Bush Pilots of Alaska

The pilots of Ultima Thule Lodge in Alaska all agree on one thing: Bush flying means total access, total freedom to explore true wilderness. For them "true wilderness" doesn't just mean forests, rivers, and mountains, but places that are still unknown, places nobody has ever explored. Join us as we fly into Wrangell - St Elias National Park and some of the most remote places on earth.
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Пікірлер: 181

  • @enceladus2263
    @enceladus22632 жыл бұрын

    I watched this video 3 years ago and said to myself, “I should have become a pilot.” Started my PPL a few months ago.

  • @wowitsjames

    @wowitsjames

    2 жыл бұрын

    Same here. This was the video that did it. I'm a few hours away from my first solo. "Freedom. Pure freedom." I always remember that quote from this video.

  • @enceladus2263

    @enceladus2263

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@wowitsjames get it dude. Good luck!!

  • @ghost8050

    @ghost8050

    2 жыл бұрын

    me too! Starting in a few weeks

  • @oppoandroidf1174

    @oppoandroidf1174

    Жыл бұрын

    👍👍👍👌👌😊😊

  • @nighthiker8872

    @nighthiker8872

    Жыл бұрын

    Have a lot of fun being a corp duster.

  • @theartofpixels
    @theartofpixels4 жыл бұрын

    Hey buddy, I just want you to know that I look back at this video so much. It truly is one of the most beautiful short films on flying. Thanks for putting the time into making this.

  • @btrangbang

    @btrangbang

    4 жыл бұрын

    Moe Adventures same!

  • @antonwestergaard5211

    @antonwestergaard5211

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah same for me :)

  • @SporlederArt

    @SporlederArt

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the kind words. I find myself coming back to watch this video too and think about how lucky I actually was to film this. Amazing experience in an Amazing land.

  • @kenhurley4441

    @kenhurley4441

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@SporlederArt Possible update on the airplanes? Engine, gallons of fuel, fly time. Kinda behind the scenes info. Oh and you did an execellent job of filming! Very comfortable to watch!

  • @UppoffX

    @UppoffX

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@steveallen648 no

  • @migmindy
    @migmindy4 жыл бұрын

    This video made me start on my PPL last year, and convinced me to visit Alaska. Thank u

  • @jlowknight

    @jlowknight

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hahaha I did the same! I lived in Alaska for few years but no flying experience. Now that I have a license I want to go back to learn proper Bush flying. Finding a mentor can be challenging.

  • @ericohara2582

    @ericohara2582

    3 жыл бұрын

    I also did the same when Paul Claus featured in a National Geographic program in the '90s here in the UK. Learned to fly taildraggers and flew from a farm strip, it is the best thing I ever did thanks to Paul and Alaska. Have not made it to Alaska, better hurry up before I get too old! Look at lake Hood livecam here on you tube to keep you inspired!

  • @vickimeyers2672

    @vickimeyers2672

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jlowknight best place to search for a mentor is to ask around at the small bush plane airport located between Willow and Talkeetna.

  • @lucashpcortes
    @lucashpcortes Жыл бұрын

    I am bush pilot here in Amazon forest in Brazil flying the c182. I would like to know this reality of Alaska, very similar to ours. Fly loaded, very short runways. But here it is in the middle of the jungle and the very hot weather is constant. Someday I’ll fly there!

  • @annoybot
    @annoybot4 жыл бұрын

    @6:22 ideal "safety kit"

  • @han1218
    @han12182 жыл бұрын

    "True wilderness, where no one has ever been." Grizzly Bear: "Am I a joke to you?"

  • @08Maxwell1
    @08Maxwell1 Жыл бұрын

    Loved your video. Was excited to see the still B&W photo of bush pilot Bob Reeve that you included. In the 1930's Bob was Alaska's first pilot to land on glaciers and later founded Reeve Aleutian Airways. In the mid 1960's Bob and his wife Tillie were our neighbors on 11th street in Anchorage. They lived about 3 doors down from us. In winter I used to shovel their sidewalks and driveway to earn money to snow ski weekends at Arctic Valley or Alyeska. Bob was one of my boyhood hero's and I still treasure the book "Glacier Pilot" (his story) which he and Tillie autographed for me in 1967. Bush pilots are a special breed and your video brought back many good memories. In those days everyone in Alaska seemed to fly. My Dad was a pilot, my sister (before she turned 20) and I flew later.

  • @potatoking6876
    @potatoking68762 жыл бұрын

    This was beautiful. It confirmed that I want to become a bush pilot in Alaska one day. Who ever made this did an amazing job. These pilots are living the life!

