He passed down his passion for flying to younger members of the family, and both he and his teenage son began flight training at the same time. His next youngest son has recently started training for his private certificate, and there are three other sons who could also follow the same path. 

In only a few short years since returning to the skies, Manda has purchased an aircraft of his own and an asphalt airstrip in Missouri. But having an airstrip wasn’t the reason he purchased the property.

• READ MORE: Oregon Airpark Development Aims to Create Access to ‘Outdoor Playground of the West’

“My wife and I own a landscape company up here in Kansas City [Missouri] and as part of that company, we grow sod,” Manda said. “Three years ago or so, we bought 130 acres from a guy…and developed a sod farm. We were looking to expand our operation further and…[the guy] was looking to sell more of his property. We ended up buying the house and the airstrip along with 75 more acres.” 

The airport has been around since 1979 and sports a new name following the transition, Blue Cedar Landing Airport (43MO). Manda said that maintaining the airport requires minimal additional attention to his company’s existing operations on the property. He envisions his privately owned airfield will be a vibrant GA-focused outpost and has plans for future fly-ins.

That’s why Manda is excited for other pilots to come and enjoy the airstrip as much as he and his family. 

“We mow our sod once a week, and when we do, we just mow a little bit more and mow up to the runway,” he said. “So, because I have those fields around me that I will never develop or plant trees on, it will always be a wide-open area. That gave me the thought to have a fly-in where people can just park their airplanes in the grass. We could do flour-bombing competitions, food trucks right next to the airplanes, and other things you may not be able to do at a municipal airport. We will do different things to bring people together and support aviation.”

Manda decided that a large farmhouse that came with the second land purchase would make for a good short-term rental, bringing another option for pilots looking for a place to stay the night alongside their aircraft. 

“We looked at doing something different that not a lot of places can do, so we decided to make this house a Vrbo for really anybody, but I’m definitely going to cater it to the fly-in community,” he said. “It’s a great place for three or four couples to meet up and have something to do. They can fly in and keep their airplane here and rent the house that’s literally 100 yards from the 2,430-foot-long-by-30-foot wide asphalt runway. And we will have a car that they can get on Turo to get around the area.

• READ MORE: Idaho Luxury Fly-In Development Poised for Takeoff

“The house is about a 15-minute drive to downtown Lee’s Summit, where there is tons of stuff to do. There are shops, restaurants, and dining, like a little brewery and a wine bar. It’s situated about 10 minutes away from downtown Pleasant Hill, where there are eclectic shops, restaurants, and Rock Island Trail, which connects to the Katy Trail, which at 240 miles long is the longest developed rail-trail in the country. We have teamed up with a bike shop so people can rent bikes, since it’s hard to fly with a bike.”

The 7,300-square-foot home sleeps up to 20 and rents for an average of $800 per night. Manda is adding a separate one-bedroom option to the property that will be priced more economically, $200 per night on average. He believes that the addition of this smaller rental and an available on-site rental car will entice more aviators to consider flying in.  

“On the property we also have a little pilots lounge that we are currently finishing and will be named ‘The Stables Event Space at Blue Cedar Landing,’” he said. “It will be an event space for rentals up to 150 people. When the space isn’t rented, it will be open for pilots that fly in during the day and want to have a coffee or just get together.”

Blue Cedar Landing is located 11 nm south of Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport (KLXT).

The post New Turf for Blue Cedar Landing appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

FLYING has previously showcased some of the countries where the concept exists, from Sweden to South Africa and Australia to Costa Rica.

Another Central American nation can be added to the list with the introduction of Belize Air Ranch. The in-development community was created by Darla Zirbes and George Romine, two U.S. citizens who have been living and working in Belize for nearly six years.  

• READ MORE: Finding Freedom by Flying in Alaska

“…We have been here in Belize for about five and a half years, full time,” Zirbes said. “My dad bought the ranch, which is about 620 acres, in 2010. We have about 250 cattle here and have been developing the property [into an airpark].”

