Flying farmer likes to check out grain fields from above

Sep 07, 2011 at 07:50 PM CST
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Great Falls wheat man and aviator J.C. Kantorowicz hoped to plant at least 3,000 acres of spring wheat earlier this year at his Meadowlark Farms. He got in 400 muddy acres. So that means less fly time in his spotless blue and yellow Aviat Husky A1B back to back two-seater bush plane, checking over the grain? Don't believe it for a second. See, J.C. loves to fly and will find just about any reason to get airborne. "Charlotte (his wife) likes to fly with me, she really enjoys it," said J.C, a physical copy of Wilford Brimley, the Quaker Oats pitchman, even sounds a little like the straight talking actor. "But sometimes, I'll sneak out by myself since the hangar is here away from the house and nobody can see me." Sneak off in an airplane? The Wolf Creek (between Great Falls and Helena in central Montana) native says it's the solitude, the peaceful calm, that he feels when he's solo up in his 2,000-pound gassed-up single prop. And a sense of accomplishment. While he owns thousands of wheat acres just east of Great Falls and is one of the bigger grain producers in the area, he feels gratitude and accomplishment for learning to fly and becoming darn good at it. "What was that television show, Sky King, yeah, that was it," said J.C. confirming how he discovered planes as a boy. In 1967 he saw an ad in an magazine for an introductory flight in Bozeman. He went up and loved it. Later he took lessons, got certified and aspired to leave his father's farm and commercially fly Boeing 737s. But he flunked his eye test. "They lied," said J.C. noting his eyes were okay in the late 60s. "I was devastated." For two decades J.C. stayed out of the cockpit. But in the early 1990s, after his two girls left home, he had the money and time to resume piloting. At 45-year-old, and despite a somewhat apprehensive Charlotte, J.C. got his single engine land and sea certificate, with instrument rating, and eventually a Cessna 170. Then a 180. While he liked the Cessnas, they were heavy and too fast for his oversee-the-acres-from-above needs. He wanted agility, a bird to fly slow over the fields and lightly land on the dirt road next to the wheat to further examine spots the bug spray truck missed, or to "take a leak." Yeah, he has landed just to relieve himself. Many times. The Wyoming-built Aviat bush plane fit his needs. Advanced training in special emergency maneuver and high level mountain flying scratched his itch to learn more specialized flying. Almost tragically, during mountain flying training a few years back, a strong wind draft caused him and his instructor to violently crash along a big-rocked mountain southeast of Helena, Mont., in his 2004 Aviat Husky. Both broke their backs. J.C. broke a leg, sternum, torn an ACL and lost his sight for several months. It took 25 hours for rescue to find the charred plane after J.C. reflected a broken windshield glass piece toward a searching helicopter. "Even when the plane was going down, my training told me to keep flying the plane and that's what I did," said J.C. "The emergency maneuver training I'd taken in California saved our lives." J.C. said most pilots having gone through such an traumatic experience probably would never pilot again. The crash took place on June 3, 2007. But it didn't stop J.C. The farmer's next plane: His current 2007 Aviant Husky, same model as the 2004, just a few upgrades. He bought it new – yes that would be in 2007. Horsemen get back on the saddle after being thrown – pilot J.C. back got back in the cockpit after the injuries mended. "Yes and no," said Charlotte when asked if she wanted her husband to fly again after the crash. She knew he would: Why would a good pilot not? "He's an excellent pilot." Perhaps not pinpoint-circling around or near the 8,000-foot Red Mountains south of Helena as often these days, the 63-year-old takes his Husky out an average of three times a week to look over his golden grain. "The early morning or late evenings are the best times to fly," said J.C. "The smoothest air and low angle of the sunlight creates greater difference for better viewing. Viewing the fields from the air quickly gives an overall picture, allowing me to zero in on areas that would probably be missed by driving over the field. "I can see all the field from the air as opposed to seeing only the parts I drive over. The true extent of the crop or field problems can be seen from the air. Also, it's easier to see how my operation affects the neighbors' as well as how their practices effect me." He can look over his 6,000 acres, 15 miles end to end, in about 20-30 minutes in the Husky, a fraction of the time compared to a vehicle. In three hours, he's down in southeastern Montana, near Broadus, looking over a possible tractor buy, and three back for a day's journey. It's a two-day, overnight hotel stay in his maroon Ford Lariat truck. Just a few minutes up to the chemical plant north of Great Falls to buy moderate amounts of pesticides. They have a runway there, J.C.? "No, I land in the field across the highway from it." Oh. A producer will not think twice about another $200,000 tractor in prosperous times, but never consider how a small aircraft, pretty simple to learn to fly, can also benefit. The bird's eye view, saving precious work time and the quick up and back business trips down to Billings or eastern Montana. His Aviat Husky, new, lists for $235,00, but "nobody buys anything new, except at Walmart." The plane must be inspected once a year, costing $1,000, insurance is $2,500 and aviation gas is $5.50 a gallon now. Of course there's maintenance costs, if inspection says to replace the cylinder heads – you will, or you won't fly, says J.C. It's not cheap to own and fly. To change the two slick 29-inch diameter Alaskan bush wheel tires, one must fork over $3,200. J.C. has a hanger, many flying farmers must rent space. J.C. says his advice for a producer thinking of flying for work is pay the money to rent a good plane and a good instructor. "It's not hard to fly. I could teach you how to fly a 747 in 10 minutes. What you have to learn is how to take off and land. That's all." View Original Post

