AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 106
FLY-OUTS
Put Wilson Bar Airstrip
on your bucket list
F
lying in Idaho’s spectacular backcountry
is one of those “bucket
list” items for the adventurous
pilot. And flying to Wilson Bar—a oneway
airstrip with a blind approach and
no go-around—represents the essence
of Idaho mountain flying.
Wilson Bar is the only public airstrip
on the 120-mile stretch of the Middle
Fork of the wild Salmon River, the largest
free-flowing river in the United States.
Also known as the “River of No Return,”
the Salmon River flows 425 miles through
central Idaho, and the Middle Fork flows
directly through the Frank Church-River
of No Return Wilderness area. It is considered
one of the best catch-and-release
fly fisheries in the nation.
The airstrip at Wilson Bar has a sto-
ried history. In 1937 Howard “Haywire”
Wilson arrived with his family at what
was then known as Jackson Bar. The Wilson
family’s determination to persist in
Want more?
For more information on Wilson Bar and
pilot/author Greg Illes’ flight into Wilson
Bar, see our Pilot Getaways section
on AOPA Online (www.aopa.org/flight
planning/destinations). Other featured
destinations from Pilot Getaways magazine
are also available.
the wild backcountry earned the name
change. Haywire was a pilot and he cut
through the meadow to create the airstrip.
By the 1950s, it was used frequently
by charter pilots bringing tourists in for
adventure. But then nearby Mackay Bar
airstrip was built, and Wilson Bar went
into decline. In 1992 the U.S. Forest Service
announced Wilson Bar’s closure.
Local pilots weren’t happy. Idahoan
Frank Hill flew into Wilson Bar, cut down
the trees and brush that had overtaken
the airstrip, and forced the Forest Service
to reopen the airstrip—albeit with a
good deal of relentless letter writing and
behind-the-scenes politicking.
Galen Hanselman, author of Fly
Idaho, gives Wilson Bar a hazard index
of 27 on his scale of 1 to 50 (most airstrips
rated above 30 are not suitable for
the majority of light aircraft). It is recommended
that pilots first overfly Wilson
Bar and then fly upstream before making
the final approach. Runway 24 is just
1,500 feet long with a slight uphill slope.
Wilson Bar has no amenities—no
places to stay besides your tent and
nothing to eat except what you catch
and cook. It’s simply for relaxing and
letting nature soothe your soul.
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
Backcountry adventure
The steep walls
of a river canyon
block the view of
the runway until
the last 30 seconds
on approach to
Wilson Bar (right).
The tiedown area
is adjacent to the
runway and there’s
plenty of room for
visiting aircraft
(above).
AOPA PILOT • 106 • JUNE 2011
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/destinations
http://www.aopa.org/flightplanning/destinations
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
Contents
President’s Position
Hangar Talk
AOPA Media
AOPA Action
Letters
Waypoints
Proficient Pilot
Safety Pilot
License to Learn
Pilot Counsel
Fly Well
Pilot Briefing
Rally GA: So You Want to Have a Fly-In?
AOPA State of the Association Together We Can Rally GA
One Strong Identity
Piper Mirage: Pressurization Points
Prime Time for the Jabiru
Cessna L–19 Bird Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend
AOPA Aviation Summit 2011: A New England Charmer
Frugal Flier: Will Medicare Cover This?
Technique: AOA for GA
Crossover Classic: Beauty That’s Skin Deep
Never Again
Fly Outs
Fly by wire
Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cover2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Contents
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - President’s Position
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 5
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Hangar Talk
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 7
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 8
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 9
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Media
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 11
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Action
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 13
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 14
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 15
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 16
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 17
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 18
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 19
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 20
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 21
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Letters
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 23
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 24
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 25
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Waypoints
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 27
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Proficient Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 29
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Safety Pilot
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 31
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - License to Learn
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 33
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Pilot Counsel
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 35
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Fly Well
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 37
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Pilot Briefing
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 39
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 40
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 41
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 42
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 43
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 44
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Rally GA: So You Want to Have a Fly-In?
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 46
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 47
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 48
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 49
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA State of the Association Together We Can Rally GA
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 51
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 52
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 53
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 54
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 55
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - One Strong Identity
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 57
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Piper Mirage: Pressurization Points
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 59
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 60
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 61
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 62
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 63
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 64
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 65
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Prime Time for the Jabiru
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 67
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 68
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 69
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 70
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 71
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cessna L–19 Bird Dog: A Soldier’s Best Friend
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 73
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 74
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 75
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 76
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 77
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 78
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 79
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 80
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - AOPA Aviation Summit 2011: A New England Charmer
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 82
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 83
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 84
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 86
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Frugal Flier: Will Medicare Cover This?
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 88
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 89
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 90
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Technique: AOA for GA
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 92
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 93
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 94
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Crossover Classic: Beauty That’s Skin Deep
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 96
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - I1
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - I2
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 97
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 98
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 99
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 100
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 101
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Never Again
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 103
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 104
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 105
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Fly Outs
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Fly by wire
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 108
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 109
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 110
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - 111
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Pilots
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cover3
AOPA Pilot Magazine - June 2011 - Cover4
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