In the past few years, the land has changed a lot visually.

“The property was near and dear to Darla’s dad, but unfortunately, he got sick and could no longer take care of it,” Romine said. “At the time, I was working as an aircraft mechanic and in construction, which I had been doing for quite some time. We came down here and started building. We put in the roads, all of the fencing, cleared what needed to be cleared, and got the property and airstrip to where it is today.”

The 2,700-foot-long compacted limestone runway has an identifier of “LAF” and can be found at 17°11’49″N, 88°53’46″W. The initial plan was to build the airstrip for personal use only.

“I’ve been flying since 2000 and am also an A&P mechanic and builder,” Romine said. “We had an airplane here in Belize, and we kept it at another airport with a hangar. Then I thought, ‘Well, let’s just do it right here.’ So, we developed an airstrip in what was once a huge cornfield. It didn’t take long for us to build the runway. We used limestone taken from our property and had excellent heavy equipment operators to assist us. It was completed and approved by the Belize Department of Civil Aviation within a few months.” 

The idea to sell lots came naturally over time, and the current site plan calls for 20 hangar home residences. 

“There are a lot of pilots that come in and out of this area, and I didn’t really put a whole lot of thought into developing it as an aviation community for some time,” he said. “But after talking to some other local pilots and our family, we decided that we wanted to bring like-minded people here that like aviation and the freedom to fly.”

• READ MORE: Fort Worth Area Aviation Community Expands with Second Airpark

The community will emphasize aviation amenities, as well as the laid-back lifestyle afforded in the Central American country. Its picturesque location in the foothills of the Mayan Mountains ensures noteworthy views throughout the community, according to the couple.

The airpark is also completely off the grid at present, with utilities provided by solar systems with lithium-ion batteries for storage and backup generators, and water collection systems. High-speed internet is also accessible through a local  company. This all provides self-sufficient and sustainable living conditions for the airpark residents.

“We are trying to build a high-end airpark,” Romine said. “The home that we have just completed has 8,000 square feet…. It’s very large, with 3,000 square feet upstairs of living space with an air-conditioned hangar and a 2,000-square-foot veranda. It’s a very nice custom-built home, and those are the kind of houses [we will have] to try to keep it upscale. The idea is, as we sell more lots, to improve the community and airstrip by adding lighting to our runway and to pave it after there are enough people in the community.” 

Belize is a beautiful country along the Caribbean with a diverse natural landscape, from white sand beaches to dense forests. The couple expects that there will be a mix of full- and part-time residents at Belize Air Ranch and points out there are many reasons why it is an alluring place for retirees and others.

• READ MORE: Florida Rental Offers Escape With Oceanfront, Airstrip Views

“What is attractive to Americans and Europeans is that Belize is an English-speaking country, the only one in Central America,” Zirbes said. “You can also own your own property as a foreigner. Also, property taxes are very low. For example, we pay about $1,800 a year for our 620-acre ranch.” 

The first two individuals to purchase lots at the fly-in community are both from outside of Belize—one from Saint Martin and the other from Wisconsin. The couple also believes that the airpark will attract economic development to the region. 

There are many places within a two-hour flight of the airpark. One highlight is Flores, Guatemala, which is a colonial city situated beside a huge lake. Some of the world’s most renowned beaches are also a short trip away, including those in Cozumel, Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum in Mexico.

“And here in Belize, there are a lot of small airports that are affiliated with world-class hotels,” Romine said. “There are lots of places in the area that are exciting places to visit and you can fly your plane into. Just a few examples are Blackbird Caye, the pristine lodges in Mountain Pine Ridge, Chan Chich at Gallon Jug Estate, and Lamani. The islands of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are about 30 minutes from Belize Air Ranch as well. They have many lodging options, excellent restaurants, and lots to see and do.”

For those considering moving to an airpark in Belize, or just visiting the country, the couple has several options to stay on-site. La Familia Farms Lodge presently has five units with a large pool. Zirbes and Romine said that they can provide detailed information to guests about  Belize to include customs and immigration protocols, whether arriving by the airlines or in a private plane. 

