CAF B-17 “Texas Raiders” Chris Ebdon photo

Welcome New Members! Denise Stanley, Paso Robles, CA

Christopher Cannon, Moorpark, CA James Sieminski, Lebanon, OR Rick Eardley, Yellow Pine, ID Bucky Whittier, Twin Falls, ID

2015 Scholarship Recipients AND New Members: Colen Sager, Lacrosse, WA Thomas Westall, Boise, ID Thanks to Our Donors:

Mel Rozema, Centerville UT, Big Creek Level Tim & Joan Shamblin, Caldwell, ID, Big Creek Level

Lyle Sindlinger, Tacoma, WA, Big Creek Level Bruce Clegg, Brentwood, CA, Big Creek Level

Frank Walbert, Granada Hills, CA, Johnson Creek Level Christopher Cannon, Moorpark, CA, Johnson Creek Level

Wally Glass, Boise, ID, Johnson Creek Level New Corporate Sponsor!

D.L. Waterhouse Aviation Books, Carnation, WA

March 2015

Events Calendar

March 28 Pittsburgh Landing Work Party: Down inside Hells Canyon. Contact Greg Bales 541-263-0250. March 28–29 Pilot’s Spring Break Sun Valley (SUN): Contact Joe Grubiak 208-514-9258. April 11 Graham (U45) Work Party: Contact Aaron Hassemer 208-869-8093. April 14 Treasure Valley Chapter Gen Meeting: ID Div of Aero Bldg, Boise. Speaker: Galen Hanselman. April 18 Emmett Wings & Wheels Breakfast & Fly-in (S78): 8 a.m., breakfast $10; spot landing and other contests, classic car displays. Contact Steve Burak, 208-861-9055. May 2 Dug Bar Work Party: Hells Canyon, Oregon side. Contact Greg Bales 541-263-0250. May 9 Big Bar Work Party: Across the river from Dug Bar. Remove seasonal outhouse, etc. Contact Greg Bales 541-263-0250. May 15–16 Idaho Aviation Expo Idaho Falls (IDA): Aircraft displays, booths, seminars, Sat IAA General Member’s Meeting & luncheon, diner; Aero Mark, 208-524-1202, www.AeroMark.com. May 16 Carey Fly-in & Breakfast (U65): Beginning 7:30 a.m. Carey-er spot landing contest w/trophies. Awards for oldest pilot, farthest flown, homebuilts, and more. Contact Paul Olsen 208-309-2181. May 23 Lord Flat Work Party: Contact Greg Bales 541-263-0250. June 6 Big Creek Work Party (U60): Contact Jerry Terlisner 208-859-7959. June 13 Moose Creek Work Party (1U1): Contact Mike Vanderpas 208-983-9583 June 20 Breakfast at Big Creek Idaho Aviation Foundation: 8–10 a.m., $10, www.RebuildBigCreek.com. June 20–21 Garden Valley (U88) Father’s Day fly-in, BBQ, and breakfast: Potluck BBQ Sat eve, bring your own main dish, griddles and grills provided, and bring a side dish to share. Breakfast Sun morning 7–10 a.m., $10; contact Jerry Terlisner 208-859-7959. June 27 Wilson Bar Work Party: Contact Mike Vanderpas 208-983-9583. June 27 Breakfast at Big Creek Idaho Aviation Foundation: 8–10 a.m., $10, www.RebuildBigCreek.com. July 11 Red’s Horse Ranch Work Party (OR06): Contact Greg Bales 541-263-0250. August 1 Breakfast at Big Creek Idaho Aviation Foundation: 8–10 a.m., $10, www.RebuildBigCreek.com. August 1–2 McCall Chapter Fly-in (MYL): August 8 Joseph, OR Fly-in (JSY): Pancake Breakfast 7–11 a.m., $9. In-town Bronze, Blues, and Brews Festival noon-10 p.m. Ground transportation to festival is available. Camping and showers available at the airport. Contact Tim Locke 541-263-0470 or kjsyflyin@gmail.com. Festival info at www.BronzeBluesBrews.com. August 15–16 Canada Trip: Contact Joe Grubiak 208-514-9258.

The Flyline is in FULL COLOR online!