  • @Postelnikov
    @Postelnikov Жыл бұрын

    You need to get “be aware sign”. I watched your video 3 years ago. 1,5 year ago received my PPL license. 3 weeks ago got seaplane rating. In a month will start my mountain rating (closest to bush flight we can get in Europe). Also I am in my instrument rating studding stage now. After will go to Alaska to learn from bush pilots guys. Be aware. After watching this video your life may become awesome!

  • @scottsporleder5337

    @scottsporleder5337

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Artem! This comment means a lot to me. It's amazing to see how many people this video has touched. Gotta thank everyone up at Ultima Thule though, they're the real badasses... they just let me document their talent.

  • @ericohara2582
    @ericohara25823 жыл бұрын

    Many years ago I watched a National Geographic, Jared Leto "Alaska's Bush Pilot" film with Paul flying. I was lucky to be flying tailwheel from a UK grass strip and as a relatively young newly qualified private pilot, the film was total inspiration. I am not flying for the moment, but search regularly, longing for the old National Geo film somewhere on you tube, all to no avail .... Finding this has made my day.. and again it has Paul and now his grown up family who were small in the old film. This will be my top "go to" aviation film...Thank you..

  • @kodeykinder20
    @kodeykinder205 жыл бұрын

    What an inspiration!

  • @riley6453
    @riley64533 жыл бұрын

    This video made me drop out of university

  • @josephippolito1402
    @josephippolito14022 жыл бұрын

    Salute to the men and women of the bush pilot industry

  • @jjlovesjam
    @jjlovesjam3 жыл бұрын

    Such incredible story telling!!

  • @167curly
    @167curly Жыл бұрын

    One of the high points in a visit to Alaska 25 years ago was a flight from Talkeetna(?) in a supercharged Cessna with retractable skis, carrying 5 passengers + the pilot to land on Denali at 9,000 ft. The "landing strip" was marked by ski boards up-ended in the snow. I remember the highest outhouse in Alaska being pointed out to us some height above our landing area.

  • @e.f.7225
    @e.f.72252 жыл бұрын

    Absolutety fantastic. Love this short film.

  • @jakegreenberg9357
    @jakegreenberg93574 жыл бұрын

    Great short film. Hope there's another!

  • @kenhurley4441
    @kenhurley44413 жыл бұрын

    The "26" thumbs down are from Cessna owners!

  • @43963
    @439633 жыл бұрын

    I had the privilige of getting my Supercub Tailwheel conversion this spring. And yesss, I can tell there's nothing more rewarding than flying a supercub!

  • @michaelshan7141
    @michaelshan7141 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing such wonderful video! Really appreciate you and people in the video, Wow, all of you open my eyes and soul!!! Thank you!!!

  • @KevinRudisill
    @KevinRudisill2 жыл бұрын

    Love it, such a good video of what fun is to be had out there!!! Great video, sick footage!!!!

  • @dovidstaples9985
    @dovidstaples99852 жыл бұрын

    This is incredible.

  • @outcold1982
    @outcold19823 жыл бұрын

    This is the most epic Backcountry video on KZread.

  • @kevinphillips9408
    @kevinphillips9408 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @pnwRC.
    @pnwRC.3 жыл бұрын

    FANTASTIC video!

  • @bushpilotexplorer1920
    @bushpilotexplorer19205 жыл бұрын

    A VERY good video, nice work fellow bush pilots.

  • @TimezoneJunkies
    @TimezoneJunkies6 жыл бұрын

    Great video, super interesting to watch. Those guys have a pretty awesome job! Thanks for sharing this!

  • @TheFlightLevel
    @TheFlightLevel4 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful sites! Yes, the SuperCub represents the key to unlimited freedom in the wilderness!

  • @clarencehopkins7832
    @clarencehopkins78327 ай бұрын

    Excellent stuff bro

  • @abbieamavi
    @abbieamavi Жыл бұрын

    I love this so much. I’m currently a flight instructor, and my dream plane is either a rail dragged with massive tundra tires, or a Kodiak. I know it’s incredibly cold, but through the video it just looks like pure bliss 😄 thanks for sharing!

  • @peterpan1748

    @peterpan1748

    7 ай бұрын

    My dream life!

  • @billycroacker
    @billycroacker2 жыл бұрын

    A spectacular short movie.

  • @stephenpickrell2008
    @stephenpickrell20083 жыл бұрын

    Awesome video. Thanks for sharing. Blue Skies

  • @PaddyPilot
    @PaddyPilot2 жыл бұрын

    Such a quality video 👌

  • @billjesstaylor
    @billjesstaylor5 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Nice job guys and gals! When is the next vid??!!