Watch: Landing at Belize Air Ranch:

The post Belize Air Ranch: Selling a Slice of Paradise appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“I think that this is where we have something special. Pilots would love the experience of flying somewhere remote and dropping in on a grass strip, but they may struggle to get their spouse, kids, or whoever to come along. But with a runway, a campground, and a flower farm all together, it seems like we have something for everyone. Long story short, I think we’ve potentially discovered aviation’s lightning in a bottle.”

Regardless of how excited he is to share his new grass strip with fellow aviators, Chad is quick to note that Christy’s business, Fleurish Flower Farm, is the centerpiece of the property. “My wife has done wedding flowers for decades and now that our kids are getting older, we are moving into that stage of life where you have more ability to reach out and stretch. So, she said, ‘What if I were to take a class on growing flowers?’”

Since asking that question only a few years ago, the idea has grown to encompass nearly 80 acres of real estate. In this section of the Heckathorns’ land, which is also where the runway is located, Chad notes that, “I’d guess, just offhand, that she has thirty, or better, varieties of flowers out there; everything from bells of Ireland to zinnias. The picking season goes all the way up to the first frost.” 

Neither the campsite, the “fleurishing” flower farm, or pilot-friendly airstrip would be possible without the Heckathorns’ acreage.

“What we did is, I purchased the ground originally because I run a corn and soybean seed business. We farm for a living, and I provide seed to folks like myself, so we run those two businesses within agriculture. I bought the land that all of this is on because it’s right on a highway and has easy access, all of the things that you would have for [a] retail business like mine,” Chad said. 

The combination of colorful flowers and a highway-adjacent location led to an unexpected surprise for the couple. The flying farmer noted that this led to passers-by stopping in, wanting to enjoy the flower fields—which was not the business’s initial intent. Soon, the couple began welcoming people to pick their own flowers, while concurrently offering the ability for guests to enjoy music, food, and drinks. 

After all of the planning and hard work it took to get Christy’s you-pick farm concept off the ground, Chad was excited to get his own project in the air. 

“I think every farmer that has farm ground wishes that they had a runway of their own. I am that guy too, and got into flying about four years ago,” Chad explained. “It was kind of a crazy ride getting into it and it wasn’t something that I planned on getting into. It kind of found me, which is a whole other story.”

Flying quickly took root in Chad’s life and a few years later, he “selflessly” incorporated a purposely designed runway into the couple’s property.

In a post on Facebook explaining the new fly-in flower farm concept, Chad requested something from his fellow airmen. “On a personal note, I would love it if a whole bunch of you would come check out my wife’s flowers. When I built the strip, I said it was so pilots [could] come to visit her farm. She rolled her eyes as if it was actually just for me and my friends to play on…can you imagine!” 

While the runway has only been open for a short period of time, Chad has been pleased with the reception he has received from other pilots about the new airstrip.  

• READ MORE: Aviation Real Estate Stories by Grant Boyd

“I posted in the Grass Airstrip Owners and Pilots Facebook group for all you guys to help me with things that might catch me off guard (i.e., legal aspects, runway condition, etc.). My secondary rollout was to a private Nebraska Facebook group, the Nebraska Pilots. So, I did a limited rollout just saying we are going to have this event and I would love it if you guys would be my test pilots, if you will. Come in and try everything that we are doing. Use the runway, tell me what works. Was it a big problem that the runway wasn’t listed on a sectional, or was that not a challenge?”

Chad continued, noting that the consensus from the limited rollout and the first few aerially arriving visitors was positive. The praise he received centered on the runway’s condition, but also on the uniqueness of him being a flying farmer and the flower field concept. 

