AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 53
Jackson Hole Airport tower manager Rick Schmidt (below) wants you to leave feeling you got great air traffic control service—but he also wants you to know you are entering an area of high traffic, high wind, and high altitude.
Given the Jackson traffic, the sometimes huge “handling” fees, and the weather conditions, your best bet is to base your aircraft 45 minutes from Jackson at Driggs, Idaho. Fuel costs are lower, too. The Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport runway (below left) has open approaches on both ends, often better weather, rental cars, and impromptu entertainment as warbirds come and go.
While June signals summer for flatlanders, it’s still only spring here above 6,000 feet. Flood warnings abound as AOPA Senior Photographer Mike Fizer and I tackle a weather-dependent schedule of glider rides, paraglider photography, balloon rides, and air-to-air photo shoots above Yellowstone and “The Grand,” the name locals give the tallest peak. Fizer and I are here to meet the “pilots of the parks” as a part of our occasional series, “Epic Flights,” but just because we’re here doesn’t mean the weather is going to be on our side. Good weather is frustratingly close by at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport in Driggs, Idaho, a 45-minute drive west across the Tetons from Jackson. The airport has fewer fees and less traffic than Jackson Hole Airport, plus rental cars and a Warbirds Café that is the equal of restaurants in Jackson. You can rent an aircraft there, but Spike Minczeski will ask you to take three hours of mountain flying instruction to assure your safety. Other surprises at Teton Aviation, in which the restaurant is located, include a warbird museum off the main lobby and a glider instructor who happens to be an opera star. You may meet opera singer Kristine Ciesinski (her husband is an opera star, too), should you choose to take Teton Aviation’s spectacular glider ride to the back of The Grand. She is one of
AOPA PILOT • 53 • APRIL 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
Contents
Contents
President’s Position
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
AOPA Action
Letters
Letters
Waypoints
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: Giving Women Wings
Rally GA: Giving Women Wings
Epic Flights: Flying Yellowstone and ‘The Grand’
Epic Flights: Flying Yellowstone and ‘The Grand’
Fulfilling its Promise
Fulfilling its Promise
A Half-Century Training Legacy
A Half-Century Training Legacy
Challenges: Fling-Winging It
Challenges: Fling-Winging It
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Flying Behind Glass, at Last
Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Flying Behind Glass, at Last
First Look: You Too Can Be on YouTube
First Look: You Too Can Be on YouTube
High Anxiety
High Anxiety
Technique: Unconventional Wisdom
Technique: Unconventional Wisdom
Pilot Products: Odds and Ends
Pilot Products: Odds and Ends
Never Again
Never Again
Fly Outs
Fly Outs
Fly By Wire
Fly By Wire
Pilots
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 45
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Rally GA: Giving Women Wings
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Epic Flights: Flying Yellowstone and ‘The Grand’
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 56
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 58
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fulfilling its Promise
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 66
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - A Half-Century Training Legacy
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 72
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Challenges: Fling-Winging It
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 81
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Crossover Classic Sweepstakes: Flying Behind Glass, at Last
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - First Look: You Too Can Be on YouTube
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - High Anxiety
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Technique: Unconventional Wisdom
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - IAOPA1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - IAOPA2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilot Products: Odds and Ends
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fly Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Fly By Wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201103_test
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011demo
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot0308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com