Iditarod 2005

[Dave]

The 2005 Iditarod Sled Dog Race is coming up in March. Details can be found here. www.iditarod.com/index.shtml

Surely Aurora Air Service pilots will be available for some additional "Bush" flying during the "Last Great Race on Earth". Aurora Air Service will likely be flying support for the racers, and most of all race enthusiasts, including some of the major sports networks.

AAS share partner Bering Air Virtual will be especially busy from the time that the race reaches Kaltag and where the racers start up the Norton Sound coast on the last part of the journey to Nome is always the most exciting.

I just e-mailed Frank with the kit for the ski package for the DHC-2 Beavers.

www.tx-wooddell.net/avvwl/graphics/auubvr-ski.jpg.

That sure leaves a lot of business if Aurora Air Service can arrange some charters. Once the people arrive they will be staying for those few days wherever they can. Often in tents like in the shot from last year's race at Unalakleet. (BRRRRRRR!)

www.tx-wooddell.net/avvwl/graphics/idit1.jpg

The Aurora View Virtual Wilderness Lodges northeast of Shaktoolik, will make most of their their cabins available for guests at each of the satellite lodges and the main lodge where the summer support crews will be brought back in for these thrilling two weeks.

Personally, I prefer the two hot meals and huge sack lunch (with a large thermos of hot coffee or cocoa) that the AVVWL provides, not to mention the warm beds in heated cabins to sleep in. Of course as my personal guests Bernie Stockwell and Frank Siegler will be welcome to stay in the VIP rooms in the main lodge, should they decide to accept.

The remaining guest cabins will be complimentary for AAS and BAV pilots to stay and enjoy the 5-star accomodations and gourmet meals while conducting the spectator and support flights. Fuel will be available at PAUR and PSFL.

Hopefully AVVWL will become a share partner sometime soon with BAV and AAS, (as they say, the plot thickens)where pilots seeking some relief from a schedule can fly amphibious Cessna Turbo 206's, Beaver, or Caravan from one of lodges to a remote river or lake where record book Northern Pike and Sheefish and other species abound. It's tough work, but someone has to do it!

www.tx-wooddell.net/avvwl/trophy.htm

At the moment, only the main AVVWL (PAUR) up on Kingmetolik Creek is operational. By February 12, well in advance of the Iditarod, the airstrips and lodge facilities at PSFL (Shaktoolik River Fishing Lodge), PAVN (Aurora View North), and PAUG (the Ungalik Lodge) will be ready for downloading from the AVVWL site. On days where flying is impossible or outright dangerous, guests willing to brave the elements will be taken by the connecting road to the trail aboard the Snow Cat.

From the history of previous years' races, there will be all of the trail watching and logistical support flights any pilot could want, from Anchorage all the way to Nome.

Stay warm, and fly safely,

Dave

[Russ]

Great idea .. Twice now I failed to get Iditarod Charters up in time (I was busy, forgot, didn't know when the race was).

Maybe this time we can do something!

[Frank Seigler-KE5ETD]

Sorry guys,

The Ski Beaver is an FS2002 model that is not fully compatible with FS2004 therefore I am not willing to add it to the fleet. I guess that it flys fine but the prop does not show in FS2004. This is a common issue with FS2002 aircraft that were not designed in either GMAX or FSDSv2.

[Dave]

Apparently, when something works too easy, something else won't work.

Hopefully some one will get us a set od Amphibs for the Cessna 206 I am so fond of flying. It is a 2004 aircraft made by a guy in Belgium.

BFU and Admiralty already have a texture for it. AAS can't be far behind. Then the amphibs would be great too.

I am looking forward to getting all of the AVVWL files uploaded between now and Monday. Until the 206 gets her Wipaire Wipline 3450's it looks like the Caravan and Beaver Amphibs get the flyout duty.

Without skis, it looks like the helos and snowmobiles will get a workout.

There are enough airports on the route. I believe there is a route map for the 2005 Iditarod. Plenty of cargo and people to haul.

Thanks for the help Boss.

Dave,
BAV004

[Pugsley]

Although I know it might be limited - there is always the Aerosoft Beaver (they do have a skis variant in both original and modern cockpit configurations).

Iditarod would be a fun thing to try with respect to chartered flights/missions. BFU does this on a regular basis as well as a couple of other similar VAs whose names escape me. Where does one need to go in order to d/l and install the Iditarod Scenery?