Chad explained why he thinks HeckSeeds Airfield (a formal name has yet to be announced) is one-of-a-kind. “The only similar thing that I can think of is in north central North Dakota—there is the International Peace Garden between Canada and the United States. There is a runway (identifier of S28 on sectionals) that you can fly into up near there and visit the federally funded, from both sides, flower garden. But that would be more like you would walk through it and it would be peaceful and tranquil, but this would be much more interactive where you are actively picking flowers and taking them home. I think that we might be the only ones doing that with an airstrip next to it. Especially when there is music, food, and all of that kind of stuff.”  

Owning his own airfield, where he has been able to bring people together for a unique combination of his and his wife’s interests, clearly brings Chad joy. “I’ve always said that if you go fishing by yourself and catch the biggest fish in your life, did it really happen? You know? Having people experience things with you is kind of the magic of life,” he said.

The post Discovering Aviation’s ‘Lightning in a Bottle’ appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The origins of 7WI8 were also largely a derivative of the same person-to-person discussions. 

“I have been a pilot since 1992, so when we were shopping for property, the intent was always to buy something large enough that we could put an airstrip on,” Kevin said. “We had shopped around, probably all within an hour drive of this area where we are at right now. But we didn’t have that much luck.”

Eventually, the couple’s fortune turned, as Kevin explained. 

“And then, just through word of mouth we stumbled on a farmer that was looking to sell some acreage. We didn’t wait long; it was like the next day that we had an offer in and that was in 1996. There was always the intent to put in the runway and just have for ourselves.”

It wouldn’t be until nearly a decade later that the Slezewskis began the process of creating a formally recognized airstrip they hope will stand the test of time. 

“So, in 2003 we took the step to get approvals through the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, the FAA, and get it on file with Door County, which is where we are located,” Kevin said. “We really wanted to cover all the bases, you know, so it wasn’t just a field that was subject to neighbors being unhappy [et cetera]. We wanted to make sure that we were covered on all the legal aspects of it.”

Their careful attention to legalities and other factors largely was the byproduct of a news story that was top of mind for most aviators.

“Back when we first built it, one of the things that was really prominent in the news was the destruction of Meigs Field,” Kevin said. “So that was one of the reasons that I kind of went to the nth degree with making sure all of the paperwork was in. People just aren’t building airports so much anymore. You might get a few private airstrips popping in, but if anything, airports are going away, unfortunately. It seems like so many are always under threat from towns [et cetera].”

Consequently, Kevin says his focus has continued to be on the airport’s future.

“I had the attitude about wanting our own airport, so my dedication has been to keep it in existence forever, even though I won’t be around forever,” he said. “I have certainly expressed my wishes to our kids, and we have written it into the deeded access that people get access to the runway to help protect it. We have taken a lot of steps that way. For me, passion and advocating for airports is how I’ve always felt about the airpark, since day one.” 

With their initial due diligence completed and paperwork so that they could eventually begin building out their private airfield, there was one unexpected hurdle that cropped up.

“We actually didn’t intend to put the airstrip in right away, but I just wanted to get everything approved. But then when we got the approval from the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, they said you had nine months or something; there was some deadline on it. So [I said], I guess we are putting it in now,” he recalled. “It was one of those things where we thought we would plan for the years ahead but ended up really not being able to wait, because there was a deadline [from out of] the application.”

With this prompting approval, the couple set out to create what is now the sole turf runway on the property, which is registered at 2,000 feet long and 60 feet wide (surrounded by leased farmland). Being that there are trees at the approach end of Runway 3, there is a 400-foot displaced threshold.

Even with how much they enjoyed operating and flying from their own private airfield, the Slezewskis felt the desire to bring it to the public’s attention. 

“It wasn’t too long after that, that we decided to share this with people,” Kevin said. “We thought we would build a small airpark and never intended it to be a Spruce Creek or anything like that. It’s really peaceful where we are at, with virtually no road traffic, and it’s really our intent to keep the area that way. 

“It’s beautiful sitting out here in the evenings watching sunsets and we didn’t set out to build this big village. We just wanted to share it with a few people that have a passion for aviation.”

For the most part, their sharing has taken place outside the digital world. 

