Planepool to BM 2009

BMSabre · Post by **BMSabre** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:19 pm

It's still along way away, but never too early to start making plans, eh?

I'm a pilot, and i thought that instead of driving, it would be fun (and quicker) to fly out to the playa. My rough plan at the moment is to rent a plane and "planepool" with some people who would also like to travel by air, splitting rental and fuel costs. Would anyone be interested in flying out to BM this year?

I'm a military pilot and will have a commercial multi-engine rating come August. So, the number of people could be anywhere from just one other, to 6 or 8. I was thinking something like 4-6 would be optimal to spread the costs and get us a decent ride, but if there's interest i'd get checked out on anything from a 172 to something king-air-ish.

I'm thinking of departing from the oklahoma/northish texas DFW area...but that's situationally dependant on what happens between now and then. People (roughly) on the way would work too, if you can get to an airport that's in the general direction of flight.

Thoughts? Advice? Interest?

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:29 pm

Have you looked here?

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/airport/

http://www.portofentry.org/

Its not the safest to fly into and out of BUT there is an airport and a bunch of great folks to work with if you decide to go for it. Just do a lil reading first.. even if you are the cats ass when it comes to flying.

I only fly ultralight and cannot afford to bring my paraglider out there. I wish I could though.. I always get envious when I see the folks flying out there.

Also try to bring a plane thats suitable for jumps and see here.

http://burningsky.org/

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:47 pm

Word is that because of the altitude, it's hard to fly both self and equipment. Most people who fly in have someone take the tent, etc., by road.

BMSabre · Post by **BMSabre** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 8:32 pm

I had checked out the area about BRI, and i realize that the playa doesn't make the safest airport in the world. Good call on the cargo, crypto. I did forget to mention that. Due to either weight or, just as likely, volume considerations, cargo space will be limited...so it would help to have the hookup either as far as staying with a camp or having someone truck in the extra goodies.

Thanks for the advice.

cullen · Post by **cullen** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:43 pm

Toolmaker wrote:Have you looked here?

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/airport/

http://www.portofentry.org/

Its not the safest to fly into and out of BUT there is an airport and a bunch of great folks to work with if you decide to go for it. Just do a lil reading first.. even if you are the cats ass when it comes to flying.

I only fly ultralight and cannot afford to bring my paraglider out there. I wish I could though.. I always get envious when I see the folks flying out there.

Also try to bring a plane thats suitable for jumps and see here.

http://burningsky.org/

why can't you bring it?

BMSabre · Post by **BMSabre** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:10 pm

Oh, and tool...don't get envious, get airborne. If it all works out like i'd like...seek me out, i'll take ya up for a buzz around the city.

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 2:09 am

cullen wrote:
Toolmaker wrote:Have you looked here?

http://www.burningman.com/on_the_playa/airport/

http://www.portofentry.org/

Its not the safest to fly into and out of BUT there is an airport and a bunch of great folks to work with if you decide to go for it. Just do a lil reading first.. even if you are the cats ass when it comes to flying.

I only fly ultralight and cannot afford to bring my paraglider out there. I wish I could though.. I always get envious when I see the folks flying out there.

Also try to bring a plane thats suitable for jumps and see here.

http://burningsky.org/
why can't you bring it?

Can't drive out there.. bad foot. I also looked into shipping and since its heavy AND bulky its a lil out of my price range to ship currently. Maybe in 2010 I will be able to drive my S10 out there and tow the small trailer so I can have a big camp and bring lots of stuff. I'm on a minimalist trip these days.

But.. if anyone CAN afford it.. about 2500 or so will get ya a decent setup and its really easy to paraglide. Cheapest way to get airborne and have fun IMO.

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:50 am

Suitable for both airdrops and cargo.
Operates well on un-developed runways and if you get the Sepctre variant perfect for taking out those pesky sound camps

Artemis · Post by **Artemis** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:54 am

Sail Man wrote: Suitable for both airdrops and cargo.
Operates well on un-developed runways and if you get the Sepctre variant perfect for taking out those pesky sound camps

Have you gotten to the lucky 13th post yet?

falk · Post by **falk** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 6:31 pm

It's a blast. I've flown in every time â€” I've never even seen the front gate to Black Rock City.

A few thoughts, in no particular order:

Judging by its safety record alone â€” six accidents (one fatal) in 21 weeks of operation â€” this is one seriously fucking dangerous airport. You might want to keep that in mind.

Now the good news: none of the accidents were really the playa's fault. All of them were pilot error or equipment failure. Don't be stupid, carry a little power into the landing, and fly the goddamn numbers, and you should be fine.

If you don't have mountain-flying experience, take a class. I took a soft-field refresher before my first time there, but it's not actually necessary; the landing strip is actually nice and hard.

Expect density altitude up to 10,000 feet, although it's around 7500 or less most of the time. Try not to fly after noon, when the denalt and the turbulence both pick up.

I've made dozens of landings on the playa, and they're better landings than I make at home.

Seriously, don't be stupid. I've seen some amazingly stupid stunts pulled by pilots at BRC, and heard of even worse. Don't be stupid, and your odds of dying rapidly approach zero.

Arrange for your gear to be sent on ahead with someone who's driving. You need to save weight â€” this is no place to be over gross or even close. Also, ground transportation is spotty at best; try not to bring any more stuff with you than you're willing to walk to town with.

Good luck finding a rental place that will let you take a plane to the Playa. I've seen it done, but it's really hard.

I worry about what the caustic dust will do to my plane, but people have been landing there for decades, and still no reports of playa-induced corrosion. People have brought helicopters and private jets there without any apparent problems.

Visit the portofentry web site for general information. Read it very carefully; it's the Survival Guide for pilots.

I love giving rides up there. It's one of my ways of gifting to the community. Giving someone a ride lets you experience the joy of flight all over again through new eyes.

The BLM imposes a 12,500-lb weight limit on aircraft. Keep that in mind before buying that mil-surplus C-130

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Dec 18, 2008 9:06 pm

falk wrote:The BLM imposes a 12,500-lb weight limit on aircraft. Keep that in mind before buying that mil-surplus C-130

Crap! That rules out the F-15 as well

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 7:09 pm

Take the stealth bomber. They won't even know it's there.

BMSabre · Post by **BMSabre** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:55 am

theCryptofishist wrote:Take the stealth bomber. They won't even know it's there.

And we won't have to worry about water in any of the sensors out on the playa, eh?

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:05 pm

Artemis wrote:
Sail Man wrote: Suitable for both airdrops and cargo.
Operates well on un-developed runways and if you get the Sepctre variant perfect for taking out those pesky sound camps
Have you gotten to the lucky 13th post yet?

Yeah, I think I'm way past that now, ah ah ahhhhh!