[Frank Seigler-KE5ETD]

I flew the Iditarod with Alaskan Winds last year. They have scenery that was made specifically for them but it may not apply for this year as some of the checkpoints may have changed. The way that AW does it, is that each pilot picks an actually musher to "support" and then you check the actual race stats each day and fly to the checkpoints that your musher has made it to. I chose to "support" Randy Chapel last year. Randy is from Arlington, Texas so he is a local boy for me. He actually lives in Arlinton but goes up to Alaska to train.

[Dave]

OK I found some informational links.

Information about the 2005 Iditarod route and checkpoints can be found at www.iditarod.com/s-miles.html .

A list of the mushers for 2005 can be found at
www.iditarodrace.net/iditmushers.php .

Ah, yes, the elusive map. It is on Cabela's site.
www.cabelasiditarod.com/trail.html

There is some serious real-world sponsorship going on with this folks. Cabela's, Alaska Airlines, Northern Air Cargo, Lynden Air Cargo, major pet food suppliers, and the list goes on.

That doesn't even count the race watchers that want to be flown along the trail to see their favorite musher.

The AAS and BAV pilots can share sponsorship, with BAV taking the "top half" of the trail.

Otherwise, BAV would probably choose from "locals" from NW AK. Teamwork is always better, especially between share partners. I am currently unemployed, and have quite a bit of time to spend assisting with this committee.

I guarantee this, If AAS were a real Air Service in Alaska, we would be all over the real Iditarod like "white on snow"! In fact, we would already be flying supply caches and logistical support to the checkpoints next week.

We ought to be able to pull this off in a well organized fashion.

(As recalled to a potential client during a phone call this morning)

"Yes Sir, we do require dog crates to fly your dogs. That's right, one per dog. Because I don't care if Bozo is your lead dog, if he craps in my plane and eats my seats, I am gonna kill him when we land."
(pause)
No, a muzzle and doggie diapers won't do. Thank you, Sir, I am sure Fast Eddie will appreciate your business as long as having your supplies where you need them when you arrive is of secondary concern."

(Pause) "Actually, Sir, if you do not have the crates, we picked up several at the government auction after having to reupholster six airplanes due to damage caused by dogs last year, before we could use those for the tourists in the summer. We rent the crates for an additional $10 per dog if you clean it afterwards, $50 if we clean it."

(Pause again) "Yes, Sir we think it is a good deal too. We will guarantee that your supplies will be in place, and ready for when you need them. Yes, Sir. When we say it will be there it will be there. Alaska is no place fo allow anything to uncertainty. Thank you too, Sir. Thank you for calling. We look forward to being of service to you."

Have a good day and keep warm,
Dave
BAV004

[Pugsley]

This is getting to be more and more interesting as the posts go up - I've been dying to take my Aerosoft Beaver (skis or amphib) out in a practical role.

Never having done something this ambitious before - how hard will this be for AAS to implement? The logistics and planning alone have to be a daunting task.

[Frank Seigler-KE5ETD]

It would not be extremely difficult.

1. We would need scenery for each checkpoint. There will probably be scenery available from at least one, if not more, source(s).

2. I could create a special forums section for the Iditarod. For example, we could have a discussion board and a PIREP board.

3. Each pilot that wants to participate would "sign up" in the forum and indicate which musher you will support. Only one pilot per musher. You would then follow your mushers progress in the real race and then fly to each checkpoint that he/she has visited. We could have a roster of our participating pilots, their mushers and maybe the current standings.

[Roadmaster]

That sounds interesting.not sure if I could take part with FS 2002 tho, (If the scenery was compatible I would)

BTW Frank, if you still have the ski package for the 2002 Beaver,I would like to have it..........

[Dave]

the ski package is part of a larger download from a package called bvrpak.zip at avsim. Just drop the AAS texture in and you have "instant 2002 Beaver on skis".

Dave

[Roadmaster]

Thanks Dave, I have that one, will add the texture when I get home.......... ( looking sheepish), hehe.......

[Pugsley]

I can only speak for myself - but I wouldn't mind doing something like this. Multiplayer would be harder to do logistically (as each of the participating VAs would have to have everyone elses textures to see them).

Hypothetically, though - I think it'd be neat to see each VA's planes at each of the checkpoints - decked out in their Iditarod textures. Assuming I take part, and assuming she doesn't drop - I'll take DeeDee Jonrowe for my musher.