“I have had thoughts about putting a Facebook page together and being more public about it,” Kevin said. “But I think it generates just enough interest and people know about it by word of mouth. The neighbors here have all been fantastic. We don’t have a lot of activity going on, but neighbors have always asked, even before when we had the airpark. They would say things like, ‘Geez, when are we going to see more airplanes taking off?’ So, they were always excited about it, I think, and thought it was cool.”

Aside from his enthusiasm for telling others about airpark living, Kevin is quick to explain a popular scenic route in the area. This may be of special interest to the thousands of out-of-towners who will be “in the neighborhood” for Oshkosh at the end of July.

“It’s a little bit different here than a lot of places,” Kevin said. “I think that there are only three or four airparks in the whole state of Wisconsin. We are in Door County, which is a big tourist area. Right where we are is more focused on agriculture. But I think that Door County consists of more shoreline [about 300 miles] than any other in the United States.”

Colloquially, the area has been called “The Cape Cod of the Midwest.” 

“It’s really cool flying. The water is basically about three miles to the west [of us] and you can follow the coast of Door County up and around the peninsula. And then there’s Washington Island. It’s north off the tip and there is another airport to fly into there (2P2). Then you can come back down on the shores of Lake Michigan and there are shipwrecks that you can see underneath the water. It’s impressive, scenic flying and you are never far away from that here. You basically get up and see water all around you. It’s really a beautiful place to fly.”

The post Wisconsin Couple Hopes Its Small Airpark Stands the Test of Time appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This introduction can be seen on the website for the legacy 1940s airport in Pittstown, New Jersey (N40), which sits roughly an hour from both New York City and Philadelphia. 

From its humble beginnings as a grass airstrip, the small community’s airport has retained its quiet and idyllic identity over the years. Yet, it also has at the same time served as an extremely important asset in its home state’s and region’s aviation infrastructure. 

Today’s N40 is home to around 110 fixed-wing single- and multiengine airplanes, helicopters, and ultralights, with almost 23,000 aircraft operations conducted there each year. 

Bad Finances Nearly Spelled Doom for the Airport

While the airport’s continued operations and ongoing operations are healthy now, a little more than a decade ago, its future was up in the air. 

Paul Ruo, an instrument-rated private pilot who has flown from Sky Manor since 2000, recalls the uncertainty that existed then. 

“Back in 2008 the airport was being held in a bank receivership as the previous owner had defaulted on his notes,” Ruo said. “As a result, the airport was in big trouble. Lots of people were looking to buy the airport, including real estate developers.”

Pilots Become the Solution

The potential for their home airport to become a housing or another development didn’t sit well with Sky Manor’s pilots. So, they took matters into their own hands. 

“About twenty or so pilots decided that they wanted to buy in. So, we sat down and had a meeting about the airport. Right there [at that night’s meeting], everyone laid a significant check on the table and signed an NDA before leaving. 

“Three months later the purchase was final.” 

Ruo and 39 of his friends have accomplished quite a lot since taking over. 

“From the first group of twenty owners, we now have doubled in size to 40 owners,” he said. “No new memberships are planned to be offered. By 2018, we had paid off the note. We are now building a security fund, and once that is complete, we hope to begin paying out dividends to our owners. 

• READ MORE: Six Airports That Go Beyond the $100 Hamburger

“People owning shares in our airport get a hangar with a 99-year renewable lease.”

Aside from having a nearly perpetual place to keep their aircraft, Ruo advises that this ownership structure has other tangential benefits. 

This allows the person who owns that share to take it to market, making the share readily sellable (to qualified investors). Ruo says the share value has nearly tripled over time.

This private ownership structure not only helps the common shareholders of the LLC to financially benefit from the airport’s continued success, but they and other pilots also benefit from better airport facilities. 

“What makes Sky Manor Airport, and airports like us, unique is the fact that an airport operated as a privately owned, public-use airport is just so much more efficient, friendly, and usable than any municipal or government-owned airport out there,” Ruo said. “Not only do we, as a private ownership [group], own it, but we also pay taxes. This is good for the community and ensures that the airport is clean, with new, well-maintained facilities, taxiways, and runways. 

