Flying Journalists Over Wyoming’s Iconic Landscapes – Pilot’s Perspective
The Boars Tusk – Used as a landmark for indigenous peoples, pioneers, hikers, railroad travelers, and countless other groups, this distinct feature is the core of a long dormant volcanic eruption. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.
Flying her first mission for LightHawk, Bronson Daughtry teamed up with two other volunteer pilots to conduct an aerial tour for partners from the Wyoming Outdoor Council over landscapes in the state. After the flight, we were lucky to talk to Bronson and get her perspective on the flight and flying for LightHawk.
The mission started with Bronson and the other pilots communicating with Northern Rockies Program Manager Chris Boyer about the objective of the flight and where the partners were hoping to fly. She took time to look at the weather a few days before the flight to ensure it would be a safe flight and pleasant for passengers. Fortunately, she was familiar with the area, having hiked and camped there but this was her first time flying through the region.
Prior to takeoff, all three pilots spoke with passengers, providing a safety briefing and determining the order the planes would fly. Bronson’s plane was the fastest of the three so she elected to be the last in the line, allowing her to keep an eye on the other planes as they traversed the area.
Flying over Wyoming’s Northern Red Desert region in the Wind River Range. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.
The Big Sandy Foothills of the Wind River Range in Wyoming are currently protected by the Rock Springs Management Plan but the current administration has signaled a desire to scale back those protections. Photo by Vincent Tropéa.
Taking off, she climbed to fly “higher than the other planes, staying at about 1,000 to 1,500 feet above the ground – giving her a safety margin in mountainous terrain. She kept her airspeed between 80 and 110 miles per hour.
Of the flight, Bronson said, “It was just a blast to follow the other two pilots because they had flown in that area before. It was nice to have a guide in a sense. The two people in the plane were super knowledeable so they pointed out everywhere we were going. That was really fun, to be able to see everything and hear their stories about the land. And then learning about Boar’s Tusk.
While the three planes were following the same route, given the terrain and the purpose of the flight, it didn’t warrant flying in formation. Bronson said the planes kept a mile to a mile and a half between them as they conducted the tour. In total, the flight took a little over an hour and provided passengers an opportunity to see the land from an aerial perspective and gain a new understanding of the importance of their work.
Flying over sand dunes in Wyoming. Photo by Dustin Bleizeffer.
Though she had told her passengers before the flight that their comfort was most important and they could turn back if they were uncomfortable at any point, no one had any trouble on the flight. Bronson commented, “They were the best passengers ever!”
Joseph Quiroz, one of Bronson’s passengers said, “The flight was indispensable in creating an initial image of the immensity and diversity of the landscape. It was my first time flying over the Red Desert in a light craft and I was surprised to see how so many features looked from the air. And this is after 20 years of land travel out there. For me personally, it has really broadened my appreciation of the place and puts me in a better position to advocate for the conservation of the Red Desert. Thank you very much for making this possible.”
Thanks to Bronson Daughtry (as well has her fellow pilots on this mission, Ray Lee andMatthew Machen) for providing the flight. Congratulations on completing your first LightHawk mission! We look forward to your future flights and continued contributions to the conservation community!
Photos by Dustin Bleizeffer and Vincent Tropéa.