Last year those clowns went so far as to track down my mother and called her at work in order to get ahold of me. I've been flying out of McGrath since 2006 but was basing a plane out of Aniak (my hometown) at the time (August-September 2010, hauling the Cabela's Secret models into remote locations). I talked to the producer and they were interested in flying along (at no cost, of course) on my day to day flights, but didn't want to go along on any "risky" flights, and the crew would be in Aniak on Monday. I explained what I was doing (off airport, gravel bar flying in a 206) and I let him know I was returning to McGrath before then, and in any case, most of the places I was hauling hunters into, I had to leave empty with fumes in the tanks to get airborne. I invited him to McGrath to get some good Alaska Range flying footage, and he mentioned they were only flying into Era bases, so he declined. Thus ended the conversation. Too Risky. Yet they put a camera crew in an "Alaskan Pickup Truck" (207/SLED) with Ariel at the helm. I'm no NTSB expert, but...

I didn't understand why they needed that drill before the road could be constructed. Were they just drilling test holes? Was that a core drill? We took a track drill in for some miners but it ran on air and it towed its own large air compressor. We took it on a low-boy and they drove it cross country to get to their claim.
Maybe someone can get me an Era hat.

http://www.flyera.com/images/products/19-643.jpg

Yea - they should call that show "Flying Tame Alaska."

patrol guy wrote:Yea - they should call that show "Flying Tame Alaska."

Considering the current crop of "reality" shows I give "Flying Wild Alaska" a 7. Some of the other trash doesn't even rate a Zero.

O.K. Some ( ) years ago there was a TV show about a guy who rode a bicycle around Europe and he wore Birkenstock's. We have been trying to remember the name of that show but everyone is drawing a blank. Anyone remember that?

Pretty cool to see your buddies on your favorite TV show.

I have spent a lot of time with both Corey and Todd shown here last night and next weeks episode. Pretty cool to see. Just home from Antarctica with Todd.

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/flying-wild-alaska-mountain-scouting.html

AKT

Welcome back.
I suppose you needed to dig out your driveway up there in Tahoe 'eh?

As for the trailer on your link above, I'm amazed how the 180 Tweto is flying casts a shadow similar to a 207

SkyTruck wrote:
As for the trailer on your link above, I'm amazed how the 180 Tweto is flying casts a shadow similar to a 207

I noticed that myself and told the wife. Why were they flying out of UNK, 365 miles one way when they could have flown out of Bettles 65 miles for half the price. There is a lake (slough) just below those peaks that should have been usable as I remember. I don't think they could hike 14 miles in 12 hours in deep snow. I doubt it was the first time those peaks were climbed. I flew lots of climbers in there during the summer months out of Bettles. It is about as bad as the stupid "Gold Rush " program, dumbest thing I have seen on TV.

Either way, it's better than most of the other crap on the TV... even with the built in Drama
My wife enjoys watching it, so I'm happy.

As for "Gold Rush" .......

DonC wrote:

SkyTruck wrote:
As for the trailer on your link above, I'm amazed how the 180 Tweto is flying casts a shadow similar to a 207

I noticed that myself and told the wife. Why were they flying out of UNK, 365 miles one way when they could have flown out of Bettles 65 miles for half the price. There is a lake (slough) just below those peaks that should have been usable as I remember. I don't think they could hike 14 miles in 12 hours in deep snow. I doubt it was the first time those peaks were climbed. I flew lots of climbers in there during the summer months out of Bettles. It is about as bad as the stupid "Gold Rush " program, dumbest thing I have seen on TV.

My... aren't we turning into Curmudgeons early this winter

They are hiking on backcountry skis with skins...snow could be 80 ft. deep... doesn't matter-

And the photo ship following Tweto... ahh never mind.

The wife and I enjoy watching it. Some of it is a little over done. But hell after all it is flying and that beats some of the other crap on the tube.

Even if you choose not to watch it because it lacks realism, we should all support it and promote it to friends (with a few reminders that's it's trumped up for television) because it depicts aviation in a useful and positive manner , very helpful when we get black eyes from people walking into props or aircraft crashing into crowds.... we need all the help we can get to keep our freedoms to fly even if it's from a goofly little unrealistic TV show... it's lots of good 'advertising' about what we love - let alone starting young minds wandering into aviation which we need desperately to keep our airstrips alive and well.

~CRAZEDPilot

crazedpilot wrote:Even if you choose not to watch it because it lacks realism, we should all support it and promote it to friends (with a few reminders that's it's trumped up for television) because it depicts aviation in a useful and positive manner , very helpful when we get black eyes from people walking into props or aicraft crashing into crowds.... we need all the help we can get to keep our freedoms to fly even if it's from a goofly little unrealistic TV show... it's lots of good 'advertising' about what we love - let alone starting young minds wandering into aviation.

~CRAZEDPilot

Excellent point to be made!! The amount of people watching this show that are actually pilots and know any better are probably next to none. It is designed for the general publics eye and in that regard I think they've done a pretty dang good job.

Is it on this year now?? I have Dish and have not come across it yet, and have been looking for it.

I loved the show until I found out Ariel doesn't like "old creepy guys mailing her marriage proposals."

And how cool is Ferno.

How many other reality shows are there where you like the people?

The flyin's pretty great too for those of us who haven't gotten a chance to see Alaska in person.

s.

I suddenly like the show a whole lot more than I thought. I have two good friends in the show last week and part 2 this week climbing in the Brooks Range. Started asking them questions the other night and it turns out the executive producer (Tommy Baynard) and field producer (Ben Dolence) are friends of ours here in Tahoe. The world feels small.



AKT

Mr J.G. yes it has started again, airs fridays, I think it's 3rd of 4th episode this season now......

...I'm off to watch Big Rocks Long Props #4.... leave me alone. ~CRAZEDpilot

The show has really improved since it started. It seems like everyone is acting more naturally. There's still not as much off-airport flying as I'd like to see, but all flying is good. Very good point about educating non-pilots. Got to respect their landings in strong winds.

Desert Rat wrote:

patrol guy wrote:Yea - they should call that show "Flying Tame Alaska."

Considering the current crop of "reality" shows I give "Flying Wild Alaska" a 7. Some of the other trash doesn't even rate a Zero.

O.K. Some ( ) years ago there was a TV show about a guy who rode a bicycle around Europe and he wore Birkenstock's. We have been trying to remember the name of that show but everyone is drawing a blank. Anyone remember that?

That kid grew up and traded the bicycle and jesus sandals for a bike and boots...

I'm not much of a TV watcher. I've never seen a reality show past about 5 minutes and that was too much. The very idea of a "reality" television program is an oxymoron.

Jumpy wrote:I loved the show until I found out Ariel doesn't like "old creepy guys mailing her marriage proposals."

Hey you scared me. I just checked my Twitter Feed and she didn't reject my proposal. I guess it's the rest of you "old creepy guys" that got the ax.