Smokey the Bear
 

For those who appreciate heritage and history.

I flew into a grass field in northern Arkansas not long ago where this old 1930’s Piper was parked. As you can see it has been lovingly restored, as well it should be. It is old , fabric covered wings and fuselage , no electrical system , no generator , you must hand prop it to start. But it is a special airplane.

It started life as the first aircraft owned by the New Mexico Fish and Game Commission and was being flown by a spotter pilot on the Capitan Mountain fire in southern New Mexico . While over a burnt out area the pilot noticed a hurt and alone bear cub. He landed , took it aboard and flew it out to a veterinarian. The cub was transferred to the National Zoo in Washington DC where it became known as Smokey the Bear.

A very classic looking airplane Bruce!





.

have to show that to my best friend Terry, recently retired from US Air/United, he has an airplane hanger and a grass strip in back of his house, but no plane, yet.

Many pilots will have a more capable aircraft to take them cross country and something like a Luscombe, a Piper Cub or similar to fly for nostalgia and history. Kind of like those who have vintage cars or a hammer Parker.

Have always had friends who were pilots. Flew to Aspen , C0, in a Mooney Exec, couple of times to ski--he also had a Pitts Acrobatic, and a crop dusting operation but was an optometrist like me.

Were you fishing at Gaston's on the White River?

No. Just fly in for lunch. By all reports Gaston’s has great trout fishing and I will do that sometime this winter when the Rockies are deep in snow. I normally fish the San Juan in March but New Mexico is shut down with the Covid with uncertain re-opening.

I went to Gaston's about 35 years ago to fly fish with my daughter. It was a disaster. Not prepared for fly fishers at all. The guide showed up with a can of "Power Bait" to glob onto a treble hook. Went downhill from there. Cancelled our second day, and found a real fly fishing outfit. Only good thing they had was a huge collection of old outboard motors.

I understand they now cater to fly fishers, but I can't get the bad taste out of my mouth. Time with your kid is special, and you don't want it to go wrong

I lived in St. Charles, MO and enjoyed trout fishing at Gaston's and on the White near Branson. Floating the Curent River in southern Missouri in your wooden canoe and flyfishing you'll get into some nice Browns.

John, Gaston’s has not changed . Most guides there are worm gob and cheeseball folks.

I usually do better on my own anyway. I will be at Navajo Dam when it opens