Scott Newpower turned FLYING contributor Ben Younger (pictured) onto the world of backcountry flying through the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF), an organization for which Newpower serves as the Montana liaison. [Courtesy: Ben Younger]
Key Takeaways:
The author, initially cautious about mountain and grass strip flying due to a past accident, was introduced to backcountry aviation through the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF).
Mentorship from RAF liaison Scott Newpower provided the author with invaluable practical techniques and specific knowledge for safe and precise operations on challenging backcountry airstrips.
This hands-on experience and guidance significantly enhanced the author's confidence and capability, helping them overcome previous trepidation and become a more proficient backcountry pilot.
Turning final onto Runway 34 at Seeley Lake, Montana (23S), I was high and fast.
Normally, this would not be a good thing at a mountain strip with a grass runway almost a mile above sea level on a warm August morning. But then most grass strips aren’t 4,575 feet long and smoother than the majority of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
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Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.
