HOME

COURSE OUTLINES/ CHECKLISTS
MISSION STATEMENT MOUNTAIN FLYING TIPS
SEMINAR RATES TAIL WHEEL ENDORSEMENT
SEMINAR SCHEDULES ADVANCED COURSE AT SULPHUR CREEK
REGISTRATION FORM ADVANCED CANYONLANDS SAFARI
CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR BIOS TESTIMONIALS - WHY TAKE OUR COURSE?
ABOUT US / CONTACT INFORMATION LINKS
 

Certified Flight Instructor Biographies

Below, are pictures and biographies of each of our Certified Flight Instructors.  Click on the picture or name to view their biography.

     

Rich Bush      Jer/ Eberhard      Lytle Johnson      Jim Larkin

        

  Art Lazzarini     Lori MacNichol     Holbrook Maslen     Jim Mullett 

     

  Mark Stevenson     Pat Warren     Marti Wegner     Bart Welsh     Woody Woodworth


 

Rich Bush  Email Rich

McCall, Idaho

Type ratings held: 737,757,767,777

Rich has approximately 18,500 hours of flight experience, including over 3,000 hours as a flight instructor and over 1,000 hours in the Idaho backcountry.  He has flown over 100 types of aircraft.

 Rich grew up in McCall, learning to fly locally after saving money while attending grade school. Having attained his private pilot license by his 17th birthday, Rich continued his learning during following summers with local Forest Service and charter pilots in backcountry flying techniques and disciplines. During college Rich found himself flying commercially in the Idaho backcountry.

While attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, Rich worked as a flight instructor for the University while earning his B. S. Degree in Aeronautical Studies. Rich earned his ratings the hard way, through assignments to every kind of “starter” job imaginable in aviation, from flying checks to mortuary services.

 Employed by United Airlines in 1990. Rich was allowed to live his dream of living in McCall, spending his days off with his family flying into backcountry destinations in their Cessna 205 with camping and fishing on their minds. It was a natural for Rich to find himself instructing for the McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying Seminars, now on his 5th season instructing for Lori. 

“I’ve been blessed to have had a wonderful variety of experiences in aviation, and I must say that I am honored to be associated with this school and this outstanding group of flight instructors.  We all continue to learn from each other and from our participants”.

Back to Top


Jer/ Eberhard Email Jer/

Fort Collins, Colorado

Jer/ started flying and earned his pilot certificate in windy Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1974.  Almost all of his 6000 hours (3000 hours instructing) has been in single-engine aircraft in the mountains and the Rocky Mountain West, flying his Cessna 206, or C182's, Cubs, Husky's and Pawnees.  When he is not busy with his computer consulting contracts, Jer/ teaches mountain flying for the Civil Air Patrol, the Colorado Pilots Association, gliders for Colorado Soaring Association and serves as an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor.  He enjoys airplanes, seaplanes, gliders and tail draggers.

Back to Top


 

 

 

Lytle Johnson  Email Lytle

Decatur Island, Washington

As a boy, Lytle loved any kind of model airplane. Freeflights were his favorites because there was so much that had to be right aerodynamically to get them to fly at all. In 1964 he was a college kid with three parachute jumps to his name. It seemed to him, though, that the pilot was having even more fun than the jumpers, and the idea of flying off a couple of tire tracks in a farmer's field fascinated him. After a trip across the US on his Harley, Lytle saw an ad for a Taylorcraft in the paper for about what the Harley was worth, so he sold bike and bought plane, all 720 lbs of rotten fabric and 65 tired horses for an engine. It was only the next day that he realized he didn't know how to fly, so he signed up for flying lessons and started re-covering the T-craft.

 As time passed, he took the T-craft to the Bahamas twice and across the US twice, jumped out of it multiple times, and learned a lot about flying. He started flying skydivers in 1965 and eventually got a commercial license when he got tired of flying for free jumps.

 An aerobatics course in Boulder showed him what the Rockies look like pointing down from the top of the windshield instead of rising up above the panel. His first Cessna 180, a 1953 model, took him on many trips between the east coast and Denver, over the Rockies to California, and up into Idaho for his first taste of the backcountry in 1974. The Idaho backcountry has been pulling him back ever since. 

 In the mid '80s, Lytle started flying floatplanes in Seattle, put a bunch of time on a '53 170B, went to A&P school, and sold the 170 to buy another 180 with wheels, floats, and skis. In 1989 he started flying floatplanes for a Part 135 operator in Seattle, which has involved a mixture of radial engines and turboprops and still keeps him busy summers. Along the way he's picked up ATP and CFI ratings, flown Alaska, instructed with McCall Mountain Canyon Flying, and almost completed a SuperCub look-alike homebuilt. Maybe this is the year he'll finish it!

