoy teasing Ferris from that day on.

Always the life of the party, he alsoenjoyed sharing stories of his firstbarnstorming adventures out of Plainsin his Curtiss JN-4 “Jenny,” as well ashis bootlegging runs from Canada toIdaho and Montana during theProhibition era. I remember his cigarssmoking up the house. He was rarelyseen without one in his mouth. In fact,he was so easy going that some folksjoked about his being more concernedwith where he’d find the next cigarthan he was about flying in hazardousconditions. Anxiety just wasn’t a partof my dad, but I guess my mother madeup for that by worrying at least half ofher life.

Pranks were also something thatamused Dad to no end. A couple ofthese stories still get me laughing.Once he and a friend stuffed old pairsof coveralls with straw and rocks, flewover town doing a few loops, andtossed them out. The “bodies” fallingfrom the sky caused quite acommotion. Another time Dad got hishands on a siren, which he attachedto his aircraft, and buzzed over Mainstreet Missoula with it turned on fullblast. When he landed at the airportthe sheriff was waiting for him with aticket in hand. His fine of ten dollarsfor disturbing the peace didn’t botherhim much, but being grounded for six

recreationally flying my J-3 Piper Cubfrom the age of 18. Sadly, when Ireturned after serving in the NavalReserves during the Korean War, myplane was rotting from exposure to theelements. I hadn’t been able to afford ahangar and with a child on the way, Ineeded the money and sold it for $40.While my younger brother followed mydad by becoming a career pilot, I carriedon the “party” gene at the University ofMontana after smoke-jumping inMissoula for three years.

The flying days I remember most withDad, or rather, Ole’ Penn and his plane(nearly everyone used this doublereference to describe him), were ourtrips into the stibnite mining areas inthe winter. Sometimes we flew threetimes a day to deliver supplies to supportthe war efforts. After landing in deepsnow, my job was to swing the planearound by pulling it on a rope, so thatwe could unload it and fly back outagain. On one of these flights, reporterJohn Corlett rode along to interview mydad and wrote, “He’s the idol of LongValley and the pack horse, and oftimessaviour, in the primitive area. TodayPenn is indispensable – the one manwho can fly the primitive area in ablinding snowstorm and come out alive.”

Dad’s dependability, serving the Montanaand Idaho community, lasted 54 years.There were many occasions involvingdangerous flights retrieving miners,trappers, woodsmen and expectantmothers from the backcountry. Despitehis incredible skills and hours of flying,it was not surprising when mother calledme at work during the risky spring cropdusting season in 1957 to inform me ofhis death. He perished in a fiery crashin the Elkhorn Mountains while sprayingsagebrush for the Forest Service. Thiswas the third fatal crop-dusting wreckin Montana in less than three weeks,

and I recall telling her I was afraid thatthis was going to happen.

Like my dad, aviation is an undeniablepart of who I am. After ending a 30-year career as a homebuilder in Boise,Idaho, and failing retirement after onlytwo weeks, unsurprisingly, I foundmyself drawn to the Boise airport. Icurrently enjoy shuttling rental cars atthe airport and live close enough tohear each takeoff and landing.

BarnstormersContinued from page 10

months felt likean eternity.

Despite his loveof flight, Dadadvised meagainst a flyingcareer because ofthe danger. AndI took this toheart, eventhough I hadenjoyed

can of black spray paint and some diaperpins, and you imagine the rest.” Hisfirst balloon ride, in 1971, was all ittook to ignite the passion. With thehelp of his father, he was able topurchase his first balloon and nowboasts owning more than 50 balloons.He has flown more than 6,000 hours.Scott attributes his success to manymentors including Dean Wilson, whogave him primary sail-plane training.

Laurie is the undisputed “better half” ofLighter Than Air America, Scott admits.As one of the foremost female corporateballoon pilots in the U.S., she has loggedmore than 1,000 hours and specializesin the physical logistics of the company’soperations and special events, as well asits consumer retail programs.

