South to Panama City

[Jerry Gaston]

Am planning a trip with the Baja Bush Pilots to Panama in January 'o5. Will be leaving Bozeman sometime Jan 6 or 7 and will probably go byway of Cheyenne Wyo,Colo Springs Co, and into the panhandle of Texas on my way to Brownsville TX. Any suggestion on where to stop and get fuel both for the plane and my body?

[Steve Pierce]

Jerry your always welcome here in Graham RPH. Good gas prices, two resteraunts across the street from the airport and a place to crash if needed. I keep the grass cut on the west side of 17/35 for real airplanes to land on.

[bill willcutts]

Try Harris Aviation in Greeley. Good gas prices and a goood airport restaurant. Also a straight shot between chy and cos. Call when you get here and would love to eat lunch with you. Bill

[Jerry Gaston]

Steve and Bill Look for me about the 6th or 7th of Jan. Give me your phone numberws and I'll cll when I get close.

[Jerry Gaston]

Steve Was checking my WAC charts last night and was wondering how one flys in Texas without busting the MOA's they are everywhere. I'll be coming down just east of Midland on my way to
Brownville.

[Steve Pierce]

Check altitudes and times. Most are high altitude or not restricted.

[bob turner]

Are MOAS now "bustable"? In olden times they were a lot like Alert areas - just stay awake while within. When in west Texas I follow roads a lot - used to be at 200 feet. A little higher lately . . .

[WhiskeyMike]

If you stop near San Antonio, about 20 miles SW you'll find Castroville. Lots of nice people, a courtesy car and an intersting state of Texas run Inn.

Good gas prices, and a bunch of nice tailwheel people.

At Brownsville, I 've been treated very well at Southmost Aviation.There is also an very interesting picture on the wall taken out the back of a C-206 towing another C-206 with a blown engine.

If your going south through Mexico, Aeropuerto del Norte in Monterrey (MMAN) is a legal first stop for customs and immigration, and although a bit out of your way, it's a LOT nicer than Matamoros. It is considered the most progressively run field in Mexico, although the DGAC is trying to beef up their PR, and have even issued a guidebook to flying through Mexico. MMAN is also the one of 2 places (The other's Cancun) where you can pay gas by credit card. If you overnight in MTY, stay at the Best Western Royal Courts. It's inexpensive, clean and English is spoken.

You may also see our PA-12 there on the west side. There's a couple of PA-18's and a 12 at MMAN, plus a Ryan PT-22, a P-51 a T-6 and several Stearmans.

Anyone needing any help about flying in Mexico is free to e-mail me.

That's all folks.....

[Jerry Gaston]

Thanks Stearman If I had your phone number I'd give you a call when I get near there.

[Jerry Gaston]

We here in the States don't know what we have compared to the flying south of the border. On my trip to Panama I learned alot about meeting the rules of each country we visited. They (Central America countries) don't trust crosscountry pilots and it seems that they do everything in their power to complicate your life and discourage you from flying. It cost me over $300 in bribes to simply leave certain airports on time. And every where you stop it cost user fees for landing, tie down, airport fees and passenger fees. Some time as little as $5 and sometimes as much as $50 just for a fuel stop. We should be aware of what could happen here to us general aviation pilots if we become complacent and don't speak out when airports are closed and fees are imposed with out just cause.
Any way it is good to be back in the States where freedom really does ring.

[Steve Pierce]

And to think you made it out of Graham for the cost of buying me lunch. What a country. Enjoyed the visit. Always nice to put a face with a name. Drop back by anytime.

[Jerry Gaston]

Steve You can count on it.

[murph]

Hey Jerry,

Welcome back. I hope your trip was great. It was nice having you visit the lodge. I tried to call you from Phoenix, but had lost your cell number. Come back any time and we'll cook you another ribeye.

murph

[Jerry Gaston]

Murphy The hight light of my trip was visiting you guys at the hunting camp. I really enjoyed watching you do all the cooking. Your quite a hand and think it would be good to schedule a flyin and show some of these northern boys Texas hospitality extraordinair! I'm looking for one of those camp stoves for you and hopefully I can bring it down instea of mailing.
Thanks again for the fun stay.

[WhiskeyMike]

------------------------------------------------------------------------We here in the States don't know what we have compared to the flying south of the border. On my trip to Panama I learned alot about meeting the rules of each country we visited. They (Central America countries) don't trust crosscountry pilots and it seems that they do everything in their power to complicate your life and discourage you from flying. It cost me over $300 in bribes to simply leave certain airports on time. And every where you stop it cost user fees for landing, tie down, airport fees and passenger fees. Some time as little as $5 and sometimes as much as $50 just for a fuel stop. We should be aware of what could happen here to us general aviation pilots if we become complacent and don't speak out when airports are closed and fees are imposed with out just cause.

Right on----

Some day you guys will read about me being in jail for having choked someone to death here in ole Mexico. I just finished 4 days and 22 hourstowing banners in the AgCat, and some people, at small airports were wonderful, but in places like Acapulco, it's like dealing with rats biting your feet. I gave the fueler a $10 tip, and gassed up my own airplane. Today he forgot I existed and it took a mere 2.5 hours for the fuel truck to arrive.

I guess I really ought to wear a white shirt and black tie with epaulets, even if they become oily beyond wearing -just to get my "respect"

God bless the USA, oh yeah, and Texas too!

Gotta go, the electricity is out again.

Send lawyers, guns and money...........