“It is a win-win for everyone involved.”

Benefits for All

Since the airport is a contributor to New Jersey taxes, they have the dual benefit of receiving state Department of Transportation grant money, on top of privately raised funds. These dual-source monies have positively impacted Sky Manor’s 2,900 ft by 50 ft lighted asphalt runway with a GPS/WAAS instrument approach, as well as other aspects of the airport. For instance:

• Two resurfacings for the runway since 2008
• Taxiways, ramps, and driveways have been resurfaced.
• PAPI lights have been replaced.
• REIL lights have been replaced.
• Taxiway lights have been replaced.
• An AWOS system has been added

The airport’s current owners are a good cross-section of its users. These members are integral in keeping interests aligned and tended to amongst pilots based there. Additionally, they are also important in ensuring that the community at large, including the flying and non-flying residents alike, appreciate the local airport and what it has to offer. 

Ruo says that operating the airport in this conscious manner is good business sense. 

“When neighbors look at the airport as an asset of the community that they are a part of,” he said. “We usually have one or two days a year where we invite members of the community out to give rides [et cetera]. 

“It is important to us to be good neighbors and have good neighbors. If you are a good neighbor, then you will have good neighbors.” 

Consequently, the spirit of airport and comradery there is as strong as ever. 

“Sky Manor considers itself an integral part of the community,” Ruo said.  “In order to maintain that, we have hosted several first responder training sessions. These training sessions, which include fire, police, and rescue services of the adjacent towns, serves not only to inform and educate about the unique challenges in the response to aviation accidents, but also helps unite the community. 

“Most of our local area first responders are volunteers. They are our community. By keeping them informed, they develop a bond with the airport. The more our community knows the airport and what we do and what we offer, the better the relationship that develops.” 

The post Historic New Jersey Airport Finds Strength in Numbers appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

This piece of property has been passed down through generations of the McCutcheon family Several members of the family have learned to fly there. The runway, notated on sectionals as LA83, was the vision of Sidney McCutcheon, a Louisiana native farmer, rancher, and businessman. 

Ryan, Sidney’s great grandson, who plans to soon begin flight training, has recently taken an increased interest in the legacy flying field known as McCutcheon Field Airport.

• READ MORE: FLYING Destinations

“My great grandfather built this 2,300-foot airstrip in the late ’40s for my grandpa and great aunt,” Ryan said. “Over the years, many people, including my dad, have flown from this airstrip, and hopefully I myself will one day soon as well. 

“We’ve spent the last few months getting it back in shape and have plans for some bigger projects this spring.”

Ryan’s grandfather, Toler, and his sister, Mary Jo, were the first pilots in the McCutcheon family. Both became pilots around the same time that their father carved out a suitable landing site on family property he had owned for around a decade at the time. 

“The original tract of land the airstrip is on was around 750 acres. Today, the land is divided up between a few family members totaling around 500 acres,” Ryan said.

Legend says it took quite an effort to make sure that Sidney’s children (and now, great-grandchildren) had a convenient place to fly from. 

“From what I have been told, the airstrip took two years to complete and required a lot of dirt work to be done,” Ryan said. “I was always told that they pushed two big hills together to create the airstrip, so the construction must have begun around 1947 and the field was completed and [became] FAA official in August of 1950.”

Since its completion 72 years ago, the airfield has stayed in the family. Throughout this timeframe, the busiest times were the ’50s and ’60s, when “…there were many fly-ins hosted there.” 

These gatherings of family and friends at the runway boasted a number of aircraft, including some based at McCutcheon Field. 

“The first aircraft based at the strip was a Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser. Soon after the airstrip’s completion, a Cessna 170 was purchased and then a Piper Pacer and finally the last aircraft based at the airstrip was a Cessna 172.”

There hasn’t been an airplane based at the field since 1990. But Ryan and his father Jeffery have talked about changing that. 