The online version has more photos—Just log on to

www.IdahoAviation.com Click on “IAA Newsletters”

for past and present newsletters

President’s Corner Kerry Requa

It is time to begin thinking of the soon-to-arrive flying season. I encourage everyone to prepare yourself and your aircraft for what I hope will be a very good year for all of us. Let’s look forward and plan to attend some of the events that are on the calendar for this year. I hope everyone is planning to attend this year’s Annual

General Membership meeting in May. The meeting will be at Aero-Mark in Idaho Falls May 15th and 16th, in conjunction with the always-excellent Idaho Aviation Expo. This is where our members can come and hear the latest news and ask questions about the IAA. Please attend this event, it is a great Expo presented by the Hoff family and the IAA. There will be something for everyone to enjoy, door prizes, displays, great deals on many aviation items and more. I will present our members with an update on our Association, where we have been, what I see on the horizon, and what I see for our future.

We are much more than just a group of pilots who enjoy flying in the backcountry. The things that we are involved with are numerous, and our efforts have shown results at many levels. We continue to work closely with the Idaho Division of Aeronautics with regard to issues that face many of Idaho's pilots and airports—and not just the backcountry fields. As I have said before, travel to Idaho's backcountry always means more activity at our community airports. Aircraft need fuel, people need food. Sooner or later we all end up at a paved strip for our necessities. The IAA Directors and Officers are always on the lookout for issues that impact pilots, airports and aircraft. So again, please be informed and involved. I hope you can attend our meeting in May, our flying future is important to all of

us. Tailwinds, Kerry Requa President, IAA (208) 221-7417

Bruce Parker, Crista Worthy, and Bill Miller at the IAA booth at the Idaho Aviation Expo last year. Photo by Jeanine Lawler

District 1 – Sandpoint/ Coeur d’ Alene

Don McIntosh

Hasn’t this just been great flying weather? I don’t know about where you are, but there really hasn’t been enough snow to ski, and it seems like it has been foggy here forever! I don’t have much to talk about flying-wise, but I will at least give you an update as to what has been going on here at the Sandpoint Airport.

It really is great to have an FBO that appears to bend over backwards for all

us flyers. There is always something going on there, and always a few pilots hanging around just because it is a great place to be! We even got a partial Young Eagles event put together for the kids in the high school aviation program. The employees at the FBO are all dedicated to their work (they are all pilots), besides being helpful and friendly to everyone. The old FBO building and hangar has now been demolished so there is a great view of most of the runway from inside – much easier to judge landings now! The new above-ground fuel tank foundations are in place and the tanks should be set within the next couple weeks. This allows the old, slow, fueling station to go away. The localizer at the north end of the runway that was destroyed a year ago in an aircraft mishap is now back and fully functional with a newer, upgraded system. This has allowed the business jet traffic to resume operations here. The new Tecnam Light Sport rental plane has continued to stay as busy as the rental 172, which flies all the time.

The Silverwing debacle with the County continues to loom ever-present and Quest Aircraft has just been sold to a Japanese company that says they are going to leave production of the Kodiak here in Sandpoint. All in all, things are looking pretty good around here, including the weather the last couple days, so it should be great to stop in this summer. The EAA has scheduled the Sandpoint Fly In for August 8 and it always brings a crowd, so put that on your

flying schedule also.

Gorgeous 1954 Cessna 180 Skywagon at Fish Lake Photo by Chad Frei

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District 2 – Lewiston/Moscow

Bill Ables

Well this February weather has been nothing but gorgeous, albeit a bit unusual. I’m sure many of you were able to take to the skies and enjoy your local airstrips. Other than a “few” days of fog, your Hells Canyon strips have been very accessible and are in great shape. I received an email from a fellow aviator who advised me that a few

of them were heading into Temperance Creek for breakfast and asked Judy and I to join them. Even though our schedule wouldn’t allow us to join them it was a real uplift to get such an email (as it entailed putting 04D into action). This particular email gave me an idea, that on each flight I now let several of my “flying buddies” know where I’m flying to and when I should be back. I do this with either an email or a text message. This is an inexpensive way to add a bit more safety to each flight and you never know—they may be able to jump into their planes and come join you.

For the second year in a row we have been able to seed the Lord Flat airstrip during the winter in hopes that the snow will hold the seed in place for a seeding session come spring. On a January return flight from the Canyon, I flew over Lord Flat and observed that the old snow was only covering up the landing area. The USFS had given me 40 lbs of native grass seed mix a month earlier in hopes that December or January would give us a window to do the seeding. On February 1

st the weather proved

good and with the help of members Greg Bales, Adam Stein and prospective member Craig Willis, we arrived at Lord Flat while the ground was frozen and spread the native grass seed. We even had time to have a sweet fix with our coffee and told a few stories to each other before leaving.

At our last Directors meeting in Nampa, we put together a list of prospective work party dates. Take a look at them on your IAA website and here in The Flyline, and I hope to

see you at one of them come springtime in the NW.

Nice Super Cub landing at Lord Flat. Bill Ables photo.

District 3 – Treasure Valley/McCall Wayne Thiel

WOW! We have been having

beautiful flying weather here in southwest Idaho. I have flown to Hells Canyon twice in the last week. Both times there was no wind and beautiful blue skies. I saw lots of elk and mountain goats. Big Bar, Dug Bar and Pittsburg Landing are all in excellent condition.

The Treasure Valley Chapter’s general membership meeting on

February 10th was held at the Division of Aeronautics

building in Boise with 45 in attendance. President Joe Grubiak started the meeting at 6 p.m. instead of the normal 7 p.m. so our guest speaker, Ray Arnold, could drive back to Cascade and get home earlier. Ray talked about some of the experiences he has had flying the mail, freight and people in the Idaho backcountry since he started Arnold Aviation in 1972. He has logged over 30,000 hours and averaged 3.5 landings per hour. Ray talked about running into deer on landing at Allison Ranch, the ruts in the runway at White Water Ranch, having problems stopping when landing on skis and, of course, the interesting people he has met and flown into the Idaho backcountry.

Have you seen the “Fly Idaho” license plates? They were made available to Idaho residents about 2 years ago. It is a fund raiser for the Idaho Aviation Foundation, and I might add a good one! If you live in Idaho and are as proud to be an Idaho pilot as I am, you might want to advertise a little by purchasing your own “Fly Idaho” license plates. We have a quota we have to meet in order to keep these very special plates. We need your help, so please buy your “Fly Idaho” plates and encourage your friends to do the same.

Also, check the newsletter and website for the scheduled flying events and work parties for the upcoming flying

season. There are lots of events coming up.

Fly safe and practice good flying skills. Wayne Thiel, N4775B 208-890-8866 WThiel@IdahoFlyer.com

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District 5 – Blackfoot/Pocatello

Text and photos by Jeanine Lawler

Spring has sprung in southeast Idaho. Lava Hot Springs Airstrip (01ID) had its first take off and landing for 2015 in mid February. IAA member Tom Lawler flew his Maule to Paris... Paris, Idaho. The airport is Bear Lake County Airport (IU7).

The airport manager, Hank Medford, greeted his new arrivals with a smile and reasonably priced gas. There are

two runways: Runway 16/34 and Runway 10/28, both over 4,500 feet long. The grass on the north side of Runway 10/28 is in good shape and usable for Bushwheels. Just a reminder about springtime ops: always check that the runway is dry and firm enough before you land. Don't be the guy (or gal) leaving tracks down a beautiful grass strip or..... worse than that, upside down with mud on your face and wheels in the air.

Like us on Facebook. If you don't know how to do this, ask your granddaughter

or nephew. Blue Skies, Jeanine Lawler 208-221-4741

Bear lake photo by Denise Haas

New Orofino Airport Lounge Opened

Charlie Pottenger

The Orofino Municipal Airport recently completed the new Pilot’s Lounge Facility which should be a source of pride for local residents and visiting pilots alike. The new terminal offers pilots and passengers luxurious facilities to rest and relax during a stop in Orofino.

The small but beautiful facility has a Handicapped Accessible restroom. A refrigerator is stocked with water, juices and energy drinks. A couple of coffee makers, snacks and magnificent furnishings including a 55-inch flat television, are there for your comfort. The interior furnishings and appliances were generously provided with a gift from Lonnie and Shannon Simpson, local supporters

of the Orofino Airport’s improvements.

District 6 – Idaho Falls/Salmon

Mike Hart At the end of February, Sam

Perez, Roger Blew and I will be joining our colleagues at the Montana Pilot’s Association meeting. If you haven’t had a chance to attend this event, it is well worth it. Montana combines several aviation-related events into one big aviation extravaganza. Pilots get seminars, CFIs get refreshers, mechanics get continuing ed and airport managers

get to rub elbows with airport consultants. The whole shebang is pulled together under a single roof. It makes for a very diverse and aviation saturated get together. IAA has a lot of members in Montana and there is a great deal of shared interest given the similarity between our states. The event rotates through different major cities in Montana easy year. This year it will be held in Missoula.

In Eastern Idaho, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Roger Blew has been deeply involved in airport planning at the Idaho Falls airport. The KIDA Airport manager, Craig Davis, is very positive about preserving Runway 17/35 but a new FAA inspector has raised compliance issues that must be addressed. Meanwhile, the contract tower manager continues to raise safety issues related to converging traffic and continues the unwarranted drum beat to close the Runway 17/35. A pilot and hangar owner meeting may be necessary in the near future.

The current proposed solutions are a displaced threshold, reduction from airport reference code B-II to B-I, and possible loss of taxiway B that parallels Runway 17/35. The upshot of having a new inspector is that we have new interpretations of what is acceptable in terms of runway protection areas. More updates will follow.

There have been hints of springlike weather, but this winter is still holding on with occasional foggy inversions dominating the valleys. On several occasions I have opted to drive when I really wanted to fly. For the January IAA board meeting, that was an exceptionally good idea since we picked up a load of ice simply driving to Boise in a dense fog.

A day or two later, during the same crappy weather pattern with all airports reporting 200-400 foot ceilings and 1/4 to 1/2 mile visibility, a buddy reported seeing a Husky and a Supercub cheating death flying at cell-tower level along highway 20 in the Rigby and Rexburg area. If that was you, you should be embarrassed. I hope the lesson learned when you landed was that you won’t ever be such fools as to fly in crap like that again. If your take-home lesson was that you can fly in such conditions, well, I hope the number of victims is kept to a minimum.

On a brighter note: Perhaps that kind of weather will

soon be behind us.

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Cheap Fuel and Must-See Films

Crista Worthy, Editor Folks, I could hardly believe my eyes when, fact-

checking a flying article for AOPA, I discovered 100LL for sale in Kansas for a little over three bucks a gallon. I really never thought I’d see those prices again, how about you? So: better get while the gettin’s good, ‘cause these fuel prices won’t stick around forever. Right now if you check around you’ll find large variations in fuel prices, as some FBOs have sold out their expensive fuel and reloaded with new gas at lower cost. So more than ever, it pays to look around and plan accordingly.

Meanwhile, if for some reason you find yourself on the ground, make plans to see a new film, due out in April from National Geographic Studios and narrated by Harrison Ford. Living in the Age of Airplanes was filmed in 18 countries and across all seven continents. It’s billed as a film that will show you aviation as you’ve never seen it before. Based on the trailer, I would agree. See for yourself at www.AirplanesMovie.com. Spread the word!

This is a Brian Terwilliger film. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, then you probably haven’t seen his great film, One Six Right. And if you haven’t, well then—rent it, download it, stream it, better yet, buy it—JUST SEE IT! If this film doesn’t make your heart just about explode with love for flying, then you don’t have one! “One Six Right” refers to the longer runway at Van Nuys Airport, just across the foothills from Los Angeles. It’s one of the busiest GA airports in America, and there are unique

secrets and stories that hide within its hangars. But even if you’ve never visited VNY, this film is about the love pilots have for the freedom of flight, that universal feeling that individual pilots express in their own ways: doing loops in their Pitts, screaming overhead in a P-51, flying low and slow in an old Piper Cub, or setting down on a lovely back country mountain airstrip. You know what I mean.

www.TerwilligerProductions.com/onesixright.

Look at the smiles these guys have on their faces. Open cockpit in a Stearman over Arizona; note the horizon!

Japanese Company Buys Quest Crista Worthy, Editor

Quest Aircraft, which builds the Kodiak turboprop in

Sandpoint, Idaho, has been acquired by Setouchi Holdings, the company announced on February 17. Setouchi, which has been an authorized Kodiak dealer, is part of the Tsuneishi Group, an international company based in Japan, which is mainly involved in shipbuilding. "We are very excited to have a strong organization such as Tsuneishi Group believe in Quest, our products and our philosophy, and invest its resources in the company," said Sam Hill, CEO of Quest. "Over the last few years, we have experienced steady growth, and with new financial capitalization and a shared understanding of the potential opportunities in the marketplace for expansion, we are looking forward to significant growth for Quest in the years ahead."

Quest's headquarters and manufacturing operations will remain in Sandpoint, the company said. The existing leadership team will continue to oversee and manage the organization. As production ramps up and growth in other areas of the company increases, plans for both physical and personnel expansion will be developed and implemented. "Quest has positioned itself to be attractive to outside investors to help us grow the company," said Hill. "We feel we have the perfect fit with Tsuneishi Group." The Kodiak is a single-engine, 10-seat airplane designed for STOL use and float capability. It can take off in less than 1,000 feet at full gross weight of 7,255 pounds.

The development of the KODIAK grew from the need for a new-generation aircraft to serve both humanitarian mission and backcountry commercial aviation needs. The company says it will continue to support mission and humanitarian organizations as valuable partners as well as

a key market for their aircraft.

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Facebook, Kickstarter, and Burt Rutan Crista Worthy, Editor

Yes, the Idaho Aviation Association is now on Facebook! If you are too, then take a moment and “Like” us on

Facebook. You’ll get timely reminders about upcoming events, but mostly you’ll get pretty pictures of pretty airplanes. What pilot wouldn’t like that?

Smiley Creek with covers on Photo by George Parker

Speaking of Facebook and sharing, if you are a Facebook user, check out this page: www.Facebook.com/BurtRutanFilm antennaFILMS, the Producing/Directing team behind the awardwinning television documentary Black Sky about X-Prize winning SpaceShipOne, has signed on to produce a documentary that follows Aerospace Legend Burt Rutan. The film will highlight the maverick designer’s vast accomplishments, the legacy he created in the field of aviation and his newest “secret garage” venture. Burt Rutan, the champion of homebuilts, the designer of Voyager, SpaceShipOne, and 43 other aircraft that have flown, is building a new plane. Co-Director Scott Guthrie says, “I can’t reveal much about the plane, but it will be a game changer. It’ll do things no plane has ever done before.”

Through the use of Kickstarter, a crowd-funding website, the filmmakers are reaching out to Rutan fans and the aviation community to fund their new film. They currently have the opportunity to capture a unique moment in history by bearing witness to the building and testing of what could be Burt Rutan’s final plane. The filmmakers describe Rutan as one of the greatest innovators of our time and whose accomplishments and story will inspire young engineers and airplane enthusiasts for years to come. Rutan has a record number (five) aircraft on permanent display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. “Even $5 pledges will help,” said Guthrie. “We’ve been to Oshkosh with Burt, we’ve covered SpaceShip events in Mojave since 2004 and we know we will be able to give Burt’s vast fan base a thorough and thoughtful look into his life and accomplishments. And we have some amazing rewards for those interested in pledging!” If you are interested in contributing please find their Kickstarter fundraising page at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/antennafilms/1989151754?token=ed8cb0e1 To learn more about antennaFILMS, you can find them online at: www.AntennaFilms.com

Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation Crista Worthy, Editor

As backcountry pilots and Idaho pilots, most of us deeply

value the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Some of the airstrips within those places are some of our favorite places to fly.

We also know that various user groups get into all kinds of bickering—or lawsuits—on what kinds of activities should be allowed within these areas.

Well, maybe I’m the last person to find out about this, but in case I’m not, I’d like to share my discovery with you. While researching an article about Fish Lake airstrip recently, I spoke with Jay Durtschi of Washington, brother of our friend Steve Durtschi of the Utah Back Country Pilots Association. The IAA’s Larry Taylor had told me that Jay served as an airport host at Fish Lake for a couple of weeks last summer. The U.S.F.S. has a program whereby people can volunteer within the forests, but Jay also worked with a group called the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation, a non-profit whose slogan I love: NO POLITICS, JUST BOOTS-ON-THE-GROUND WORK.

How refreshing! It is true that Wilderness Areas are protected from

development. But unless you lock the gates and keep all people from ever visiting them, Wilderness Areas need maintenance. Trails need to be kept clear, outhouses maintained, airstrips and cabins manned. This Foundation is not out to replace the Forest Service, but to work with them and build relationships between citizens from all user groups. Interested? Visit their website to see what opportu-nities are available, fill out an application, and they’ll take it from there. If funds are available, volunteers may even get a stipend for their work time. What a great way to spend

time on YOUR public lands. www.SelwayBitterroot.org

Contacts State President Kerry Requa 221-7417 Vice Presidents: Bill Miller—Gov’t Affairs/Scholarships 853-8585 Larry Taylor—Agency Liaison 855-0261 Jerry Terlisner—Activities 859-7959 Doug Culley—Membership/Scholarships 861-6926 Joe Corlett—Communications 336-1097 Dave Rigby—Awards 343-1985 Don Lojek—Legal Affairs 484-2292 Andy Patrick—Commercial Operators 383-3323 Nadine Burak—Secretary/Treasurer 861-9056 Directors: Director-at-large Jim Davies 859-5537 Dist #1 Don McIntosh 946-8490 Dist #2 Bill Ables (541) 263-1327 Dist #3 Wayne Thiel 890-8866 Dist #4 Kerry Requa 221-7417 Dist #5 Jeanine Lawler 221-4741 Dist #6 Mike Hart 528-7672 FLYLINE Crista Worthy (310) 560-7324 editor@idahoaviation.com

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Classifieds

Idaho Aviation Association PO Box 2016 Eagle, ID 83616

The FLYLINE March 2015

The Monthly Newsletter

of the

Idaho Aviation Association