So, if you see a giant Mickey Mouseor bottle of Coke floating across theBoise sky, don’t worry, it’s just Scottand Laurie doing a currency flight ormaintenance test.

Be sure to come and say “hello” to theSpencers at this year’s Spirit of Boise-Balloon Classic!

Up and AwayContinued from page 3

Penn Stohr

Page 12 Rudder Flutter

Calendar of EventsFor the most recent list of aviation events, please visit our website at www.itd.idaho.gov/aero. Email your calendar event

information to tammy.schoen@itd.idaho.gov for inclusion in the Rudder Flutter and the Aeronautics website.

Spring 2013 Page 13

Ponderosa’s gratitude extends to eachand every one. We look forward to re-grouping for FIF 2014 and hope thateven more organizations will join us!

A Review of Fly It ForwardBy Jennifer Christiano,Ponderosa Aero Club Board Member

The breezes were brisk–to put it kindly–but the sky and the mood wereblissfully sunny at Jackson Jet Center,where Ponderosa Aero Club recentlyhosted Fly It Forward (FIF) 2013. Thisyear, the event expanded to involve T-Craft Aero Club, Kitfox, Stick andRudder, Glass Cockpit Aviation, SPAircraft, EAA Young Eagles andJetstream Aviation, as well as a varietyof other local aviation groups.

Approximately 107 women and girlswho had never before flown in a smallairplane were treated to “flightseeing”rides over the Treasure Valley by avolunteer team of seven localinstructors. The guest passengers werespoiled with toasts of sparkling juice,chocolate truffles and certificates offirst flight. Four professionalphotographers helped capture themoment. There also were static displaysand information booths, along with abuffet lunch.

New this year, an abbreviated groundschool was offered before each flight;it was taught by volunteer pilots dressedformally in black pants and colorfulbow ties. At noon, Gene Nora Jessenwowed the crowd with a presentationon her amazing career in aviation. Alittle later, the airport firefightersdropped by to show off their firefighting expertise with their Snozzle,Smokey 7 and Smokey 9.

Ponderosa Aero Club sincerely thanksthe many volunteers, donors andorganizations that made FIF 2013possible, including (but not limitedto): Jackson Jet Center, the planeowners, the 99s, Civil Air Patrol, IdahoAviation Association, Jetstream, theBSU AeroDesign Team, various foodvendors and restaurants, MountainWest Bank, Idaho Sand & Gravel andair traffic controller Andy Marosvari,who kept a watchful eye on the weatherfor the pilots. Unfortunately, space doesnot permit a complete list of all whodonated and assisted. However,

Boise

See Radio ChatterContinued on page 14

Free Safety SeminarBy Rich Stowell

Seminar: Stall/Spin Awareness,What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You

Stall/spins account for 12 percent ofgeneral aviation accidents, but upwardsof 20–25 percent of fatal accidents.Nearly 20 percent of the fatal stall/spinsoccur with CFI’s on board! Find outwhat you need to know to avoidstall/spin accident scenarios. RichStowell has performed more than33,000 spins with students from aroundthe world. Interact with Rich as hetouches on insightful spin studies andperforms a live spin demonstrationimmediately following the seminar.

Location: Hangar #30, Cascade Airport(U70), Cascade, Idaho

Date: Saturday, June 22, 2013

Contact: www.richstowell.com/cascade-safety-seminar/

Deadline to sign up for breakfast isFriday, June 7

Agenda:8 a.m. Kelly’s Roadside Grill

$5 breakfast (optional)9:20 Opening remarks by Cliff Smart,

FAA Safety Program Manager9:30 Stall/Spin Awareness by Rich

Stowell, Master Instructor10:30 Live spin demonstration

(weather permitting)10:50 Q&A

Warbird WeekendBy David Rauzi

The second annual Warbird Weekendwill happen on Saturday and Sunday,July 13-14, at the Idaho County Airport.Both days will be packed with events,including free plane rides for children,

historic aircraft viewing and flights anda tour of the U.S. Forest ServiceGrangeville Air Center smokejumperfacility. Sunday also will include remote-control aircraft demonstrations.