  • @scharliedavenport
    @scharliedavenport3 жыл бұрын

    Ben Gray is my spirit animal.

  • @marwinsteiner5817
    @marwinsteiner58172 жыл бұрын

    After reading through Ruedi Homberger's photo album of the Wrangell Mountains and the Ultima Thule Lodge, it's cool to see what became of the airplanes, but most importantly, what became of the real stars of the show: the people. Really cool!

  • @bartrabiej
    @bartrabiej Жыл бұрын

    Amazing!

  • @SwampDonkey530
    @SwampDonkey5303 жыл бұрын

    Super Cub is hands and feet..the way it should be. Great video 🤘🇨🇦

  • @Bokaj01
    @Bokaj01 Жыл бұрын

    6:23 The Snickers is gonna lure in the hungry bear and that Glock is just gonna tickle it lol :O - awesome scenarios!

  • @rodrigoavila8371
    @rodrigoavila8371 Жыл бұрын

    amazing view, amazing planes that u have.

  • @okthennone
    @okthennone2 жыл бұрын

    Amazing

  • @levinitabarlow9569
    @levinitabarlow95693 жыл бұрын

    Woooow!

  • @tombombadil3185
    @tombombadil31856 жыл бұрын

    When I worked up there I heard often that "there are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots". Still, there is nothing better than a Beaver on floats in the bush.

  • @troyottosen8722

    @troyottosen8722

    4 жыл бұрын

    Tom as a longtime Alaskan, you nailed it! Alaska,no place compares!!!

  • @stevenscummy1458

    @stevenscummy1458

    3 жыл бұрын

    It would be awesome to live like this, I would love to fly these things but I just wish I was given some magic pass to always be safe doing it.

  • @fredericparet5048
    @fredericparet50485 ай бұрын

    Alaska, my dream...❤❤❤

  • @thegreatwebstar
    @thegreatwebstar2 жыл бұрын

    6:20 lol snickers, sunblock and occasionally .45

  • @frostbiten
    @frostbiten3 жыл бұрын

    CANT WAIT FOR DEADSTICK!

  • @espr7564
    @espr75643 жыл бұрын

    Sounds like the place to be ❤👍👍👍

  • @MrJamesOcean
    @MrJamesOcean4 жыл бұрын

    Question for Ben Gray, where did you get the chest holster? And do you wear it while you are flying? Does the seat belt not interfere with it?

  • @AlphaGolf1

    @AlphaGolf1

    3 жыл бұрын

    Why does it matter ?

  • @captainskippy6622
    @captainskippy66226 жыл бұрын

    So very beautiful! How could someone hitch a ride for a sightseeing trip? I’ll be up that way later in the year.

  • @SilvaAdventures

    @SilvaAdventures

    4 жыл бұрын

    Captain Skippy only $8500 a night...

  • @NoahJohnson7452
    @NoahJohnson7452Ай бұрын

    My dad used to work as a PJ rescuing downed bush pilots in Alaska

  • @patricemarie2960
    @patricemarie29606 жыл бұрын

    VERY COOL SHARING! ... THANKS FOR THE POSTING!

  • @musoseven8218
    @musoseven8218 Жыл бұрын

    Amazing video, amazing flying and an amazing place.👍😊✌️ Interesting name, where did that come from?🤔🤔

  • @jacobbrown886
    @jacobbrown8863 жыл бұрын

    this. this is my dream.

  • @barbarasim2357
    @barbarasim23573 жыл бұрын

    I was booked and paid up to go to Alaska and fly to the arctic in June of 2020. Not able to because of the virus. Still home in Nz. Wonder if I'll ever get.

  • @xxpatriarcadopunchxxowo3596
    @xxpatriarcadopunchxxowo35964 жыл бұрын

    ke mal amigo dou redou buenardo

  • @arkaprava2561
    @arkaprava25612 жыл бұрын

    Somebody can you tell me the name of the song? It was awesome !

  • @mrthomaslaux1
    @mrthomaslaux15 жыл бұрын

    How much is avgas on the north slope?

  • @alexanderlawson5973
    @alexanderlawson59734 жыл бұрын

    what happened to the other video? with almost a million views

  • @SporlederArt

    @SporlederArt

    4 жыл бұрын

    They had illegally stolen our video. This is the original video, I shot it in July about 2 years ago. Hope you enjoy it :)

  • @sebastienandlauer5467
    @sebastienandlauer54672 жыл бұрын

    what pair of sunglasses and helmet do you recommend to start in aviation ?

