Each year, when May rolls around, Alaskan’s gather to celebrate aviation in The Last Frontier.
The main events, during the first and second weekends of the month, draw flight enthusiasts from across the nation and around the globe. The Alaska Airmen’s Association hosts a trade show within the massive FED EX hanger in Anchorage where all the major vendors are on hand to offer aircraft modifications, accessories and enhancements that make pilots drool and spouses roll their eyes. During this two day event, there are lectures and seminars geared toward all manner of things related to flight.
Beyond the obvious ties of bush planes and pilotry, the Ultima Thule Clan has connections to this event that go straight to the top. Ben’s father, Rex Gray, is the president of the Association with a day job as a senior captain for Alaska Airlines. Aviation is a common thread shared by many Alaskan families.
For the third year, Paul was asked to speak on the opening day of the show. This year his presentation was focused on “wilderness adventuring with a bush plane”. He encouraged fellow aviators to get out there and experience the Alaskan back country. Paul also spoke about the importance of protecting the incredible freedoms of flight and exploration that we enjoy in this state by ensuring that we all fly safely and leave no trace when landing or camping somewhere. He also recommended that pilots support and send thanks to organizations that are protecting wild lands and allowing access to bush planes within.
Situated around Mother’s Day at the Valdez airport, The May-Day Fly-in is more stock car race than trade show. This is the largest S.T.O.L. (Short Take Off and Landing) competition in the world, attracting bush and touring airplanes of all varieties and their talented “drivers”. The Thule planes have been regular fixtures at this annual event (now in its 10th year) and perennial top contenders with Paul at the controls and occasionally Jay.
This year Paul, flying the Cessna 185, brought home second place in the Heavy Touring catagory and a special Award of Appreciation for his long time commitment to promoting bush flying and the May-Day Fly-In!
It's the "tailgate" event of the year, with everyone camping on the tarmack beside their planes.
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But first there’s the Geocache and those mysterious hard-boiled eggs!
In the week between the Anchorage Air Show and the May Day Fly-In, Ultima Thule hosts a bush plane
geocaching event that gives new meaning to the phrase boys and their toys…. The 3rd annual Geo games brought many friends to the Thules and provided two days of good-times and competition for all. But it’s more than just a game. It’s an important transition from a season of flying strictly with skies on the planes to the summer where tires are in use. It gives our pilots and friends a chance to relax, fly for fun (as opposed to work) and hone their skills before welcoming guests. With a focus on flight safety accompanied by a healthy dose of competition, Geocache is an occasion everyone in the Thules looks forward to all year as the first real indication that summer is on its way!
This year’s champ was Bryan Mcmahan with spotter Kevin Ditzler.
What is bush plane geo-caching?
On day one, teams of two – A pilot and a spotter, take off and find locations to land and leave eggs within a designated area. They record GPS coordinates at the spot they leave the egg.
On day two the teams take off with a list of all the drop spots and attempt to get to as many of those eggs as they can. Each egg has a secret name (chosen by the hider) to ensure that the seeking teams actually land and physically identify them.
Points are awarded for each egg found, each person who finds your egg, most excellent location, etc.
Why hard-boiled eggs? They are an eco-sensitive marker that will quickly disappear after the event!
Photos by Chasing Alaska and Paul Claus