Two thousand visitors packed onto theGrangeville airport last July to participatein the first Warbird Weekend, with interestthat exceeded the grand expectations ofits organizers and participants. If youweren’t there, you missed an N3N U.S.Navy biplane (a WWII trainer), aLockheed PV2 Harpoon (a WWIIbomber), a Vultee BT-13A Valiant and aNorth American T-6 (a WWII trainer).Helicopters included one from LifeFlight,two Idaho Air National Guard LakotaLH-72As and a nearby USFS SikorskySky Crane CH54. In addition, theExperimental Aviation Association’s YoungEagles program brought six planes toprovide 81 children with introductoryairplane flights.

You might wonder how this idea wasborn. For the most part, the county-owned facility on the edge of the ruralCamas Prairie community was under-utilized the past few decades. It remainedquiet, except for the start of spring crop-duster activity and those frantic mid- tolate-summer months when the runwayand tie-downs resemble a kicked-overant’s nest as SEATs (single engine airtankers) and belly-dump helicoptersbuzz and whop-whop across the sky onwildfire missions.

Then, in 2009, the Idaho CountyCommission saw the airport throughnew eyes. It was recognized as anunderdeveloped resource for regionaleconomic development through bothbusiness creation and recreation/tourism.An Airport Development Authority wascreated to advise on facility operationsand comprehensive planning, and to

Cascade

Grangeville

Radio Chatter

Page 14 Rudder Flutter

See Ninety-NinesContinued on page 18

renewed economic activity afterAnderson Aeromotive, an FAA-certifiedrepair station specializing in Pratt andWhitney and Curtiss-Wright radialengines, relocated here from California.Anderson was seen as a key player inthe airport’s revival, and the commissionwas envisioning Anderson’s offerings asa draw for ancillary aircraft services.

As the county worked to improve andpromote the airport, Melisa Bryant,Economic Development Specialist of Ida-Lew Economic Development Council,and Airport Manager, Mike Cook, cameup with the Warbird Weekend idea as away to showcase the airport and facilitiesavailable to the community and pilotsfrom outside the local area.

Warbird Weekend not only hasprovided a new activity for residentsand visitors, but it also serves tohighlight the opportunities forrecreation, tourism, family relocationand economic development for ourcommunity, for Idaho County and forNorth Central Idaho.

For Warbird Weekend 2013 eventinformation, contact Bryant: (208) 983-8302 or email: melisa@ida-lew.org.

Bird Charter School OffersAviation CourseBy Chris Rinehart, Flight Instructorat Forrest M. Bird Charter School

In January, Sandpoint Charter Schooltook on a new name and mission to“foster the spirit of innovation.” Schoolofficials chose Bird for the school’s nameto serve as a figure of inspiration for the400 students in grades 6-12, accordingto Principal Alan Millar. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Jan. 31 withthe whole Bird family attending.

Dr. Forrest Bird is the inventor of thefluid control device, respirator, pediatricventilator/respirator, and ventilator, whichhave saved countless lives. He wasinducted into the Inventors Hall of Famein 1995. He and his wife, Dr. PamelaBird, live in Sandpoint on the shores ofLake Pend Oreille in north Idaho. In2007, they opened the doors to the first

develop private- and public-sectoropportunities.

In the meantime, the airportcommunity had begun to experience

Radio ChatterContinued from page 13

Sandpoint

See Radio ChatterContinued on page 18

Spring 2013 Page 15

Page 16 Rudder Flutter

encouraged Lisa to bring her daughteralong when she returned a couple ofyears later for the advanced course.Lori’s daughter was the same age, andthe two girls became friends while theirmoms were flying. Lisa and Lori remainin touch, frequently exchanging adviceon flying and instruction.