In preparation for another airplane to be added to the ranks that have called McCutcheon Field home, they’ve considered the runway’s future. These discussions have turned to recent heavy landscaping work undertaken on the property.

“Recently, we had the tree line cut back on both sides of the airstrip and cleared trees on the south approach,” Ryan said. “We are going to be doing some surface maintenance this spring trying to smooth the runway out and overseed some different grass.” 

It’s 95 feet wide and there are approaches from both ends of the private, north/south runway. There’s a discrepancy between the published airstrip distance and its actual available length, advised Ryan. 

“The runway has never had any extensions, it was originally measured as 2,100 feet, but later was measured with better technology as being 2,300 feet.” 

And with acres to spare on either end of the current landing strip, there is the potential to expand. 

“We have tossed around the idea of lengthening the runway some and trying to push it to between 2,500 feet and 2,700 feet, but that is really just for the hell of it. We have no plans to own a plane that would require that length of runway.” 

Currently, the father-son duo is considering Cessna 170s and Piper Pacers. Ryan explained why these two models are front runners. 

“[We are] wanting a plane that can do STOL flying but also can cross country too,” Ryan said.

And with the hope of keeping the field operational well into the future, continued upkeep is at the top of the family’s mind. 

“Maintenance will be cutting the grass weekly during the spring and summer and small dirt-work projects here and there every couple of years.”

The post Louisiana Man Attempts to Revive a Family Aviation Tradition appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

We’ve all felt that way, when for one reason or another we’re not able to get into the air. STOL Drag pilot and competitor Jake Bunting recently returned to the skies after a year-long hiatus induced by a serious illness and treatment—and the renewed taste of flight was extra sweet.

Beginnings in Ranch Life

Bunting works as a construction contractor in far Northern California, building bridges, towers, and roads, primarily. He was introduced to flying by his grandfather, who used his piloting skills to support his enterprise auctioning cattle in the Western U.S. 

“He flew from state to state,” Bunting says. “I was impressed by the ability he had to land on a ranch to see the cattle.”

So, he purchased a 1956 Cessna 172 to learn to fly in, and once he had his certificate, he began landing on gravel roads and “shorter spots” with the Skyhawk.

He learned quickly that the 172 wasn’t the best mount for the flying he wanted to do—with the tricycle-gear airplane prone to attracting nicks on the prop from the unimproved strips he favored. He found a better option—a Piper Super Cub—and developed his proficiency “getting shorter and shorter on my landings.”

This was more than 10 years ago, and Bunting says, “there wasn’t yet a whole lot of people doing this kind of flying.”

STOL Companions

Bunting met up with a fellow Super Cub pilot Mike Sue. “He said, ‘It’s nice to see another Cub!’” And he ended up invited to the early incarnations of the High Sierra Fly-In north of Reno, Nevada.

He began to compete, never scoring too high—“20th place two years in a row”—but having a blast and enjoying the camaraderie and growing proficiency gained by participating in the first STOL Drag contests. Now in his black Cub with the “hot-rod motor” he does a lot to encourage other pilots, including taking the Bottle Cap Challenge to a whole new level.

“You fly like a pack of wolves and you learn a lot,” he says of the times spent meeting up in the backcountry with other pilots in the STOL community. He loves lending a hand—and he was even behind the scenes for the cover image on the first edition of the new FLYING magazine, which features STOL Drag’s contests, pilots, and airplanes.

And there’s a definitive eye to safety that has run throughout his experience with the pack. 

“I have two examiner buddies—they always side on the safety side. They won’t sign you off if they know you’re going to have trouble.”

“I love giving flights to people,” Bunting says. Maybe they’ve never been in an airplane before—or they’re an airline captain that hasn’t flown GA since initial training—and he introduces them to a new world. He credits the STOL movement with inspiring young pilots. 

“It’s getting a different class of people involved.”

The post Landing Short, Taking Off Again—and Loving It appeared first on FLYING Magazine.