Since I've been looking at places to move to, and TX seems like a likely spot, anyone know of backcountry flying opportunities in the Lone Star State?

I obviously know nothing of backcountry flying in Texas...since I haven't done any flying in Texas...

But Steve Pierce does. He frequents supercub.org and hosts shortwingpipers.org and is based in Graham, TX.

PatínLoco wrote:Since I've been looking at places to move to, and TX seems like a likely spot, anyone know of backcountry flying opportunities in the Lone Star State?

Send a PM to usernameguy or join maulepilots.org and ask the same question there.

I can introduce you to some of these guys also.

My -170 and I have spent the last 6 years in Texas. Most of it in the SW area around Del Rio. Tons of "backcountry or off-airport" landing areas but the problem with Texas is over 99.9% of it is privately owned. With time you can make connections and get access to some fun stuff or you can just roll the dice that you don't meet the land owner on the other end of the "Bang Stick". (not recommended). The last few years the drought has opened up several lakes, creek beds and other landing areas that aren't normally available While, not a bad place to live. If good backcounty flying was your primary concern, I would look elsewhere. If just having lots of fun GA type of fly-ins, events, BBQ runs etc, Texas is great.

Jughead

Jughead is right on. Because Texas was an independent republic for 10 years prior to joining the United States there are no Federal (public) lands within the state.

So finding "backcountry" places to land requires cultivating relationships with ranchers, law enforcement, or river authorities.

A number of big ranches would open their lands to us if they were protected from lawsuits. An effort to get a bill passed for this very thing was introduced relatively late in the last legislative session and trial lawyers delayed it long enough that it wasn't voted on. See:
http://www.backcountrypilot.org/forum/texas-bill-hb2839-revised-substitute-rus-12222

One of the things that make Texas such a great state actually worked against us this time. And that is our legislature only meets every two years for 140 days (so no career politicians), which means it will be 2015 before it can be attempted again.

Thanks guys for all the info. I kinda expected that there wouldn't be a real backcountry flying in TX, but I had no idea that there weren't any federal lands. With all of it in private hands, I guess Texans have to stick to public airports and strips. Oh well, I guess you could fly a bit longer to some of the neighboring states.

It looks like, although I started considering NC and GA, my choices (for many reasons) are Texas and CA. Would CA be better for fun flying?

I was born and raised in California. If you enjoy controlled airspace, flying off pavement, overpaying for everything and being over regulated and over taxed, then California is the place to for you. (It is one of the most beautiful places on earth)

Sorry my California friends and family, just calling it as I see it.

Barnstormer wrote:I was born and raised in California. If you enjoy controlled airspace, flying off pavement, overpaying for everything and being over regulated and over taxed, then California is the place to for you. (It is one of the most beautiful places on earth)

Sorry my California friends and family, just calling it as I see it.

I hope to never have to move back to CA myself!!! But if I absolutely had and if I could, the northern part of the state would be most appealing. Them BCP flyers up there seem to have a lot of off airport fun!

Don't discount Texas too much. The area you had talked about being in is pretty close to a lot of great places to fly to. There's plenty of big lakes for boating and sailing, too. The Gulf coast is a half days drive from Austin. Florida is about a 1.5 day drive.

I should add this slight thread drift to your other thread. But the one thing about be located closer inland like Austin is the less likelihood of Hurricanes! I'd rather deal with a downgraded hurricane inland than a full force one closer to the Gulf or Atlantic.

This might be a great deal.
http://www.barnstormers.com/ad_detail.php?ID=823924

I guided on Lake Livingston for years although that was long before I got back into flying.

Many people who cannot tolerate the said politics, etc., w/ the land of fruits and nuts(CA), hop over the Sierra and land in the Carson Valley.

Right on macktruckfarm.

Patinloco, although it's true there isn't hardly any off airport instant gratification in Texas, there are lot's of turf strips to fly into, including lot's not on sectionals. And southeast from Austin towards the coast there are loads of duster strips.

Two things have helped me get access to private places in Texas. One is flying the Stearman in first. Nobody gets mad at a Stearman. Almost always a friendship blossoms.

The second is giving back to the community. Here again the Stearman has been a big help (although any cool airplane would surely work - and we all fly those don't we), meeting the local law enforcement and taking them up, providing rides for community fundraisers like libraries, volunteer fire departments, veteran honor flights, young eagles, etc.

I've found people really warm up to aviation when it directly supports their community.

The truth is that I lived in CA for 5 1/2 years and flying there was fun, specially in the northern and western part of the state. I agree wholeheartedly that CA is much too regulated, taxes are much too high, and gun laws are not liberal enough for me. While there, I did do a lot of my flying in NV and UT in my C206. Sure had a lot of fun. I really don't want to go back to CA. After over 5 years, I hightailed it CO where I still have a home. Although I love CO, I miss the ocean too much, and that's why I have considered NC, GA, TX, and CA.

For now, it looks like TX is a better fit for my wife and I (it's all about compromise, isn't it?), and although I've never lived there, I know the state some. My wife and I have been talking about renting an apartment outside Austin for a couple of years (that's where her daughter goes to school), and use that time to really get to know TX in order to decide where to settle down.

Phil, thanks for your words of wisdom as to how to get accepted by farmers, law enforcement, etc. As you know, I have a Stearman also, and I believe it to be a perfect ambassador for such a thing. I still don't know what airplanes I would bring up to the States. They are all classic/vintage airplanes, and getting them up there won't be easy, specially flying them through Mexico. Well, living in El Salvador, I've done that several hundred times, and still don't like it. But anyway, I won't be airplane-less!

It looks like TX will be the place. My wife and I will be spending Thanksgiving week in Austin, and I would love to meet BCP members that live near there, and pick your brain. I tell you what, this is a wonderful forum.

Are you also waiting for your daughter to graduate and see where she lands her career and homestead?

No, we're not going to follow her around. Once she's out, if she decides to leave the state, she's on her own. We just thought that it would be nice for awhile only.

Eduardo,

Where in Colorado?

The wife and I will be looking for a second home up there next year. I love to fly fish and there are some great rivers, plus perfect location to strike out to Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming for backcountry flying and fishing. I suspect we will end up around Durango (wife loves to golf), only 4 1/2 hours from here to there in the 185, and we can stop in Taos for a late breakfast, yum!

Woodland Park, just about 25 min up the mountains from Colorado Springs. We love it, but being a sailor, I would really like to be close to the ocean.

Probably should add Port Aransas as a place to check out in November. Airport (KRAS) right next to the harbor. About 1 hour 20 minutes by air from Austin area. My business partner has home in the harbor where he keeps his Hatteras.

Here's some pics from flyin around in TX this afternoon...most land is private but most runway owners that fly love backcountry type aircraft and it's rare to get denied permission to land if you are respectful and friendly. I've been flying in the western Big Bend region and central TX Hill Country almost 3 years and still find new adventures and challenges every time out. Big Bend has over 1.2 million acres of public land and there is even a paved strip at the state park headquarters. Texas has a very active GA scene and really great friendly people. If you like flying and guns you will have no trouble making friends

There are some really cool spots in the Hill Country. Here's just a few

Thanks Phil, I'll definitively have to check out Aransas.

Skalywag, thanks for the pix. These have changed what I thought about Texas backcountry flying. I didn't know places like these existed in TX. I've flown many times over, and in and out of the state, but usually high and fast. These pix give me hope. What part of TX are you from?