The Wizardry of Oz

By CURTIS PENNER

Wizardry: Surprising and/or clever accomplishment. Requiring significant skill.

Oz: Short for the Ozarks, an area of low mountains in northwestern Arkansas.

Put them together and you get FLY OZ.

Based out of Louise M. Thaden Field (KVBT) in Bentonville, Arkansas, the organization has set up a cooperative effort between private airstrip owners and the Recreational Aviation Foundation (RAF) to make the Ozarks area of Arkansas a flying destination.

The organization’s ultimate goal is to become the “most accessible region for recreational flying in the U.S.”

FLY OZ was added to my bucket list after seeing a booth at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh a couple of years ago.

I was immediately intrigued by the organization, so a friend and I decided to see for ourselves. We flew south from our base in Manitoba, Canada, Oct. 1, 2024, to check it out.

Previous backcountry trips, including one with similar geography to airstrips in the Smoky and Appalachian Mountains a few years ago, had me confident in my ability to handle whatever Arkansas could throw at us.

However, as we have all learned, just when you think you know it all is when you realize how limited your knowledge, skill, and experience actually is.

Looking back, the word to describe this Ozarks trip would be “surprising.”

For instance the airstrips.

Short, uphill, downhill, and obstacles…I’ve seen them all before. But side slopes?

I’ve never seen one that is both uphill and downhill, with a saddle in the middle, and 
banana shaped. Welcome to Thunder Ridge Ranch Airport (45AR).

After a non-eventful landing, I continued taxiing up to the far end of the runway, turned, and started the downhill takeoff back towards the saddle. I was anticipating the plane would move to my right (down-slope). However, the tail went that way and the nose headed for the trees on the left and things got interesting really quickly.

That was very nearly my undoing, but fortunately my Bearhawk Patrol had enough power to get airborne before things got completely out of hand.

I learned right there that a side slope acts like a crosswind, and the tail goes with the slope and the nose points to the hill. No matter how much we think we know, flying can serve up humble pie anytime.

Then there were the steep grades.

Banks Ranch Airport (62AR) has five unique runways. Log Ride is a 650-foot strip that climbs about 80 feet (a 12% grade) from south to north. After landing uphill and taxiing to the top, I turned around on the flat area at the top for the downhill takeoff.

Simple, right?

Not really. The runway drops away so fast that it’s impossible to tell where it is. All you can see is the sky, and once you go over the edge, you are committed.

I shut down, climbed out, walked to the edge to set a target, then got back in the plane — about three or four times — before actually pushing the throttle forward.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the takeoff run was much longer than anticipated.

Why?

The tail could not go down when the stick was pulled back because the slope was so steep. It was already on the ground, even though the airplane was pointing down. This disconcerting experience was another new one in the logbook!

And let’s talk about the views. They are, simply, amazing.

The privilege of flying Alaska’s Denali, Idaho’s Frank Church, and Utah’s red rock country had made me somewhat jaded. However, the amazing vista at John Harris Field (AR05) was a completely unforeseen bonus.

The landscape dropping away under us lifting off Runway 28 at Trigger Gap Airport (17A) was another unforgettable view.

The off-airport opportunities also were unexpected. The Arkansas River flows through the area, and it offers additional opportunities for memorable experiences. We had not anticipated gravel bar landings on this trip.

And the facilities were top-notch.

Camping was made easy with facilities like the showers at Petit Jean Park Airport (KMPJ), the fireplace and shelter at Trigger Gap (17A), an air-conditioned lounge at Sugar Creek Airport (58AR), and the courtesy vehicle, restaurant, and store at Byrds Backcountry Airstrip (51AR). Carroll County Airport (4M1) had fuel and courtesy vehicles to get into town for supplies.

And don’t forget all the other great recreational activities.

Gastons Airport (3M0) has great fishing, hiking is everywhere, and floating down the river is another popular activity.

The big surprise for me was that Arkansas is a world class, premier cycling destination. Did you know that Arkansas lists 1,485 bike trails? Me either.

The people

It’s always about the people, right?

The airstrips are almost all privately owned. The gift of their use to the aviation community is something unique and precious. Not only does this make FLY OZ possible, but meeting these people was a wonderful surprise.

As Canadians, seeing a homemade backyard cannon fire after it was loaded with 1/2 pound of gunpowder, hearing an Air Force veteran’s stories, having people tell us that the snake in the swimming hole next to the Richland Creek Airport (4AR9) runway was a water moccasin, and the man expounding on his chestnut trees were all unique and memorable.

And, of course, sharing it with friends is another priceless privilege. In my case, my passenger Rick is a photographer and videographer. His video of our experience can be seen on YouTube.

During the Ozarks adventure, we flew 2,800 miles in 24.3 hours over seven days and visited 16 unforgettable FLY OZ airstrips.

FLY OZ is the consummate illustration of wizardry. Reality surpassed our expectations every day, putting it on a level with other bucket list destinations.

To quote the FLY OZ website: “Northwest Arkansas is a stunning combination of rivers, bluffs, and hills with a relatively low density altitude. Each FLY OZ airstrip is a gift from the landowner to the aviation community.”

I would like to thank the FLY OZ community and the RAF for their roles in promoting backcountry flying and for their efforts in making this special place accessible. The private airstrip landowners that allow access to the aviation community deserve recognition, thanks, and the respectful use of this amazing resource. This special flying opportunity exists because of this very unique cooperation that is without parallel anywhere else.

The Wizard of Oz is a familiar story we all seem to know. A new gem to discover is the Wizardry of OZ.

For more information: FLYOZ.com