  • @vladnedelea05
    @vladnedelea054 жыл бұрын

    i'm sold. where do i sign up? goal setting: fly and land up there within 2 years.

  • @vickimeyers2672
    @vickimeyers2672 Жыл бұрын

    The float plane base on Lake Spenard in Anchorage, Alaska has the highest number of float planes docked than any other in the nation.

  • @hellasketch6523
    @hellasketch65232 жыл бұрын

    i get out of the military after 8 healthy years this month! Ive decided im going to go to flight school with aspirations of eventually getting here

  • @mickemike2148
    @mickemike21482 жыл бұрын

    Re-watching and dreaming.

  • @silvercat3243
    @silvercat32433 жыл бұрын

    The opening song...whats the name?

  • @brycebedell7143
    @brycebedell71432 жыл бұрын

    hay i wanna be a bush pilot how much do you guys mack

  • @faceluckcell9484
    @faceluckcell94842 жыл бұрын

    hoLa soy macazzar city super cub is hands and feet incredible story

  • @joriol1
    @joriol13 ай бұрын

    Sunscreen, snickers and a .45..... 😅😂

  • @blakejake9618
    @blakejake96185 жыл бұрын

    What is the song name? I can’t find it anywhere please help!

  • @cedricgarnier8641

    @cedricgarnier8641

    5 жыл бұрын

    It's Queen of Art by James Forest. Cheers from France, man

  • @flyboymcd314
    @flyboymcd3142 жыл бұрын

    What’s the name of the intro song?😅

  • @daviddonohue665
    @daviddonohue6653 жыл бұрын

    recommend 10mm instead of .45

  • @jeffbergstrom
    @jeffbergstrom Жыл бұрын

    Is there more to this? This feels like the opening to a documentary. Incomplete as is.

  • @ToasterStud
    @ToasterStud3 жыл бұрын

    Gotta love it, when you're actually apart of the food chain. 😂🤣

  • @johanw2267
    @johanw22675 жыл бұрын

    I thought nothing of this aircraft (when flying flight sims for years) until I saw bush pilot videos landing and starting on a 5m distance.

  • @einarsharpe7637

    @einarsharpe7637

    4 жыл бұрын

    Johan W the can do it with 3.5 m

  • @nandkumarb
    @nandkumarb4 жыл бұрын

    What plane make and model are these. ??

  • @jaseg6673

    @jaseg6673

    3 жыл бұрын

    Piper Super cubs

  • @chhris1994
    @chhris19942 ай бұрын

    I probably come here every 6 months to review the comments and see if anyone found Ben Gray’s holster. I need to find that brand!

  • @andrewwhyte3376
    @andrewwhyte33764 жыл бұрын

    Does anyone know the name of the song playing in the intro?

  • @Roll1nThund3r

    @Roll1nThund3r

    4 жыл бұрын

    Queen of art

  • @Roll1nThund3r

    @Roll1nThund3r

    4 жыл бұрын

    By James Forrest

  • @williamfaulkner1917
    @williamfaulkner1917 Жыл бұрын

    Where is that plateau at 2:39 located?

  • @scottsporleder5337

    @scottsporleder5337

    Жыл бұрын

    It's in Icy Bay

  • @bober121
    @bober1213 жыл бұрын

    Why Ben has gun?

  • @MikhailProskalov
    @MikhailProskalov4 жыл бұрын

    They have a dream jobs...

  • @mattf49006
    @mattf490064 жыл бұрын

    Super Cubs are a great airplane..but with the new Carbon Cubs and various innovative bush aircraft..the old Cubs are still a 1930s design..maybe 1950s technology...

  • @danielvillada8866

    @danielvillada8866

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah but still some of the best out there for how old they are

  • @jereynolds_9977

    @jereynolds_9977

    Жыл бұрын

    an example of it ant broke don't fix it

  • @brunoluna4102
    @brunoluna41029 ай бұрын

    jeep of the sky? so they break down all the time?

  • @MICHAEL_1989
    @MICHAEL_19895 жыл бұрын

    MR• B•G• ANDREWS TRUE AK• WILDERNESS • 😘~ on your forhead•♡x

  • @SGTSnakeUSMC
    @SGTSnakeUSMC4 жыл бұрын

    Be safe and hopefully no bears hug the cubs!

  • @VictorHernandez-ec8og
    @VictorHernandez-ec8og3 жыл бұрын

    HOLA SOY DE HONDURAS, DESDE MUY NIñO RECUERDO MI PASION POR LOS AVIONES MI MADRE NO ME DEJO INGRESAR A LA FUERZA AEREA DE MI PAIS. ME GUSTARIA OBTENER UN PLANO PARA LA CONSTRUCCION DE UN AVION EXPERIMENTAL COMO LOS DE USTEDES. ESPERO UNA RESPUESTA SATISFACTORIA. SOY DE HABLA HISPANO USE TRADUCTOR.

