I recently found out about this Airstrip, but its apparently been a draw for back country pilots and not so back country pilots. Apparently from what I was told by my friend Ron Weldon, they have competitions there at various times of the year that are similar to Valdez AK. Obviously the terrain and difficulty is no match for Valdez but still, you can fly into this nice remote restaurant and grab breakfast and they have various events throughout the year.

http://www.gastons.com/airstrip.php

Has anyone here been there?

Here is my friend Ron Weldon flying his Citabria into their Airstrip.

I have flown in stayed there overnight in a cabin a couple of times. Used to be a trout camp. I used to fish Arkansa a lot when I lived in Texas as there are really no trout streams in E.Texas.

Used to attract a lot of flying fisherman like me. Wish there were more places like it.

Pilot Getaways had a good article on it.

http://pilotgetaways.com/mag/sum03

My friend Ron flies down there just for breakfast and to shoot the bull with other pilot friends...then flies right back home.

May 23, 24 & 25 is the OK18 Taildragger Fly-in and Wounded Warrior Project Benefit Poker Run at Gaston's

Everyone is welcome

So far we have 42 airplanes signed up and the cabins are filling up fast so get your registration in https://ok18.wufoo.com/forms/2013-ok...in-at-gastons/ and your cabin reserved (870-431-5202) http://www.gastons.com/ , be sure to tell them you are with the OK18 Fly-in.

The plan so far:
Some are coming early Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

Some are meeting for an afternoon & evening at Eureka Springs Wednesday – Land at Carroll County Airport (4M1), get a room at the Basin Park Hotel, courtesy cars available at 4M1

Thursday May 23th: arrivals at Gaston’s, trout fishing, meet & greet, some will go to Eureka Springs or Branson on Thursday, signup sheet for dinner at Gaston’s

Friday May 24th: Carbon Cub demo rides, trout fishing, fly outs to eat breakfast/lunch at Gainesville H27 (Country Café), Horseshoe Bend 6M2 (Karen’s Kitchen), Byrd’s Adventure Center on the Mulberry River, Eureka Springs or Branson, there are 3 courtesy cars/vans at Carroll County Airport 4M1 (call Perry or Sheila Evans) for those wanting a car/van for Eureka Springs. Signup sheet for dinner at Gaston’s

Saturday May 25th: Wounded Warrior Project benefit poker run with a stop at Valley Airport (61AR) for breakfast; Marion County Airport (KFLP) for music and car show; Turkey Mountain Airpark (MO00) for lunch, short field takeoff/landing & flour bomb drop contest ; Carroll County Airport (4M1) for Cajun deserts; stop at (45AR) Thunder Ridge Ranch for poker run stop and then back to Gaston’s for dinner/awards/drawings/auction. Lou will chime in with Poker Run info in the next week or so. Dr. Randy is in charge of the short field takeoff/landing & flour bomb drop contest, I’m not sure if he has any rules after watching him & Bill last year.

For those wanting to camp you can camp under wing at Gaston’s, just note camping on the registration form, no fires per insurance requirement.

Gaston’s van will be available for groups wanting to go into town for supplies.

No charge for registration but registration is needed for planning purposes https://ok18.wufoo.com/forms/2013-ok...in-at-gastons/ and the t-shirt/hat cutoff date is April 30.


Mike & Patty
[email protected]
918-785-6077

okmike,
I think that is the event Ron was telling me about. I think I will be going with him down there for that.

Oh, by the way, your OK link is not working.

No charge for registration but registration is needed for planning purposes https://ok18.wufoo.com/forms/2013-ok...in-at-gastons/ and the t-shirt/hat cutoff date is April 30.

This will be the second year at Gaston's, we moved it from OK18 in Oklahoma, nosedraggers are welcome

Here is the registration link

https://ok18.wufoo.com/forms/2013-ok18- ... t-gastons/

Apparently OK18 has been discussed before here.
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5401

I'll be going...its this weekend.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 636&type=1

Great place to watch the fishermen and eat a fine meal. I have always considered it a one way airport, as I never had lots of power. Approach up river from the east like Jeremy did. There is a big high transmission line coming off the bluff and crossing the river, but it is well marked. The field where the transmission line lands in the bottom is open. Take off the toward the bluff, but don't try to climb over it. Go down river and cross over the transmission line where it descends to the river valley. This requires a fairly steep turn, so you need maneuvering speed before the turn. Several have crashed trying to climb the bluff and then had no maneuvering speed to turn down river.

From what I have been told, there have been a number of accidents when people have tried to go over the Bluff rather than follow the river.

PoA Gaston's fly-in is 1 week before Father's Day, so on June 7-9 this year. Apparently they get thinner every year, however.

My plans got changed unfortunately and I was not able to camp down at Gaston's and as a result I was not able to see the "fun" stuff on Saturday. However, I did fly down (my instructor and I made a lesson out of it) on Friday and got to see almost a 100 awesome airplanes. I even got to meet a couple of BCP'ers (including OKMike) and Ohio Bushplane guys...that was a highlight for me!

Friday was really just everyone getting there. There were a few people taking off and showing what their airplane could do and that made for an enjoyable few hours. I saw a Pegasair (never knew they existed) that was tricked out from Kansas...It was nice...he made a heck of an entrance by flying beside the runway just a few feet (like 4') above the trees, then spun that beast around in a super tight turn and plopped down like a pro.

Lots and lots of carbon cubs and Supercubs. One guy had a Tripacer that he turned into a Tailwheel Pacer...it was awesome.

I got pictures...but I left them on my camera at home...now I am at work.

Anyway, It was fun...wish I could have went back on Saturday but at least I satisfied my instrument requirements for my Private Pilot...just have a short and a long solo cross country to do and I am ready for planning the checkride.

Hay sure would like to see your pictures of my Pegazair at Gaston's
Doug

I wish I had more time right now to edit some videos and pictures, but I've run out. Here are a couple of my favorite photos from the our trip to Gastons for the OK18 fly-in. It was really great to meet several people from BCP and SC.org. My family had a tremendous time.













I love this video. Declan seems to be sad that the cub left. He would wave bye to every airplane that changed engine noise. At the start of the clip you can see him snapping. I think he was trying to rush them.


Brett

Hey Doug,
You bet!

Some pics, sorry for the iPhone quality - this starts at Eureka Springs
https://picasaweb.google.com/psisemo...eat=directlink


Wounded Warrior Project Poker Run and benefit auction broke a record this year

Try this

https://picasaweb.google.com/psisemore/ ... directlink

Ok, I'm here. Where is everyone?