January/February 2005

First bimonthly issue!

This is a special issue. It marks the beginning of our 7th year, and it is the first in our 6 times per year schedule. You’ve asked and we’ve listened—we’ve changed from quarterly to bimonthly, so we’ll be coming to our readers 50% more per year!

Many weather reports lately have been calling for more snow. So why not take advantage and go skiing? Both you and your airplane! This issue not only features destinations where you can strap skis on your feet, but also has the first of a two-part series on aircraft skis. But if you’d rather escape the cold, you can head down to the Gulf Coast of Texas and thaw out. From white snow to white sands, this issue shows many ways to enjoy the beginning of the year.

Bend, Oregon

This town in central Oregon just celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. With 300 days of sunshine per year and a location in the Cascade Mountains, Bend is a wonderful place to enjoy winter sports from snowboarding to dog sledding. Unlike many other ski mountains, Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort provides 360 degrees of skiing on open slopes and chutes. Longtime Oregon resident Amy Hoover reveals insider tips on how best to enjoy this outdoor playground.

South Padre Island, Texas

With a latitude that approximates Hawaii and Miami, this Gulf Coast island is a great place to escape the cold. It’s about as far south in Texas as you can go, so it’s a long way to get there by road—it’s much easier using our airplanes. Unspoiled beaches and great Gulf seafood are just some draws to what the author, Texas resident Tamara Brown, calls the Tex-Mex Caribbean. This is a laid-back place. How much so? Well, the mayor’s office has proclaimed the wearing of a tie on the island an offense. So cut loose and let your cell phone batteries die; they won’t find you way down here.

Stowe, Vermont

Known among many New Englanders as the Ski Capital of the East, Stowe boasts 48 runs and 12 lifts. It offers many opportunities to have a great time in the snow. However, it also retains its ski “village” character. After skiing the world-class trails and sampling the plentiful après-ski nightlife, you, too may believe that ski season in Vermont never lasts long enough.

Chalet Suzanne, Florida

Old world warmth and elegance are not often linked to a grass airstrip. But one such strip is in Florida between Orlando and Lakeland. For four generations, a piloting family, the Hinshaws, have owned the 100-acre Chalet Suzanne, a place where you can land to enjoy luxury accommodations as well as truly first-class dining. In fact, their signature Romaine soup has even been to the moon, having been served on Apollo trips as well as the joint Apollo-Soyuz dinner table. Just steps from the grass airstrip, the cobblestone paths, quaint Swiss architecture, and genuine hospitality of Chalet Suzanne will transport you to the Golden Age of Aviation.

Salinas, California

Nicknamed “the salad bowl of the world,” Salinas is only a short distance from the metropolis of the sprawling San Francisco Bay Area and is surrounded by agriculture and cultivated fields. The café at the Salinas Airport is named The Landing Zone and it is a great place to “refuel” yourself. Great food and a convenient location keeps both the flyers and the shirt-and-tie crowd coming back.

Grand Gulch Mine, Arizona

The older and more isolated the place, the more intriguing it becomes. Such is the case for the old abandoned Grand Gulch copper mine. Serviced by two intersecting dirt runways perched on the edge of a cliff, the ghost town next to the mine has abandoned buildings, rusting equipment, and a deep sense of history. Standing here in this remote area, you will feel vast space and man’s brave struggles.

Ski Flying Adventures – Part 1: Getting Ready

While some aviators may let a little thing like winter restrict their flying adventures, the dyed-in-the-wool aviation junkie will just shift gears…landing gears, that is—from wheels to skis. With sufficient snow cover, ski-equipped aircraft can land virtually anywhere, from frozen lakes to remote glaciers. In his first of two articles, Michael Vivion explains how to prepare for ski flying, describes the different types of skis, and gives information on manufacturers of skis and equipment.

Radio Communications – Who, Where, What

One important resource that we often misuse when flying is radio bandwidth. From the moment you press the push-to-talk switch, no one can interrupt you. Radio procedures should be reviewed periodically; even experienced pilots can develop bad habits. Editor John T. Kounis describes how to communicate clearly while being as brief as possible in controlled and uncontrolled environments.