 When not in an airplane, Lytle writes digital signal-processing software, currently for a major avionics company working on a new radar system with commercial and military applications.  He shares a house on a runway with three cats in the San Juan islands north of Seattle.

Back to Top


 

Jim Larkin

Donnelly, Idaho

Jim Larkin started his flying career in a dusty hayfield in Donnelly, Idaho, in 1937.  A three cylinder Zekly radial pushed the old Curtiss Junior to tree-hugging heights, mostly between Donnelly and McCall.

 With War clouds looming, Jim completed CPT flight training, then moved on to USAAF Instructor School at Randolph Field, Texas.  Assigned to Rankin Aeronautical Academy, he graduated several cadet classes, flying the Stearman PT-17, then moved on to Air Force Air Transport Command, 6th Ferry Group, stationed in Long Beach, Ca.  He began collecting airplanes with World-Wide Ferry flights in B-24, B-17, P-38, P-61, B-25, C-47, C-46, and many smaller types. After high-altitude training in the C-46 Curtiss Commando, he was assigned to CBI at Mohanbari, India, flying "Hump Runs" to Western China and Burma.  .At that time, most CBI flying was supporting Chang-Kai-Chek and Chennault's Flying Tigers.

 Returning to Idaho, he joined his brothers in changing the old Larkin home place into what is now   Donnelly Airport.  Proud owners of a 1931 UMF-3 Sport Waco, they proceeded in making tracks into the Idaho "backcountry".  The first intensive timber-spray operation in 1947 kicked off Jim's involvement in spray operations, leading to an eight-year hiatus flying yearly spray jobs in the Grumman TBM's and Ford Tri-motors.

 He was employed by Johnson Flying Service until l956, when he went to Alaska, bringing back the last remaining Cunningham-Hall PT6-F freighter. The unique abilities of the old bi-plane led to USFS contracts, then full-time employment with Region 4 USFS in 1957.  Jim was designated director of the newly-formed Western Zone Air Unit, acquiring the national infra-red fire-scan imaging program, the National Radio Fire Cache, and supervision of R4's in-house air operations. 

 In 1964, ground was broken for the newly-formed Boise Interagency Fire Center, and Larkin's shop was moved out to its new quarters.  Jim retired in l978 as Director, R4 Air Operations, BIFC, now the National Fire Center.  Among twenty-one years of expanding air jobs, Jim graduated from Army Helicopter School and had helicopter check airman added to his "duties as assigned".  Jim's early spray work in the Fords and Boeing Stratocruiser led to his assignment in 1973 to operate two Army C-47s in Pakistan, controlling a massive outbreak of rice-stem borer, threatening Pakistan's rice crop. A Presidential award was given for this successful operation.

 In 1960, Jim made the first "Super Tanker" sortie: flying C-97 N9638C on a wildfire near Trinity Mountain, East of Boise.

Retiring from the USFS , Jim flew several years as co-captain on Joe Albertson's King Air 200. During this period he also crewed the Harrah Twin Otter helping support Harrah's Middle Fork Lodge.
 
During the nineties Jim was back in the USFS DC 3, now a Basler converted turbine C47TC.
 
With long time friend John Inman still operating helicopters at Twin Oaks, Hillsboro, OR., Jim would head for PDX. John's Hughes 300 was a fun way to comply with the bi-ennial flight review and maintain a minimal currency in "Sling Wings".
 
Jim found great pleasure participating in Lori MacNichol's Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars.
He had made life long friends, flown remarkable airplanes and probably learned more than his students.

 

Jim will always be with us.   In our hearts and in our aircraft...

Helping us along our way.

Back to Top


Art Lazzarini  Email Art

Hailey, Idaho

 

Art is a 58- year-old Colorado native who lives in Hailey, Idaho.  He has 19,000 hours of instruction experience in 27 years of mountain flying.  He enjoys building, fishing, sailing and writing, but most of all he lives to teach people to fly.  He's pleased to be pitching in again with the professional flight instructors at McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying Seminars.