  • @airmackeeee6792
    @airmackeeee67925 жыл бұрын

    So do they have to fly their own fuel in?

  • @BetterAircraftFabric

    @BetterAircraftFabric

    4 жыл бұрын

    yes, sure! NPS does not allow them to use a sled behind a tractor in the winter on the ice of the river to haul in fuel or other stuff, so everything has to be flown in... Regards from Alaska.

  • @airmackeeee6792

    @airmackeeee6792

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@BetterAircraftFabric Thanks mate!

  • @jrdeckard3317
    @jrdeckard33175 жыл бұрын

    If that engine quits in the air, or won't start out in the bush, the pucker factor would be quite high.

  • @TheDrywallogist
    @TheDrywallogist4 жыл бұрын

    45 auto is not grizzly bear protection.

  • @kenhurley4441

    @kenhurley4441

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'd look at a 10mm, 44 mag, or even a couple of gernades!

  • @dadams8086

    @dadams8086

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@kenhurley4441 Bazooka!

  • @Vaw.
    @Vaw.4 жыл бұрын

    2:12 keeps that mf thang on him🙏😤

  • @_r3verie
    @_r3verie3 жыл бұрын

    my dream job. if not, I want to own a bush plane, and get a license

  • @torbenhellborn3175
    @torbenhellborn3175Ай бұрын

    does it HAVE to be so predictible

  • @wild_goose_0285
    @wild_goose_02853 жыл бұрын

    As they say, 9mm kills the body but .45 ACP (.45 Auto) kills the soul. We don't them bears comin' back as zombies.

  • @explorewithme4707
    @explorewithme47072 жыл бұрын

    I don’t think there is much land that is somewhat accessible. That hasn’t been explored at some point. 100’s of years could have gone by tho.

  • @vickimeyers2672

    @vickimeyers2672

    Жыл бұрын

    Look up how many acres comprise Alaska then compare that number to the state's population. May give you a better idea as to how much of my home state has yet to be explored.

  • @user-or8ij9uy3k
    @user-or8ij9uy3k2 жыл бұрын

    寒いからね1発でエンジンかかりませんね❗

  • @patricemarie2960
    @patricemarie29606 жыл бұрын

    ..... IF YOU CRAVE ADVENTURE? ....WHY NOT? I GUESS? ....... NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART?! LOL! .....Mmmmmmmmmm ..... "FLY BY FEELING!"

  • @LGTheOneFreeMan

    @LGTheOneFreeMan

    5 жыл бұрын

    TRY HITTING THE CAPS LOCK KEY, YOURS SEEMS TO BE STUCK ON. IT'S THE KEY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE KEYBOARD. PLEASE STOP SHOUTING AT US.

  • @mattb9528

    @mattb9528

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@LGTheOneFreeMan lmao

  • @garyvoigt5090
    @garyvoigt50909 ай бұрын

    Ready to go dude. Talks like a kid. 😂😂😂 to proud of himself in front of the camera...😅😅😅

  • @seanrhone5306
    @seanrhone53064 жыл бұрын

    Can't say I've ever tried but a .45 auto against a grizzly?

  • @BetterAircraftFabric

    @BetterAircraftFabric

    4 жыл бұрын

    better than nothing!

  • @seanrhone5306

    @seanrhone5306

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@BetterAircraftFabric Agreed but if I was going to carry a pistol and worried about something like a bear, think I'd go with a .454

  • @ErikCrowKrahe

    @ErikCrowKrahe

    3 жыл бұрын

    I’d rather have 10 well placed shots rather than 6 slower and harder to place shots with a .454 casull. Follow up shots are a bitch, but if it really came down to it I don’t think your odds would be much different between the two.

  • @lounaguez5279
    @lounaguez52793 жыл бұрын

    anyone here after reading the simple wild ?

  • @EdBender
    @EdBender Жыл бұрын

    These people are living the dream... well, too late for me now, maybe in a next life. However, I must point out the 45acp is a poor choice of defense against grizzly bears. It´s a slow, fat projectile with little penetration on tough-skinned animals. I'd choose a 44mag revolver as the minimum. The grizzly is a beast.

  • @beardedbatman225
    @beardedbatman2252 жыл бұрын

    Fucking love airplanes

  • @avail1.
    @avail1.3 жыл бұрын

    fukushima and the James 5:1 rich crowd are screwin it up...