Well, I sent Paulette some pics the other day, and she asked me if I would write a few words describing the story behind the pictures. I told her I would be glad to so here it is:

My buddy Clayton Fisher and I get together in the air from time to time in our well known Oklahoma Chinooks. Well known for various reasons. Here in Oklahoma we’re the only ones with flying Chinooks. We have spread the word though, and there are a few that are being built as I write. One received its airworthiness certificate a few days ago. The builder has asked me to test fly it. Of course he’s seen me fly mine and knows of the story I am about to relate to you. I have other Chinook adventures to tell, but we Okies get a little long winded. See Clayton Fishers Greatest Adventures in the Pilot’s Corner for a few examples.

Anyway, Clayton asked me to fly over to his farm and try out a landing on his short field. By short I mean 600ft. with trees on each end. Not for the faint of heart or the truly smart. But, Clayton does it on a daily basis and I guess he figured after a hundred hrs. of flying the Chinook I was ready.

I brought her in low and slow over the tree tops with two notches of flaps and set down as if it was the most normal thing in the world. I jumped out and walked over to Clayton who was sitting in a lawn chair admiring my handiwork. No sooner had I come over and sat down next to him when he gets this big grin on his face and says, “Well, are you ready for the Big Kahuna?” I get an uneasy feeling and reply with a feeble” I guess so.” He says, “Let’s go!” The next thing you know we’re in our separate planes applying full power to get over that fast approaching row of pear trees and peeling off towards what I don’t know.

In about five minutes we reach the Canadian River at an altitude of 400ft AGL.
Clayton comes over the radio and asks, “Do you see that sand bar off to the left?” I reply that I do and he informs me that he is on a downwind for the sand bar and I’m welcome to follow him in if I’d like! Well my heart starts thumpin' as I’m trying to accept that I can do this even though that sand bar looks awful small. All the while I’m trying to think of what I’m going to say if my plane takes up a permanent parking spot on the river.

Well, as you can see from the pics, after a thrilling landing coming low over the water, I was all smiles. When we got out to stretch, Clayton reminded me that it was for flight capabilities like this that we built our Chinooks. As we walked along the beach I knew I had to get my daughters out here to experience this.

It was not long after this that I got my chance. Early one morning my youngest daughter and I set out to meet Clayton at another sand bar. He had informed us that the fishing had been good lately and to bring our poles. By the way, there is plenty of room in a Chinook to bring two fishing poles, fully rigged, along with bait, tackle box, and your favorite passenger.

After another bush pilot landing, we got out to enjoy a place on the river accessible only to us and the wildlife. The fishing wasn’t too good that morning, but we weren’t to be disappointed. A large snake swam over to say hello. I don’t think he had ever had contact with humans because he swam directly onto the beach not three feet away from us. We studied him and he us. Eventually he slithered away.

Although we didn’t catch any fish, we didn’t mind. The fishing was secondary to the thrill of flying our own airplane wherever we wanted. Especially to places where others cannot go. The Chinook is a go anywhere aircraft. That’s important to us adventurous Okies.

If you’re reading this it means you already have a Beaver or a Chinook and you just can’t get enough. Or it means you would like to have a plane and you’re still trying to pull the trigger. Three years ago I was dreaming just like some of you. I decided to follow my dream. Now I’m living it. Pull the trigger!!!

~ Marty Fint