Hey everybody,
I just got back from Europe, and boy does GA suck over there. In two weeks I saw three GA planes flying, all Barons. I did see some float planes tied to the side of yachts in Monaco, but didn't see any fly. I'm so glad to be home!
Now that the summer heat is starting to fade, I'm curious if there are many of us backcountry folks in the desert southwest. The guys in the pacific northwest seem to be planning flyin's all the time, and I thought it would be great if we could do the same down here.
That in mind, is anybody going to Prescott next weekend? I've been told there will be a Helio-Courier demonstration, so we've got that going for us.
I'll probably fly every other weekend all winter so let me know if anybody is meeting somplace.
Jeff

If you go to the Helio demo's, get some film. Incredible aircraft!
Glad your back!

I'd be interested in something in the southwest. Kinda' in between at O22 just northwest of Yosemite.

Have you guys been furnace creek?

There are two airports in Death Valley..Furnace Creek and Stove Pipe Wells. FC has a golf course and places to eat including the big hotel $$$$$ up on the hill. SPW has a campground and a 7-11 type of store. One valley over is Saline Valley with the famous Chicken Strip and hot springs. I heard it is closed. Neat place to go in the winter.

As far as I know Chicken Strip is still open. Utah Back Country Pilots Association helped organize some pilot responses to the Park Superintendant's rumored plan to close the strip. The pilots' responses and reference to legal verbiage from the Department of Interior regarding arbitrary airstrip closures on public land prevented closure without public comment. As of February 2004, the strip was still open... but with no guarantee of its future. UBCP hasn't heard of any further action to close it that I know of. Here's the UBCP newsletter that briefly discusses it... (Page 1, "From UBCP", 3rd paragraph)
http://www.utahbackcountrypilots.org/ne ... nuID=15~15
If you know of anything that has transpired since then, please share!