Ice Leaves Gull Lake In The Nick of Time For Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association Seminar & Fly-In

by Dave Weiman

When the ice left Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota, organizers of the “Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association Seminar & Fly-In,” May 2-4, at Madden’s Resort, breathed a sigh of relief. Participants also breathed a sigh of relief when Alaskan bush pilot and the founder of “Alaska Floats and Skis,” Don Lee, described at the banquet how he successfully rescued some downed aviators on Mount McKinley. Apparently some inexperienced mountain flyers tried landing on the mountain and ran off the edge with the plane daggling over a 4,000-foot drop-off. Lee saved their lives, and told of a few close calls of his own.

Don Lee grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota, and left the Twin Cities the day after graduating from high school with just a few dollars in his pocket, and the dream of flying in the Alaskan bush. He has been living that dream ever since.

After getting his pilot certificate, Lee began flying for lodge support. He then branched into guiding hunters and fishermen. Over the last 30 years, Lee has gained extensive flight experience all over Alaska, from the Aleutian Chain to the Beaufort Sea.

In Talkeetna, Lee has provided expedition air support for climbers on Mount McKinley and has made over 5,000 glacier landings. He has over 7,000 hours on floats alone with a total time exceeding 17,000 hours. Lee holds ratings through Airline Transport Pilot, and is a Designated Pilot Examiner for the FAA.

His motivation in operating “Alaska Floats & Skis” is to share these experiences and pass on safety tips and tricks of the trade to fellow pilots. He prides himself in working with the most novice pilots to experienced aviators, interested in honing their skills.

The Alaska Floats & Skis office is located on Christiansen Lake, less than four miles from beautiful downtown Talkeetna between Anchorage and Fairbanks.

To schedule flight training on wheels or floats, or a trip in the bush, call 907-733-4500 or email don@alaskafloats.com.

Approximately a dozen floatplanes landed on Gull Lake for the seminar, and another 20 planes flew into East Gull Lake Airport (9Y2), located immediately adjacent to Madden’s Resort.

Speakers included seaplane gurus Brian Addis talking on “risk,” Bob Timm on “floatplane maintenance,” and Pete Firlotte of Transport Canada about the ins and outs of “flying in Canada.”

Cassandra Isackson, Director of the MnDOT Office of Aeronautics, and Dr. Randy Corfman of the Minnesota Pilots Association, also made presentations.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provided “invasive species” training, and there were several safety seminars, and manufacturer and medical updates.

Networking in the exhibit hall came in a close second to watching floatplanes takeoff and land on Gull Lake for the “accuracy-landing contest.”

The meals, entertainment and accommodations at Madden’s Resort were excellent, and the golfers were out in full force!

MSPA President Ben Thuringer emceed the seminar and banquet, and he and his father, Brian Thuringer, of Madden’s Resort, hosted the overall event. Wipaire, Inc. sponsored the band in O’Madden’s Pub following the banquet.

For lodging information at Madden’s Resort, call 800-642-5363 (www.maddens.com). For additional information on East Gull Lake Airport, call 218-828-9279. The grass airstrip is 2618 x 160 feet. Large aircraft can fly to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (KBRD) where car rental and fuel are available: (218) 825-2166.

For information on the “Minnesota Seaplane Pilots Association,” contact Mary Alverson at 612-240-0123 or email m.alverson@hotmail.com (www.MnSeaplanes.com).

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