Our conversation naturally progressedto Lisa’s accounts of some of her mostmemorable flying adventures. Herfriend Virgil flew to Baja every springto go fishing. After several attempts atcoaxing Lisa to take her family there,Virgil came to the conclusion that Lisamight be intimidated to initiate thiskind of adventure on her own. In 1996,he invited Lisa to make the journey byflying her airplane alongside his. Lisaand Virgil flew the two aircraft all theway to Punta San Francisquito in asingle day. Each of them had invited aflying companion.

Lisa seemed lost in time for a momentas she reminisced about the beautifulBaja Coast with its forbidding terrain.“I think that’s the only trip I’ve evertaken where I had tailwinds in bothdirections,” Lisa commented. She andher girlfriend enjoyed swimming at thebeach, while the boys fished. Anotherday they flew farther south to PuntaChivato for lunch and shell hunting.

By Sandi Bills, Eastern Idaho 99s

My friend Lisa Pierson is an awe-inspiring leader in aviation training.When she’s not teaching, coaching andmentoring, she flies a King Air whereverthe owners want to go. What a life! I’vealways wondered about her beginningsin aviation, and one afternoon, overlunch at the Warbird restaurant locatedat her home base in Driggs, she sharedher story.

Lisa had always longed to fly, and theopportunity finally presented itself in1991 when her daughter was just threeyears old. With her grandmother’spassing, Lisa’s inheritance was justenough to cover the cost of obtaining aprivate pilot’s license. She began trainingat the Jackson, Wyo., airport. “I wasterrified most of the time,” Lisa admitted.“Fortunately, I received outstandingsupport from several mentors whoencouraged me to keep going.”

First, there was Virgil Lowder, aformer rancher, line chief and charterpilot at the Jackson airport when Lisawas learning to fly. He cautioned Lisato be sure to get the whole familyinvolved in flying, because without asupportive spouse, the likelihood ofquitting increases significantly. Andnow, especially from an instructor’svantage point, Lisa agrees that isindeed the reality.

Jeff Crabtree also turned out to be aninvaluable mentor, in addition tobecoming her partner in a Cessna 182.He accompanied her on several firsts,including SLC class B, and the long cross-country flight to Illinois. They flew outtogether, and Lisa took the airplane homesolo, so Jeff could drive with his wifeback to Jackson. The flight involved alittle rough weather, which promptedLisa to pursue an instrument rating.

“At this point, I felt genuinelycourageous,” Lisa said.

The following year, she felt confidentenough to fly her family to Baja forspring break. They visited Punta SanFrancisquito, Mulege, Los Barriles, LosFrailes and Loreto. At Loreto, Lisa feltwell prepared for customs and dressedin her most “pilot-looking” attire. Toher dismay, the officials reviewed herpaper work, inquired about the“missing” pilot, and then sent her toanother office. The next office presentedthe same challenge. After what seemedlike an eternity, she was directed to thecommandant, or manager, of theairport. Luckily, fluent in English, thatofficial smiled and signed thedocument. He told her that theagricultural inspection guys in Mexicalihad been on their way to lunch andthey had negligently waived her onwithout inspecting her aircraft andsigning her documentation. Lisa wasstill fuming as she headed back towardher family and plane. An excited manactually chased her down asking if shewas indeed the pilot. He explained thathe was also a pilot and that his 10-year-old daughter wanted to fly, butshe didn’t believe that girls could fly!“That moment made up for the rest ofit,” Lisa said.

What a Life!COMPASS ROSE

See LifeContinued on page 17

After realizing thatshe didn’t knowenough about flyingin the backcountry,Lisa enrolled in LoriMacNichol’sMountain Canyonflying course in2002. As Lori taughther a whole newlevel of connectionwith her airplane,another mentorshipwas born. Lori Lisa and her daughter, Roxie at Oshkosh in 2003.

