Author: Tony

Fred’s Story

One person can make a difference and can multiply themselves a hundred fold, a thousand fold, or more.   My adventure started with a story I shared on the internet. Harvey lives in New Zealand. He read my Iditarod story and emailed me. We began to swap our flying adventures, his about New Zealand and mine about flying for the Iditarod dog sled race. We were the older generation of internet pen-pals.Harvey said that it would be a dream come true if he could fly the Alaska Iditarod race.   I was with my son Michael having a sandwich in Portland, Oregon. Michael is a Missionary living in New Zealand. We were talking about his new home in New Zealand. I pulled out my Visa and had him get me a ticket to New Zealand. I was on my way to see my friend.   I shot Harvey a quick note and told him I was coming to New Zealand. His response was “Good on You” and “Come on down,” We are going on an outback adventure.   After a very short fourteen hours on one of Boeing best, I was in Auckland. I had a brief visit with my son and then was off to Palmerston North on the North Island of New Zealand. As I stepped off the plane and went in side I was greeted by...

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Flying the Iditarod The Race Chase

How Far is North Flying the Iditarod 2004: The Race Chase by Tony Turinsky If I had just one wish, I’d fly every one of you on an Iditarod Adventure. Well, maybe, I would throw several billion dollars into the wish and then take everyone. I first flew the race in 1989 as a volunteer pilot for the Iditarod Air Force. I have enjoyed seven glorious years of Iditarod Air Force flying. For me, flying for the Iditarod is akin to Air America without the C.I.A. At least that was the way it was in the old days; the late eighties. Back then, we had a new Chief Pilot every year. Today, two veterans hold the Chief Pilot position. Over the last six or eight years their joint tour of duty has provided a sense of continuity and professionalism to the Iditarod Air Force. John and Joe are management and logistic gurus. Under their command a tight band of dedicated pilots makes up the Iditarod Air Force. This squadron runs a successful mission every year. Every March, they tune in on setting Iditarod in place along the vast expanse of northwestern Alaska. The Strategic Air Command would be proud of the job these two veterans and their crew do. They talk the talk, they get the flying done. They move volunteers, dogs, food, and all of the Iditarod stuff...

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Flying The Alaska Highway At 40 Below

Where is north? Tony Turinsky. It was getting cold in Anchorage when my phone jumped to life. The weather on the other end of the phone was at least eighty above with gentle onshore Maui breezes. Larry is a transplanted Alaskan. He called from Hawaii about some part or piece for his 185. It turned out that he had lived in Anchorage for the last twenty five years, and now splits his time between the warm and the cold. It would be here on the phone where we would meet. I have met many 180/5 friends this way. Being the Alaska director for the International Cessna 180/5 club and having written an article or two for the club news letter, I do get a good share of calls. Some are people wanting to know about flying to Alaska or someone looking for parts and pieces. Larry and I talked and it came up that I was planning on flying south with a friend, Larry said that he was thinking of making the trip to and I suggested we make it a flight of two. We visited over the phone numerous times, and as it turned out my flight fell apart and I lost my ride. Not wanting to miss a chance to fly the Alaska Highway, I offered to be his copilot and I fly with him. We nailed...

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