Back to Top
 


 

 

Lori MacNichol  Email Lori

McCall, Idaho

 Lori MacNichol learned to fly in McCall, Idaho, in 1982, because she wanted to get into the most remote fishing spots in the Idaho backcountry. Through her love of fishing, she developed a lasting love of flying and voraciously accumulated as much aviation knowledge as possible.  This knowledge grew to include the history of the Idaho backcountry and its early aviators. The private pilot license led to commercial and flight-instructor ratings, and Lori carefully began keeping notes on the essential piloting skills and peculiarities of backcountry flying. While expanding her piloting experiences working as an air-taxi pilot, she absorbed invaluable insight into the mountains and canyons from the old-timers in the area. Along the way, she added multiengine and seaplane ratings and is now qualified as an airline transport pilot.

Lori also discovered her true calling in aviation, as an instructor and teacher. She now owns and operates McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying Seminars, a flight school located in McCall, ID. This school provides flight and ground training for both primary and advanced pilots to improve the safety of aviation in the Idaho Backcountry. Her students not only get expert flight instruction from Lori and her other experienced instructors (she hand picks backcountry professionals to help with her unique courses); they also learn the history of the airstrips and wilderness. Moreover, they learn to appreciate the role that aviation plays in opening the backcountry to backpackers and sportsmen, as a means of transportation, and as an unequalled resource in emergencies such as fires or accidents. She also stresses the importance of flying responsibly so as to minimize the impact on other users of the backcountry. In addition to her own courses, Lori conducts aviation-safety seminars for general-aviation pilots and many advanced specialty groups, such as US Border Patrol and US Forest Service.

She is currently involved in the preservation of the wilderness airstrips across the nation and has been invited to speak in Washington, D.C,. during Congressional hearings, giving testimony in favor of preserving backcountry airstrips.  She has had the opportunity to work with Idaho Public Television’s “Outdoor Idaho” filming and has been hosted on segments of “Back Country Pilots” and the History Channel series “Modern Marvels” titled “Runways.” During the last year she presented seminars at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association national convention, Sun ’n’ Fun, and the Alaska Airman Show. 

Striving to foster the love of aviation and share the beauty of air travel in the wilderness, Lori continues to travel and speak at seminars and conventions across the Northwest, radiating her enthusiasm for flying and teaching. She considers herself extremely lucky to be able to spend every day doing what she loves best.

Back to Top


 

Captain Holbrook Maslen  Email Holbrook

Boise, Idaho

 Holbrook holds air-transport pilot, instrument instructor, multi-instrument instructor, Part 135, and A&P certificates.  He has over 23,000 hours of experience, including over 2,000 hours in the Idaho backcountry.  He started flying in 1949 and served 3 years with the Army Paratroopers and 10 years with the LAPD, where he flew helicopters.  He also retired from United Airlines with 36 years of service.

 Holbrook owned a skydiving school and a FBO in southern California in the 1960's and later started a FBO in Honduras.  He continues to compete in the Reno Air Races and plans to fly a Formula One and his Unlimited in September.     

He currently owns a Cessna 180, 185, and 195; a Russian Yak3; a Beech 18; an L5; and a helicopter.  He is also restoring several other projects for his museum, “AEROPLANES OVER IDAHO.”  He recently restored a 1937 Military Harley Davidson and a Model T.

 Holbrook will roll out the red carpet for anyone donating planes and military memorabilia to the museum.

Back to Top


Jim Mullett

Placerville, California

 Jim holds commercial pilot, flight instructor, and single-engine land and sea ratings.  He has 5000 hours of experience and has been flying the Idaho backcountry since 1985. 

 He flew C-180s for the California Highway Patrol and now owns a C-180 and PA-18.

Back to Top


Mark Stevenson Email Mark

Louisville, Colorado

Mark started flying and earned his pilot certificate in Colorado in 1972.  Almost all of his flying has been in single-engine aircraft in the mountains and the Rocky Mountain West, flying mostly Cessna 182's and 206's.  When he is not busy with his sales job, Mark teaches mountain flying for the Civil Air Patrol, the Colorado Pilot’s Association, as an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, and of course the McCall Mountain Canyon Flying Seminars.

Back to Top


Pat Warren

Portland, Oregon
 

I’m 55 years old and I’ve been flying since 1969 with over 12,000 flight hours logged.  I am ATP rated in Airplanes and Helicopters, with an A&P Mechanic Certificate.  A former 135 Pilot in Helicopters and Airplanes, with many years of mountain flying in Helicopters, I got hooked on the Idaho Back Country in 2000. 

