Flying above the Salt Flats

Story and Photos By Dana Brejakova

I remember meeting Jimmy and his Aviat Husky A-1B-200 in the hangars like it was yesterday.

“What a funny looking airplane with, wait a minute, are those huge donuts instead of tires?!” I pointed out the obvious and burst into laughter.

What a fabulous introduction into my ignorance and naivety, wouldn’t you agree?

Every time I recall this memory I laugh even harder because I had no idea how much I was going to fall for that airplane.

With mixed sentiments I jumped in and let Jimmy the Squirrel be the Captain of the flight. That day was life-changing for me.

“This is the way I wish to live from now on!” I yelled into the space of the cockpit with my mic away from my mouth so the wish stayed a secret (until now). And so it was.

Since then there have been a lot of marvelous flying adventures, short trips, long trips, STOL competitions, fly-ins, and also a lot of learning.

“We are wheels up by 8 a.m. tomorrow morning,” Jimmy the Squirrel announced. 

“Wonderful!” I yelled back into the hangar with a smile on my face.

Every time I get this type of holler I know it means another flying adventure with our friend and wingman Jerry. Time to dive into my check lists and get my stuff ready. With my efficient routines I am quite low maintenance when it comes to these spontaneous trips. Weather: Check! Pre-flight: Check! Check lists: Check! 

• Destination: Utah’s Salt Flats. 
• Aviators: Jimmy the Squirrel and Jerry.
• Photographer and documentarist: Me.
• Aircraft: Aviat Husky A-1B-200 and Javron PA18 Super Cub replica.
• Mission: Flying above the crispy white surface of salt flats while taking some cool photos.

Smells Like Adventure

Bush planes are some birds, let me tell you. They may not be the fastest aircraft out there, however, they make up for speed in the adventure department. These planes are built for harsh outdoor conditions and the wilderness fits them like a glove. Smelling adventure yet? 

Since nature very rarely offers well-manicured surfaces and sufficient runways, these birds must allow for short takeoffs and landings. “Runways optional” — a quote on my favorite refrigerator sticker — probably describes these birds the best in only two words. 

Jimmy’s bird, a Husky made by Aviat Aircraft in Wyoming, is equipped with a 200-hp Lycoming IO-360-A1D engine that offers 149 mph top speed and 140 mph cruising speed. Forward thrust is secured by a mighty MTV 15 82.7-inch composite propeller.

To ensure smooth landings on surfaces where other airplanes would sink or even lose their gear, tundra tires are a must. Yes, those big donuts I was originally laughing about. Jimmy’s Husky lands softly on 31-inch Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires that are supplemented by an ABI 3200 tailwheel to secure flotation and bounce-free landings that stick.

Docile, forgiving, and easy-to-fly, the Aviat Husky is definitely a reliable, safe, and fun bird that stole my heart.

A slight contrast to Jimmy’s Husky is Jerry’s Javron Super Cub, which does not come from a factory. This bright yellow bird is a homebuilt and what an airplane it is. A factory-new 200-hp Continental Motors Titan X-370 powers this bird, allowing it to fly at the maximum true air speed of 117 mph.

Equipped with 31-inch Alaskan Bushwheel tundra tires supplemented by a set of Black Ops shock landing gear suspension made by ACME, Jerry’s airplane is a wonderful companion to Jimmy’s Husky for backcountry flying.

An elegant dark graphite carbon fiber spinner over a Catto fixed-pitch propeller is a beautiful touch that attracts the lens of every photographer. Jerry’s Javron Super Cub is a looker and a winner of an EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019 Outstanding Workmanship Award.

Different in origin, same in spirit. Once again, these two backcountry birds were happily roaring in the sky together.

Wide open spaces, wilderness, and nature — that is what these bush flying airplanes love the most. You give them what they desire and they will reward you with an ultimate flying adventure: Beautiful places that can be accessed only by air.

What wonderful sights and moments we experienced at the near-by Salt Flats. A few touch-and-goes, a few circles above the crispy white surface while optimizing the performance of the birds, playful posing for my camera, and the morning turned to an early afternoon. Time to fly back.

So long, wide open spaces! We shall be back again soon.