AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2016 - 76

BICYCLES with wide tires are the preferred method of ground

transportation. Some loaner bikes are reportedly available,
but they are highly coveted and almost impossible to find.
Veteran burner Jake McGuire prepares for a day of "gifting"
trike rides (right). Providing aerial tours is a popular way
for pilots to contribute to the spirit of the event.

One of the trike pilots, Jake McGuire, planned to give 100
rides at the event. That meant flying his aircraft over the Sierra
Nevada from his home airport in Lodi, California, and arranging
to have fuel brought to Burning Man. Tall, lanky, and dark-haired-
with mutton-chop sideburns reminiscent of a young Burt
TRAVEL TIP

Packing list
* Water and Camelbak: You've got to bring your own-and don't
skimp. Staying hydrated is essential.
* Dust mask: Light ones that are easy to breathe through.
* Goggles: For eye protection.
* Hat with chin strap: So it won't blow away.
* Ear plugs: Required for sleeping.
* Sleeping bag: Nighttime temperatures are typically in the high
30s or low 40s.
* Layered clothing: Day/night temperature swings of 50 degrees
Fahrenheit are normal.
* Baby wipes: Gets dust out of pores, and the next best thing to
a shower.
* Camp-style plate, spoon, and coffee cup: In case you get invited
to a meal.
* Tent with long stakes: The wind blows hard.
* Airplane tiedowns: Long stakes are best here, too.
* Painter's tape: Keeps dust from entering through aircraft vents
and doors.
* Outlandish apparel: You'll fit right in.

76 | AOPA PILOT March 2016

Rutan- McGuire said providing rides allows him to contribute
to the event.
"I can't think of any other gift that I can give here that's more
meaningful or more personal," he said. "I put a lot into it, and I get
just as much out of it. Maybe more."
Dave "Purple Haze" Barrett flies passengers all day long in a purple, former Civil Air Patrol 182 that he keeps especially for Burning
Man. "I own another 182 that I use for business and personal transportation," said Barrett, who lives in Reno, Nevada. "This one is
my playa plane. It's perfect for gifting rides-and leaving it outside
doesn't bother me. I'll give it a thorough cleaning when it gets home."
Ramona "SkyChick" Cox was among the first pilots to fly to
Burning Man, in 1996. At that time, 88NV didn't exist, so she simply landed her Cessna 206 in the desert by a group of tents. All she
knew about the event at the time was that it was "a costume party
in the desert," as well as its approximate latitude and longitude.
Now, after 19 visits, she's nearly perfected desert airplane camping. Her gear is stored neatly in plastic bins, daily costumes are
laid out in sequence, and her 206 is an apartment. She even brings
a pair of bicycles, an inflatable mattress, and a portable generator
for heating and cooling. "It takes me three full days to organize and
pack the airplane for Burning Man," she said. "You can't just throw
it all together at the last minute."
The event has changed dramatically as it's grown, but Cox
said the things that keep her coming back are the friendships
she renews with fellow pilots, and the astonishing creativity on
display.
"There's no greater concentration of creativity anywhere in the
world than right here," she said.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - March 2016