Aviation sub-category? Bush flying, helicopters, etc?

[COAKXterra]

How do you know if a pilot walks into a room?

Don’t worry. They’ll tell you.




I know I’m not alone on here in working in aviation and/or using aircraft to access other types of outdoor adventures. Any interest in a light sub category or just thread for us that like to play in thinner air?

 

[chet6.7]

Those STOL planes are cool, unfortunately way out of my price range.

 

[COAKXterra]

Those STOL planes are cool, unfortunately way out of my price range.

If you ever get the chance to go to the Valdez STOL/Fly-in up here in AK…. It is insane. A really cool event.

But yeah, there’s folks that have a two-seat plane on 35s that cost more than many rigs here and can land/take off in the length of an earthroamer. Watching them play out on glacial gravel bars is even more fun.

 

[SimplyAnAdventure]

I dream about having a Just Aircraft SuperSTOL. My front yard is 900ft long and smooth grass and I have a garage and pole barn that would hold a plane (folded wings) very easily. I can’t imagine how cool it would be to fly in and out of my front yard…. Alas it’s not in the budget. At least for a while.

 

[COAKXterra]

I feel you on that. Very much wish I had enough property to manage that as well. I do have several friends that own properties I’ve threatened to land at though. Hope the opportunity comes around for each.

But my neighbors wouldn’t be very excited about me doing a slow vertical descent into my yard to avoid the trees, and my boss probably wouldn’t be excited about the calls. Haha.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Just was trying to test the waters to see…. Thought it would be a fun thread/subcategory.

On that note…. Guess I’ll throw my background in for context.

Been working in aviation (primarily helicopters) since 2011, mostly up here in AK. Got into it working for heli-ski as a ground/office/ tail guide and then a heli-hiking guide in Denali that following summer.

Fast forward 14 years and I now fly for one of the utility helicopter companies up here, including heli-ski in the winter and currently on a north slope contract. I’ve flown all over the US doing everything from pipeline patrol in ND to cherry drying in WA to tours in Denali. I worked aviation support for commercial operations and state entities here and fueled aircraft in Antarctica while I was getting ducks in a row for flight school.

I also have been fortunate to get out a bunch in fixed wing over the years, but haven’t pursued my certificate there yet.

I always love to hear other folks’s journeys or adventures in the sky, so looking forward to seeing more replies.