Pilotcast #036 - 2006.06.10

Hangar flying with Pilot Kent and Pilot Mike from the 2006 Annual Gaston's Fly In.

Pilot Dan is unable to join us.

Hangar Flying:

We've got a little different show for you, this week. The crew is doing their very first "live" Pilotcast from the Gaston's White River Resort, in Lakeview, Arkansas. They start out with a little bit of history about the resort and the fly in, including who started the event when it first occurred. Pilot Kent tells us why he was so determined to be at Gaston's on Saturday morning, and how flew in and landed at 11:30 Friday night. He also describes his aerobatic flight in an Extra 300, with CFI Chip Gibbons.

Next we listen to a pilot roundtable, that includes Pilot Mike, Pilot Kent, CFI Dr. Bruce Chien, Pilot Lance Flynn, CFI Chip Gibbons, Pilot Steve See, Pilot Grant, Pilot Leslie, Pilot Spike Cutler, Pilot Kathryn, and Pilot Nick. To start things off, Pilot Lance retells the harrowing story of an engine failure while flying his Mooney from Atlanta, Georgia to Teterborough, New Jersey. Then there's a short discussion on some of the difficulties you can expect when landing on Gaston's 3200' grass runway. CFI Chip talks about how he got into aerobatic flying and how he got over the nausea he had when he first started. We hear a little about some of the different aircraft the flew in and CFI Chip give his reaction to learning that someone flew 20 hours cross-country in a Pitts. CFI Bruce describes the amazing mix of social activities that are going on, from a drive-in movie theater to an illicit card game. Pilot Steve, who acts as Gaston's unofficial air traffic controller, talks about his very unusual aircraft, an IAR-823. Everyone talks about why they keep coming back to the Gaston's Fly, and why the attendance grows every year. Pilot Grant and Pilot Leslie are husband and wife, and they tell about their experiences while training for their Private Pilots License at the same time. Pilot Spike has a little fun and show the "Gaston's International Airport Security" passes, he made. Pilot Katherine wins the award for the furthest distance traveled, coming from Anchorage, Alaska, to attend the fly in. The group talks about the wide variations in the condition of rental aircraft. Pilot Nick gives a quick description of bringing his new dog along from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and how you shouldn't make your cross country legs too long with a dog aboard. Lastly, Pilot Kent suggests that if you're not able to make it to Gaston's next year, put together a fly in of your own at a local airport.

Show Links:

• Gaston's Fly In
• Gaston's White River Resort
• AOPA Web Forums
• Pilots of America
• The Extra 300 aerobatic aircraft
• Ozark Regional Airport
• Previous Pilotcast with CFI Dr. Bruce Chien
• Previous Pilotcast with Pilot Lance Flynn
• The IAR-823 aircraft
• FBO A and M Aviation

Song: "Flying Away" by Empyrion from the State of Washington.
Song: "No More Summertime Blues" by Geoff Smith
Music on the Pilotcast is from the Podshow Podsafe Music Network. Check it out at http://music.podshow.com