 I am currently employed as a Corporate Pilot flying Citation Jets and Turbo Prop aircraft out of Portland Oregon.  My spare time is spent flying for Sherpa Aircraft, Inc.  in new prototype “Bush Country” type aircraft.  I also find time to give Float Plane instruction in at Wiley’s Seaplane Base on the Willamette River, and Glider Instruction at Willamette Valley Soaring Club.  By far though, my favorite place to fly and teach flying is in the Idaho Back Country with McCall Mountain Flying Seminars.  I am eager for the new flying schedules to be announced every year and to meet new Pilots who want to expand their flying experiences.

Back to Top


 

Marti Wegner

McCall, Idaho

Marti Wegner started flying in Bonner’s Ferry in northern Idaho in 1990.  Since then, she has flown all over the mountains of Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Utah, but central Idaho backcountry flying has stolen her heart.  Her move to McCall in 1997 was influenced by the McCall Airport and its proximity to the mountains and the wilderness.

Marti was certified as a flight instructor in 2003 after studying under Lori MacNichol.  Since then, she has specialized in private-pilot instruction and backcountry-flight introduction for more experienced pilots.  She loves sharing the gift of flight and makes learning fun - just ask her students!

Formerly a civil engineer, Marti is an intuitive healer and enjoys time with her animal friends and many outdoor activities when not up in the air.

Back to Top


Bart Welsh  Email Bart

Wellington, Nevada

Bart started flying at age 18 and has accumulated a vast amount of flying experience.  He is a Commercial Pilot, an Instructor in both single and multi-engine, and an Instrument Flight Instructor.  He has held an A&P Mechanic License for many years and possesses an Inspector Authorization (IA).  He is also an FAA Safety Counselor.  Bart is one of our original Flight Instructors and has been with McCall Mountain/Canyon Flying Seminars since the program's original planning.

Bart is the former Director of Aeronautics for the State of Idaho and has spent many years working to develop and preserve the Idaho network of backcountry airstrips.

He owns a Cessna 180, a Cessna 150, and a Stinson 108-2 (Voyager).  He has flown nearly 6,000 hours with about 1,200 instructing, and over 3,000 in tail-wheel aircraft.  Bart has been flying in the backcountry as well as teaching in the backcountry for over 25 years.  Teaching is his passion.  He holds a BA, MA and Doctorate degree as a Teacher and Vocational Educator.

At this time, Bart operates a small flight training operation in Nevada and Idaho, to introduce youth and adults to aviation at virtually no cost.  Students that are interested in learning to fly must pay only for the fuel and help with labor to maintain the airplanes.

 

Back to Top

 


Woody Woodworth  Email Woody

Santa Clara, California

 Woody took his first ride in a small plane in 1983. He was so hooked on flying he started his lessons 3 weeks later. His mentor insisted that he learn in tail draggers, so he suffered through all the trials and tribulations of Amelia Reid Aviation in San Jose, CA. He completed his private the following year and slowly began to accumulate hours in rented and borrowed aircraft. He got his first taste of mountain flying in 1987 when a friend from work agreed to take him on a tour of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in CA. He was now hooked on the beauty and challenge of flying in the mountains.

During the next 8 years Woody was preoccupied with the responsibilities of a new business, a new wife and a new house. There was no time or money to fly. After the marriage broke up he found himself living and consulting in Israel, not exactly the hotbed of general aviation. After returning to the US in 1995, he picked up flying where he left off. He started to pursue the elusive instrument rating and the seaplane rating, and he purchased a ranch in the mountains of Northern California with a landing strip. After a year of flying rented 172s in there, he bought a Cessna 180. He then decided he needed the best mountain flying instruction available, so he enrolled in the MMCFS basic course in July 1998. He became addicted to Idaho, and has been returning for the advanced class every year since. Lori says he has to keep coming back until he gets it right. Seriously, Woody feels extremely privileged to now be on staff at MMCFS.

 Woody is an independent business and computer consultant based out of Santa Clara, CA. He took a sabbatical from his business to complete his commercial and flight-instructor ratings in late 2000. He then completed CFII and MEI shortly thereafter. He took 4 check rides in 5 months. He currently teaches part-time at Tradewinds Aviation at Reid Hillview Airport (RHV) in San Jose, CA. He is also a mission pilot and check pilot for the Civil Air Patrol. He makes at least 5-6 trips to Idaho every year to fly the backcountry and visit all his friends who moved to Idaho after he addicted them.

Back to Top


PO Box 1175, McCall, Idaho  83638 - 208-634-1344 Fax: 501-634-1348

www.mountaincanyonflying.com

 

2007 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED