Flying, like most everything in life is defined by the people we meet and the friends we made over the years. The relentless cycle of life is always creating new pilots and friends while others have left behind a legacy and great memories.
Moab, Utah – passengers Scott and DenisePiper John at West Yellowstone, flat air mattress syndrome. Brad (AKA B-Rad) at West YellowstonePhoenix misfits taking a break on the way back to West Yellowstone airport. V-Tail Chuck meets up with us in Las Vegas, NV.Hardcore camping at West YellowstonePassenger Mike (AKA Burrito Mike) the night time bear burrito.Burrito Mike – Star of the goofy Schafer fresh water movie on YouTube.
Schafer Meadows crew in the mid 90s.Crazy Dave (AKA lizard) drying his shoes at Schafer Meadows.Lunch at Sacajawea Hotel in down town Three Forks, MTRV Doug, Piper John and B-Rad at SchaferDennis and Donna at Johnson Creek.Piper John and Burrito Mike in coffee heaven.Piper John and Burrito Mike, bad place to put your water bottle Mike for a picture.Kiere and ValDean, Queen and Lord of Sulpher Creek.Melody at MacKenzie River Pizza Co. in Kalispell, Montana.Met Mark at Kalispell, he quit his job to fly around the country in the mid 90s.Piper John at Moose Creek – signalling moose is on the runway.Me and passenger Paul on Magic Lake, ID in the mid 90s.Johnson Creek mob storming Yellow Pine, Idaho.Piper John and his brother Flavio at Moose creek.Stan Fisher, his son Adam at the Johnson Creek hot tub.Breakfast at Flying- B with Burrito Mike, Donna and Dennis.Breakfast at the Flying – B (again).Piper John, B-Rad, my wife Mel and RV Doug at Johnson Creek.Piper John’s dinner at Cavanaugh Bay, IdahoB-Rad woke up on the wrong side of his sleeping bag.Columbia CA, fly-in camping trip – Stan and John.My co-workers at UND Aerospace Holloween hanger party.Oceano, CA – Ray drinking the plant food.Contemplating what planet we are from.Jim, Me, B-Rad and Piper John at Big Creek.Burrito Mike trying on a Ford Trimotor for fit and size.V-Tail Chuck and Oceano Ray cooking dinner at Oceano camp grounds.Our neighbors and passengers Charlie and Heidi at Sedona, Arizona.Our Eagar, AZ neighbors and passengers at Sedona, ArizonaAeronca Brian at Red Creek, Arizona in early 90s.V-Tail Tom at Red Creek, Arizona. We all miss you buddy!Alaska Steve, Melody and Steve’s wife Michelle at Red Creek, ArizonaBurrito Mike pointing to a Jet assist on a twin Yak 110 at Stellar Air Park, Arizona.My wife Mel before jumping from 12,000′Passenger Paul on the way to AlaskaPhoenix gang eating breakfast at Yellow Pine, Idaho.Passenger Tim (AKA MC-Alpin & pilot) on our way to Columbia, Ca fly-in.Piper John at Payson, Arizona in hot water again with officials.Dave, Bruce and his wife Debbie hiking at Schafer Meadows, MT.Alaska Steve at Big Creek, IdahoRoger Ping working hard at West Yellowstone, Montana.Tim and Robin at Johnson Creek, Idaho. We met on the way back from Alaska.Alaska Steve and wife Michelle at Red Creek, Arizona.Oceano Ray, early 90sClarke (AKA Otter) at Fighter Combat – Extra 300 aerobatics training.Burrito Mike bumming a P-51 ride.Just some crazy guy and his plane.Miguel at the Porterville, CA flyin, early 90s.Piper John eating a 1 pound burger (snack) in Polson, MT.Glassair Harold at Globe, ArizonaPiper John (pre-spinner era) at Schafer Montana.Debbie and Jim, Smiley Creek care takers.RV Doug’s pet at McCall, Idaho.Dick Lemmon and his C-170 at Big Creek. We all miss you my friend.RV Doug in his recliner.