Spring 2013 Page 17

Lisa first spotted her Cessna 206 in1999 at Falcon Field in Mesa, Ariz.,while on a family spring break trip inthe Cessna 182. She couldn’t imagineattempting to visit Colorado Springs,Albuquerque, Carlsbad Caverns,Phoenix and the Grand Canyon all bycar within a two-week period. However,every time the door of the 182 opened,their belongings would fall out ontothe ramp. When a lineman suggesteda bigger airplane, Lisa agreed andpurchased the 206 the following year.It doubled as a nice camper when sheand her daughter visited Oshkosh theyear it stormed like crazy. Their tentwas flattened by the wind, but the 206provided ample shelter.

Lisa found herself daydreaming aboutmaking a career of flying. In 2005, shetook the plunge, abandoned her

bookkeeping and traveled to AmericanFlyers in Dallas to obtain her CFI andCFII. Before returning to Driggs, shediscovered that Spike Minczeski at TetonAviation had a job waiting for her inthe flight school.

Her first few years of instructing wereeventful. She chuckled, as she told meabout the student who landed with thebrakes on and blew a tire. Lisa tookcontrol of the airplane, but wasn’t ableto keep it on the runway. After gettingeverything shut down and making surethey were okay, Lisa anticipated thisincident would result in job loss.Instead, I got a “good job” and a lessonwell-learned. “I gained more knowledgeand experience flying in those first twoyears of instruction than in the previous14 years.”

In 2006, Lisa got her multi-enginerating and serendipitously stumbledinto a King Air position. Her husbandhad been doing business with somebankers who needed a co-pilot to flythem to their meeting. The co-pilotassigned to the flight was ill, and Lisa’shusband volunteered her services. Shecredits Bert Bollar’s mentorship formaking her transition to the King Aireasier, as well as an Airline TransportPilot (ATP) certification in the level Dsimulator at Flight Safety.

When I asked what inspires her, shereplied, “It’s a gift to be able to helpwomen move from apprehension tosoaring. And the only problem with aflying career is that between flying theKing Air, teaching, and learning to flywith skis on a Husky, I am not givingmy 206 enough attention.”

LifeContinued from page 16

aero-medical museum on their ranch.The museum includes 21 aircraft.

With a school named after one of Idaho’smost well-known aviators, it comes asno surprise that the school newspaperis called The Aviator Times or that anexceptional aviation course is offered.Twelve students will be taking anIntroduction to Aviation class offered tolocals, ages 12-18, at the Charter Schooland Sandpoint airport.

The current class is funded equallythrough class fees paid on a sliding scaleby parents, donated instructional timefrom my non-profit Scholarship FlightTraining organization, and generousdonations from Forrest and Pam Bird.Students experience 5-6 weeks of flightlessons and field trips to visit localaviation businesses. Host speakers frommilitary, corporate and general aviationbusinesses introduce them to a vast arrayof aviation careers. They also attend anacademic class for one and a half hours2-3 times a week, studying the samecurriculum private pilots study for theirwritten test. Additionally, each studentreceives a Jeppesen flight bag filled withall the required academic and flighttraining manuals. The course covers thefollowing topics:• Components of an airplane:

nomenclature, function and thephysics behind their design

• Aerodynamics and airplaneperformance, weight and balance

• Various systems in aircraft and howthey interrelate

• Air traffic control services: radar, radioprocedures and separation of aircraftand charting

• Use of slide-rule-type aviationcomputers to aid pilots in preflightplanning when assessing performanceand planning flights

• Navigation using aviation charts andplotting routes based on forecastedwinds aloft and aircraft performance,including: GPS, National AirspaceSystem and instruments

• Aviation physiology: cardiovascular,respiratory, auditory and visualsystems, and how they are affectedby changes in pressure and thestresses of flight

• Federal Aviation Regulations: howpilots and aircraft are regulated bythe federal government

Radio ChatterContinued from page 14

This is a note received from a gratefulstudent who just graduated fromEmbry Riddle.

