AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011 - 54

Geoff Lynes, opposite page, departs an AOPA photo session above Yellowstone National Park before returning to Driggs, Idaho, where he operates a Husky dealership.

Pilot Nick Herring is a park ranger at Yellowstone. He’s also the ranger who would receive repor ts on aircraft that disturb wildlife or the public, but he doesn’t want to turn you in (that’s his Cessna 172 in the background). He wants you to enjoy the park from the air, as he does, but suggests you stay clear of populated areas such as hotels and, in particular, Old Faithful. Mountains in the northeastern sector of the park may be more of a challenge than you want. There’s plenty of scener y for pilots to enjoy, and if time is limited, aviation may be the best way to enjoy Yellowstone—although the buffalo will look a little small. When you see the traffic backup in the

the scenic flight pilots who will show you the hidden valleys near the top that tourists will never see. Ciesinski rides along in some of the formations flown by the airport’s warbird pilots. Richard Sugden, owner of many of the warbirds and Teton Aviation, keys the mic as she sings an aria from Madame Butterfly. The weather is also good at Yellowstone Airport at West Yellowstone, Montana, a gateway airport located a few miles from the Yellowstone National Park. The town has lots of hotels and a live grizzly bear exhibit. Yellowstone Airport is open eight months a year, and is snowed under the rest of the time. The FBO is run by the Moulton family and includes free use of bicycles in a campground restricted to pilots who arrive by personal aircraft. Owners include R.J. Moulton and his wife, Sandy; Jackson attorney and rancher Brad Mead; and Mead’s father, Pete, a former crop duster. The first attempt at an air-to-air over The Grand using Brad Mead’s Bonanza A36 is thwarted by weather, so he accompanies us to the Jackson Hole Airport tower for an interview with manager Rick Schmidt. Schmidt warns that the airport can be an “inhospitable environment” for those unfamiliar with it. It is in a national park, has no radar, isn’t easy to spot, and has buttes and mountains that assure turbulence on final approach. It’s best to talk to Salt Lake Center while approaching the airport, Schmidt advises, given the eclectic mix of traffic. “If it’s made in the general aviation inventory, it’s here,” Schmidt said. He suggests you call 15 miles out so his controllers can work you into the mix. Later, Mead offers a few suggestions from his own experience. “The performance of airplanes that are flown by general aviation pilots here won’t match the rate at which terrain climbs. Approaching a ridge or range of mountains at what seems like a reasonable altitude, you can suddenly find yourself lower than
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Teton Aviation plans a big summer
For tourists, Jackson, Wyoming, seems like the only choice as headquar ters for a visit to Yellowstone or Grand Teton national parks. For pilots, it’s more fun at Driggs, Idaho. A lot of activities are planned this summer by Teton Aviation. The warbirds—there are many based at the airport—will be out in force on July 2 for the Huntsman Springs Airshow featuring the MiG Fury Fighters act, and July 16 for a Young Eagles flying day. The July 2 airshow is part of the area’s Fourth of July celebration. The airpor t restaurant has irregular hours in winter, so call 208-354-2550 for the latest information. Check www.tetonaviation. com for details. Ther e ar e plans to do increased aerobatic training using an Extra 300 high-performance aircraft, so if you are ready for a high-performance tailwheel aircraft that can do any maneuver in the book, contact Teton Aviation at 208-354-3100. The runway at Driggs was improved recently to 7,300 feet long by 100 feet wide. In addition, there are plans to complete a grass runway by this summer for tailwheel training. That will make it a true grassroots airport.

Spike Minczeski (above right) is director of warbird operations at Teton Aviation. That means he can fly all the big-iron warbirds and all the military jets. Kristine Ciesinski (right) is an international opera star and may be your pilot for a glider ride to The Grand. Brad Mead (far right) is a Jackson-area rancher and, like his wife, Kate, is a Jackson attorney. Kate is chairman of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, while Brad is a former board member and brother to the state’s governor, Matt Mead.

AOPA PILOT •

54 • APRIL 2011

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2011