Piper John got us in trouble with local Darby law during our stay at West Fork Lodge, MO.
Glassair Dave trying on a new flying helmet at West Yellowstone.V-Tail Chuck and Lisa at Laughlin, NVB-Rad at Oceano, Ca topping off his fuel tank.Phoenix gang at Big Creek Lodge.B-Rad survived tube and fabric chair crash at Johnson Creek, Idaho.B-Rad burning the steaks at Oceano, Ca. campgrounds.Melody and some crazy man.Roger, Alaska Steve, Jim, Piper John, Me and Melody and RV Doug at West Yellowstone.RV Doug relieved to find out he landed at the correct airport.Piper John, chilling by Johnson Creek.Red Creek Arizona fly-in, mid 90s.More hardcore camping at West Yellowstone with Burrito Mike.Piper John chair tube and fabric crash after clipping ramp marker.Scott and Tim, flying mountain biking trip to Moab, Ut.UND Aerospace holloween hanger party.V-Tail Chuck and Carmen in Las vegasPassenger Robert flying with us to Showlow, AZ to play paintball.
Melody learning to free fall.B-Rad reclines in his chair for a nap.Paul, Alaska Steve camping at West Yellowstone.Melody’s mom Esther and sister Carol soaking up the scenery on the way to Sedona, AZ.RV Doug having kit building withdraws while touring West Yellowstone.Melody at Jackson Hole. The real bears came later at Schafer.Stan Fisher, proud owner of my second 172.Piper john indicating “3” not to be confused with “a moose on the runway” signal.Flavio cooking dinner at Moose Creek, Idaho.Snap shot rabbit ears for all at Schafer Meadows.Keire at Sulpher Creek perplexed at our fresh salmon breakfast order, yea didn’t fly.Annual picture with the MacKenzie River Pizza moose in Kalispell.Burrito Mike gets to experiences the Sulpher Creek treatment.My now wife Melody hiking at Johnson Creek.Passenger Paul and I stop to visit his relatives in North Dakota on the way home from a canoe trip in the Canadian Boundary Waters.Paul and V-Tail Chuck strike the pose hiking to Riordan Lake SE of Johnson Creek airport.Stan’s first back country flying trip to Johnson Creek, massive tent fly you have.Me, Roger, Piper John and Jim prepping for cocktail hour.With Piper John manning the camera. RV Doug, Melody, myself and B-Rad ready to chow down at the Flying-B.Melody shopping at Bonners Ferry, Idaho.Eloy Arizona, another aviation related activity.My long time IA buddy Steve Hartwell at UND AEROSPACEJohn and Stan at Columbia, CA Historic State Park during fly-in.CFI Ron, pitching shoes at Red Creek Arizona.Al, Chuck and B-Rad living the life at Oceano airport campgrounds.My A&P class in the 80s.Melody, myself, Dick, Adam, Stan, Cindy and Monty at Big Creek.Crazy Dave and his first plane.A BFR with CFI Ron.Breakfast at Payson Arizona.Passenger Burrito Mike at Red Creek Arizona.Stan 60th birthday party. (OK it’s funny and he’s a pilot friend; this picture qualifies.)Aeronca Brian and I building the first picnic table at Red Creek Arizona.Two wild and crazy guys seen hanging around Johnson Creek; pretty sure that hair is fake.Burrito Mike chilling by Johnson Creek.Gene, was a long time care taker at Johnson Creek.RV Doug’s pet at McCall leaps at my wife Melody.Tim, Scott, Denise and Melody sight seeing at Moab.Burrito Mike hustling the Yellow pine locals.Passenger Paul at Skelton airport Alaksa. Myself, Melody and Paul touring the land.Jay Wilde, my initial flight instructor in 1986.Complete stranger offers me an aerobatic ride in his RV. My very good friend Al on the right at Roseamond, CA.Jay showing me the areobatic ropes in an S2 Pitts.Co-Worker Jacob, flew N5007W all the way back to Phoenix from Springerville, AZ. My Mom and Dad, Pete and Edie at Laughlin in the Early 90s.
Old Wind Sock 