Jacket Winners2019
Dan Wood 100% Andy Pomeroy 100% Scott Hunziker 100% Mary Ann Mc Clellan (100% earned in 2020) Jim Mc Clellan (100% earned in 2020) Greg Sykes 100% Jim Murphy 100% |
2020
Christine Gilbertson Kim Gilbertson Brian Behrend (100% in '21) Lynn Whimpey 100% Debbie Gryniuk 100% Joe Gryniuk 100% Doug Pflugradt 100% Tyler Finn 100% Don Fitzpatrick 100% June Fitzpatrick 100% Richard Edgerton 100% Lynn Wyatt Jon & Dakota (1st K9) Counsell 100% |
As of May 27, 2022 we had 110 participating airports, plus a bonus airport! Acquiring 100 stamps (90% of participating airports) earns you a flight jacket!
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Fly Washington Passport Program High Achievers
As stamps are collected, achievements are unlocked.
And More Fly Washington Passport Program adventures...
Jim and Mary Ann McClellan |
Brian Behrend |
Thoughts on the program from pilot Lynn Wyatt
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Thoughts on the program from Don and June Fitzpatrick:
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I fly a 61' 172 Skyhawk and have it at Okanogan Legion S35.
Really don't have a favorite airport but there is a great restaurant at Richland, just south of fuel pumps, that serves Cajun food. Draw back is they close at 14:00. Most challenging and most memorable was probably to Easton (ESW), Bandera (4W0), and down to Ranger Creek (21W) then home. Ranger is not conducive to standard patterns and tighter than normal canyon walls but beautiful with Rainier, the river and highway below. The scenery all the way is beautiful and especially swinging around and the views of Mount Rainier. The weather was beautiful and no winds to cope with. Rather unusual. The worst thing I encountered was I flew with another pilot in his plane down to Little Goose (16W) and a couple of other airports and when we got over to Lower Granite (00W) I discovered that I had left my Passport Book back at Little Goose. Lost some time but worked out OK. Broke a golden rule, "PAY ATTENTION DUMMY". Also watch for deer on those two airports--had to pull up on Little Goose for a bunch on the runway. I really like this program , it has inspired me to fly a little more and visit airports that I would have never gone into. Some no reason to go back. Met mostly nice folks also a few grumps. Also I have seen some pilots fly into S35 that had no idea this part of Washington existed. They were surprised to see that we have asphalt and cement in this part of the state. To the sponsors--thanks for being a part of and the reason this program can exist. General Aviation has a hard enough time and your support sure doesn't hurt. Thanks also Tim and Angie for your support to the program. |
We did our flying in our current aircraft, a Cessna 206 H model, turbocharged. We have less than 500 hours on it. We bought it with 74 hours on it. We have updated it with stainless steel exhaust (due to a requirement to inspect the exhaust every 25 hours). We have also added the Sportsman STOL package, vortex generators, and AOA heads up package. Just for your information, we have taken out the rear two seats because we don't haul six people. We can easily put them back of course, but we have stored them in a mouse proof box because we seldom haul 6 people. We are so proud of our 206.
Our home base is in a hangar where we used to have our chapter meeting and hope to again after the coronavirus. Heated, counter for potluck dinners, sink for dishes, screen for films, etc. Twisp is the airport for most of the general aviation aircraft in the Methow Valley. It is about 25 hangars, on leased land from the town of Twisp. We are right next door, on fee simple land (with through the fence access). We support the Twisp Airport events, and for five years (when we were located at the Winthrop Smokejumper base) we had fly-ins that were sponsored by us and the O'Keefes. Our favorite airport would be Stehekin. Our most challenging flight was around the Peninsula when we could get into some, but not all airports. We had to file IFR to get to our next airport further south due to bad weather. We missed lading at three airports that were within our reach but protected by weather. That is the reason that I had to go to the Peninsula to get my last airports in my passport on the day of my last flight. The Highlight of the program was being able to land at Sea-Tac on the center runway, with no traffic due to Covid19, no landing fee, and a very friendly FBO. Most memorial flight was not for me to get a stamp, but to help Andy Pomeroy get his last stamp (for his first passbook) by flying with him to Stehekin. On that trip we had a great lunch at the bakery and were able to get a new member for WPA. When we went to Avey Field on the border there was no stamp and we later learned that the airport was not included. Being a relatively short field with very tall trees, we were disappointed. But we took a picture and put it in the passport anyway. The program did inspire me to fly more and to renew what I had done 18 years ago. It brought back lots of old memories. It also inspired us to make stamps for the Backcountry Seminar and Flying program that the Methow Valley chapter did summer of 2019. That made it possible for about 35 pilots to get stamps that weren't a formal part of the program and set them off as something special. They loved it! We really appreciated the sponsors and I think I realize the tremendous amount of work you have put into the program. I have told lots of non-aviators about it and they are also impressed. It was a good way for WPA to encourage flying and give another benefit. |