Wilderness Within Reach at SulphurCreek RanchBy Crista Worthy, Editor, “The Flyline”

As days grow longer and grass turnsfrom brown to green, many Idahoanshave thoughts that range far beyondthe dusty lawn mower in the garage.

Sulphur Creek

Some will soon be fly fishing on aremote river or creek. Some people areplanning their next whitewater-raftingtrip. Others are checking hiking,hunting, camping or backpacking gear.Dreams of magnificent vistas dance intheir heads. But what of those who areconfined to a wheelchair? How wouldthey experience any of these sublimeoutdoor activities, the kinds of daysthat remind us of why we live in thisbeautiful state?

For more than 20 years, Idaho pilotsand volunteers have flown those whoare unable to hike, ride a horse or floata river, because of disability or age, intoa variety of remote natural settings wherethey can experience the joy of theoutdoors. For those people and others,Idaho’s famed backcountry airstrips serveas trailheads from which they too canfish and explore. The program, calledWilderness Within Reach, has beenwildly successful. This summer,participants will stay again at the SulphurCreek Ranch, inside the Frank ChurchWilderness and accessible only viahorseback, a full-day hike or an airplane.In recent years, the program hasexpanded to include Wounded Warriors,soldiers injured in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Idaho Aviation Foundation (IAF),a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, hasexecuted this project in cooperation withthe Boise Parks and RecreationDepartment. The IAF is the majorsponsor of Wilderness Within Reach,just one way the IAF helps provideIdahoans with recreational opportunitiesin the state’s scenic mountainswww.idahoaviationfoundation.org.

ACE is scheduled for June 24-26, 2013, for students 14-18 in grades 9-12.ACE is designed to introduce students to aviation and space-related careeropportunities. Activities include field trips, flight schools, aviation facilitiesand exposure to aviation professionals and colleges.We would like to work with our aviation partners to help with ACE Academy.Ways you could help:• Monetary donation: student fee scholarship ($60), bus transportation,

meals, balloon satellite project supplies, Warhawk museum admission,and T-shirts.

• Goody bag donation: Does your organization have any marketing materialthat we could include in order to leave a lasting impression with the students?In the past, donations have included: pens, notepads, key chains, pamphlets,and DVDs.

• Volunteer: If you would like to be involved with this event, please contactTammy Schoen, 208-334-8776 or tammy.schoen@itd.idaho.gov

ACE ACADEMY 2013

Over the last 14 years, instructors atScholarship Flight Training have trainedhundreds of teen pilots that are nowworking as flight instructors, militaryjet and helicopter pilots, aerospaceengineers and aircraft mechanics. Often,all it has taken is one Introduction toAviation Class to influence them tochoose aviation as their career. ContactScholarship Flight Training at 208-610-0868 or www.aviationed.org.

Page 19Spring 2013

Spring 2013

Name This Airfield Contest!The photograph posted in the last issue wasHam Field at Idaho State University (ISU),submitted by Pete Stewart. Congratulationsto Rich Jarvis, Larry Reeder, Karen Womack,Michael Lee, Ken Reed, Ross Casey, DarrellManning, Joe Corlett, Glen Jex, and LanceFish for identifying it correctly. Rich, pleasecall us to provide an address to mail yourfirst-place prize.

FYI: Pocatello’s Holt Arena (Minidome)now sits where the University Airport (Ham’sField) used to be. According to Larry Green,it was named after Mr. Hamilton who wasaffiliated with the ISU Department ofAeronautics. It was known to aviators as“Ham’s Field” because the campus didn’tacquire university status until sometimearound the early 1960s. Green says that itactually consisted of three runways: Onestretched from the corner of 15th Streettoward 19th. Another from 19th Streettoward Memorial Drive, and the thirdrunway paralleled Terry Street.

The first correct response to laura.adams@itd.idaho.gov will receivea prize, and the first ten correct responses will be published with theright answer in the next “Rudder Flutter” issue.