Sep 07, 2011 at 07:50 PM CST

GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Great Falls wheat man and aviator J.C. Kantorowicz hoped to plant at least 3,000 acres of spring wheat earlier this year at his Meadowlark Farms. He got in 400 muddy acres. So that means less fly time in his spotless blue and yellow Aviat Husky A1B back to back two-seater bush plane, checking over the grain? Don't believe it for a second. See, J.C. loves to fly and will find just about any reason to get airborne. "Charlotte (his wife) likes to fly with me, she really enjoys it," said J.C, a physical copy of Wilford Brimley, the Quaker Oats pitchman, even sounds a little like the straight talking actor. "But sometimes, I'll sneak out by myself since the hangar is here away from the house and nobody can see me." Sneak off in an airplane? The Wolf Creek (between Great Falls and Helena in central Montana) native says it's the solitude, the peaceful calm, that he feels when he's solo up in his 2,000-pound gassed-up single prop. And a sense of accomplishment. While he owns thousands of wheat acres just east of Great Falls and is one of the bigger grain producers in the area, he feels gratitude and accomplishment for learning to fly and becoming darn good at it. "What was that television show, Sky King, yeah, that was it," said J.C. confirming how he discovered planes as a boy. In 1967 he saw an ad in an magazine for an introductory flight in Bozeman. He went up and loved it. Later he took lessons, got certified and aspired to leave his father's farm and commercially fly Boeing 737s. But he flunked his eye test. "They lied," said J.C. noting his eyes were okay in the late 60s. "I was devastated." For two decades J.C. stayed out of the cockpit. But in the early 1990s, after his two girls left home, he had the money and time to resume piloting. At 45-year-old, and despite a somewhat apprehensive Charlotte, J.C. got his single engine land and sea certificate, with instrument rating, and eventually a Cessna 170. Then a 180. While he liked the Cessnas, they were heavy and too fast for his oversee-the-acres-from-above needs. He wanted agility, a bird to fly slow over the fields and lightly land on the dirt road next to the wheat to further examine spots the bug spray truck missed, or to "take a leak." Yeah, he has landed just to relieve himself. Many times. The Wyoming-built Aviat bush plane fit his needs. Advanced training in special emergency maneuver and high level mountain flying scratched his itch to learn more specialized flying. Almost tragically, during mountain flying training a few years back, a strong wind draft caused him and his instructor to violently crash along a big-rocked mountain southeast of Helena, Mont., in his 2004 Aviat Husky. Both broke their backs. J.C. broke a leg, sternum, torn an ACL and lost his sight for several months. It took 25 hours for rescue to find the charred plane after J.C. reflected a broken windshield glass piece toward a searching helicopter. "Even when the plane was going down, my training told me to keep flying the plane and that's what I did," said J.C. "The emergency maneuver training I'd taken in California saved our lives." J.C. said most pilots having gone through such an traumatic experience probably would never pilot again. The crash took place on June 3, 2007. But it didn't stop J.C. The farmer's next plane: His current 2007 Aviant Husky, same model as the 2004, just a few upgrades. He bought it new – yes that would be in 2007. Horsemen get back on the saddle after being thrown – pilot J.C. back got back in the cockpit after the injuries mended. "Yes and no," said Charlotte when asked if she wanted her husband to fly again after the crash. She knew he would: Why would a good pilot not? "He's an excellent pilot." Perhaps not pinpoint-circling around or near the 8,000-foot Red Mountains south of Helena as often these days, the 63-year-old takes his Husky out an average of three times a week to look over his golden grain. "The early morning or late evenings are the best times to fly," said J.C. "The smoothest air and low angle of the sunlight creates greater difference for better viewing. Viewing the fields from the air quickly gives an overall picture, allowing me to zero in on areas that would probably be missed by driving over the field. "I can see all the field from the air as opposed to seeing only the parts I drive over. The true extent of the crop or field problems can be seen from the air. Also, it's easier to see how my operation affects the neighbors' as well as how their practices effect me." He can look over his 6,000 acres, 15 miles end to end, in about 20-30 minutes in the Husky, a fraction of the time compared to a vehicle. In three hours, he's down in southeastern Montana, near Broadus, looking over a possible tractor buy, and three back for a day's journey. It's a two-day, overnight hotel stay in his maroon Ford Lariat truck. Just a few minutes up to the chemical plant north of Great Falls to buy moderate amounts of pesticides. They have a runway there, J.C.? "No, I land in the field across the highway from it." Oh. A producer will not think twice about another $200,000 tractor in prosperous times, but never consider how a small aircraft, pretty simple to learn to fly, can also benefit. The bird's eye view, saving precious work time and the quick up and back business trips down to Billings or eastern Montana. His Aviat Husky, new, lists for $235,00, but "nobody buys anything new, except at Walmart." The plane must be inspected once a year, costing $1,000, insurance is $2,500 and aviation gas is $5.50 a gallon now. Of course there's maintenance costs, if inspection says to replace the cylinder heads – you will, or you won't fly, says J.C. It's not cheap to own and fly. To change the two slick 29-inch diameter Alaskan bush wheel tires, one must fork over $3,200. J.C. has a hanger, many flying farmers must rent space. J.C. says his advice for a producer thinking of flying for work is pay the money to rent a good plane and a good instructor. "It's not hard to fly. I could teach you how to fly a 747 in 10 minutes. What you have to learn is how to take off and land. That's all." View Original Post