Backcountry Pilot Shares Breathtaking Collection Of Video

"Chris Clarke" (shiftsandgiggles)
08/15/2014 at 13:15 • Filed to: planelopnik, tips, mad props

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This assembly of amazing flying experiences over the past two years in Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Montana is sure to inspire every viewer to soar like an eagle. Shot exclusively with a Drift action camera and paired with a magical soundtrack, this production will take you to a new world thats right in your back yard.

DISCUSSION (24)

VolksytheBug > Chris Clarke
08/16/2014 at 19:14

That is truly one of the coolest videos I have ever seen. Flying is such a magical thing.

hismiths > Chris Clarke
08/21/2014 at 19:37

It is beautiful, and I have done a LOT of back country flying in Montana and other western states (in fact every one west of the Mississippi except Alaska). ButI do NOT recommend flying low down rivers. People stretch power and communications lines across rivers, and they don't always install high-visibility balls on them. Hitting a wire in a small airplane can (and most probably will) ruin your day/life.

Kaufmania: Mark Webber's Stunt Double > Chris Clarke
08/21/2014 at 19:48

our freedom is not written on piece of paper... Our freedom lies amongst the clouds, promised to us for all time the day man took flight.

The Transporter > Chris Clarke
08/21/2014 at 20:04

Damnit, why does flying have to be so expensive? The only reason why I'm not doing this right now is because of money.

Han-Solo > Chris Clarke
08/21/2014 at 20:19

Suck it drone fan boys. This is how's it's done.

davidj211 > The Transporter
08/21/2014 at 20:44

I took a couple of lessons, and then I said to myself "I'm still paying off my student loans, what the hell am I doing taking up one of the most expensive hobbies out

pintowgn73 > The Transporter
08/21/2014 at 20:49

agreed. I went and did a discovery flight and went over all it would take to get a license, I just can't afford it.

The Transporter > pintowgn73
08/21/2014 at 21:02

I actually managed to go all the way through it and get my PPL. The only thing that is keeping me from flying right now is getting the money together to renew my medical and actually rent the airplane. Hell, if there was an FBO around here that rented Piper Cubs I could forgo the medical and fly it under the Sport Pilot rules. But being a perpetually broke college student even autocrossing once a month is a bit of a luxury.

Ark > Chris Clarke
08/21/2014 at 21:21

*sigh*

God damnit. If I won the lottery tomorrow, I'd drop out of school and spend the rest of my life flying for a living. But, you have to spend years of your life and tens of thousands of dollars just to get lichened to make minimum wage towing an ad banner behind a Cessna, let alone do anything interesting.

Just like racing, there are two ways in. A. Get born into a family of professional pilots with industry connections and ample opportunities to fly, or B. Get born into a family with piles and piles of money.

Rwlong > The Transporter
08/21/2014 at 21:27

You have but one life, do it! Somehow, someway go and do it!

Santa Kimi > The Transporter
08/21/2014 at 22:26

I was in the same boat for quite a while until I found a local FBO that rents an Aeronca Champ. This is about the cheapest flying I can do, but it's still really hard to justify the cost. I'm just going to enjoy it as long as I can, and I must say, I am very much enjoying it.

Moritz > Chris Clarke
08/21/2014 at 23:14

What song is this?!

The Transporter > Santa Kimi
08/21/2014 at 23:26

I'd love to get some taildragger time, especially in a classic like that.

Joneez > Moritz
08/21/2014 at 23:57

His Vimeo account says Dexter Britain, "The Time To Run"

777anon > hismiths
08/22/2014 at 00:11

Agreed, but this wasn't this pilot's first rodeo. His caption on Vimeo says: "DISCLAIMER: This video was shot by an experienced backcountry pilot who pre-flies low-level routes at higher altitudes to check for obstructions. It is not intended to suggest that anyone should fly like this without having the proper background, training, and experience. For those who do, though, it sure is fun! In fact, it's why I learned to fly in the first place."

npg > The Transporter
08/22/2014 at 10:10

Just out of curiosity what kind of rental rates do you have where you are?

Also how much is it to renew your medical? I got my 3rd class for 100 bucks.

Thunder > Chris Clarke
08/22/2014 at 10:22

I've heard IFR stands for "I Follow Roads". "I Follow Rivers", just about low enough to get the wheels damp - that's a new one.

Are there really places in the US where flying well under the 500' minimum for rural areas is actually legal? Other than the thrill, is there a reason to? Granted, if you're CRAZY low you might get a boost from ground effect, but not at the 20-30' shown here. Should you have a problem, obviously convert airspeed into altitude to find a place to put down, but talk about limiting your choices...

PilotMan > Chris Clarke
08/22/2014 at 10:22

That's what I'm talking about!

Atlantian > Chris Clarke
08/22/2014 at 10:31

Lik dis if u cry evertim.

The Transporter > npg
08/22/2014 at 10:45

The cheapest I can find around here is $100/hr. in a 40 year old 172, which isn't really all that bad. But having $100 to blow on a hamburger is kind of a luxury for me right now.

Lufthoon > Thunder
08/22/2014 at 10:47

The 500ft rural areas rule is not an altitude per se, but a distance from persons or property on the ground. As long as you're more than 500 feet away (horizontal or vertical) you're legal everywhere in the U.S., provided the area qualifies as a sparsely populated area.

I agree, low flying does limit your options in the event of an engine failure, however for some work this is necessary. Ag duties require it, as do some animal research tasks. Admittedly this type of flying is great fun, especially with open windows/doors, but one does need to be even more situationally aware than normal.

777anon > Thunder
08/22/2014 at 10:53

Not a single person, vessel, vehicle or structure in that video, except on takeoff and landing. Otherwise he'd have to stay 500' feet away in sparsely populated areas like this. In other words, perfectly legal.

People don't have to fly like this if they don't want to, but for those that do this is what freedom looks like.

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(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

npg > The Transporter
08/22/2014 at 11:11

Understandable. The rates I can get are about the same. 100/hr wet. I could get a bit cheaper if I joined the club but that's 85/mo so I would have to fly more to justify it, which I can't afford at the moment either.

OctaneBlood > Chris Clarke
08/22/2014 at 14:14

To think that just over 100 years ago, not a single human had seen anything like this. Flight is such an amazing thing, and we all take it for granted and complain about it when it's time to head to the airport. This puts the majesty right back into it.