Emery County and the Huntington Airport management on Sept. 25-26 invited the Utah Back Country Pilot’s Association to their airport and made everyone welcome. They worked tirelessly through out this event to keep the visitors happy. Commissioner Gary Kofford is the commissioner responsible for the airport. Commissioner Jeff Horrocks and airport manager Leon DeFriez helped with the event.
Over 30 pilots landed planes at the Huntington-Emery County Airport to enjoy the amenities of Emery County.
Defriez said, “These pilots were very enthusiastic about the reception they received by Emery County people and they are going to bring a larger group next year. The UBCP pilots expect next year to work on improving some of the dirt runways around the county. One pilot rented a hanger from Defriez as a result of this event. This pilot has three planes and will keep one plane here just to fly the Emery County back country air strips”.
Cam Benton came the farthest distance. He flew in a RV4 race plane from Lubbock, Texas. Bart and Mary Jones came from Colorado Springs. Monte Orr arrived from Hay Springs, Nebraska. The Dinosaur Squadron Club flew several planes in from Richfield. Mark and Jackie Johansen, Dwayne and Silvia Breedlove flew their planes in from Duchesne, Utah.
Rob Midgley from Ogden and Art Hunter from Sandy along with Jeff Horrocks and Bill Huntington from Cleveland assisted with the breakfast.
Paul and Linda Bowmar from Escalante, Utah with their Cessna 140, flew several children one at a time out over Huntington and back to the airport. The names of some of the children were Jaymes, Keller, Jescey, Pallin and Monique.
Kenn Kofford, Lana Kofford, Mark Romander and Tracy Jeffs were instrumental in making the Dutch oven cobblers.
Some pilots set up their tents and camped overnight on the edge of the field. Transportation was available for those that wanted to stay in the local motel. Some brought shot guns and did skeet shooting off the runway berm.
Emery County provided the tour of the Museum of the San Rafael, the Saturday morning big breakfast of pancakes, sausage, eggs and Dutch oven potatoes and a variety of drinks such as milk, orange juice, and coffee. They also provided the Saturday evening dessert buffet of Dutch oven peach, pineapple, cherry cobblers and ice cream. Those attending enjoyed the Saturday evening dancing and musical entertainment by the Val Jenson band in the big new airport hangar. The Val Jensen Band was on hand to play many favorite old songs.
There are about 13 back country airstrips in Emery County, some of the places where these pilots intended to land and take off from, were Mexican Mountain, Mineral Canyon, Cedar Mountain and Hidden Splendor. At these scenic locations they would take pictures, hike, explore and some would camp overnight.
Emery County officials said, “Thank you to everyone who attended and made the event the big success that it was. There were over 30 airplanes that flew in. Several people from the local Emery County communities came out to see what was going on. We enjoyed fabulous weather, delicious food, amazing scenery and great company.”
The names of a few others of those attending this fly-in were Steve and Kathy Durtschi of Centerville, Dwayne and Silvia Breedlove of Duchesne, Wendi and Cassidy Knighton of South Jordan, Glendon Hanson of Huntington, Rob Hunter of Bountiful, Bill and Shirley Huntington of Cleveland.
The following is a statement from the Utah Back Country Pilots web page:
“The Utah Back Country Pilots association is a group of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving and enjoying the incredible Utah “back country.” Utah has a handful of remote landing strips open to the public. We believe these to be a national treasure. We donate our time and resources toward maintaining and preserving this resource. If these goals are your goals, we invite you to fly along with us. The UBCP publishes a quarterly newsletter and sponsors a summer and winter fly-in each year. Runway data and safety information is free for the asking. Utah Back Country Pilots, Skypark Airport, 1887 South Redwood Rd. #16 Woods Cross, UT 84087″
Fly-in stay awhile
"Paul Bowmar takes local children: Jaymes, Jescey, and Monique Bowman, along with Kellar Brown, on a plane ride over Huntington."