Burning Man?

[check6]

Yeah, blackrock airport. Someone always crashes there every summer. I used to instruct in Reno.

 

[414Flyer]

I went last year, had a blast. The experience is totally what you make of it though, anything you can think of, from tame to wild, happens out there somewhere. You can hang out at your camp area the whole time if you want, or go out for days seeing everything

Last year, about 50,000 people attended. this year, there are no ticket sales at the gate, which is a good thing, since someone showing up at the last minute, probably has not done any planning and had no idea what they are getting into.

It is getting more expensive, but the earlier you buy the ticket, the cheaper it is. Burning Man organization is non-profit, and a lot of that money goes to BLM, getting emergency services people out there, all the planning and surveying that goes into it. and the art grants for some of the things there you see

It is about self expression, and self sufficiency. So in a way, both individualism and community. You bring your own food, water, shelter, all that stuff, there are no food stands, no vendor sales, no one out there with a water truck to take care of you when you run out.

I volunteered some at the airport, manning the unicom radio. I think a lot of pilots who are used to highly structured lives and careers, or who have repressed any last bit of individualism, would not enjoy BM. There is no one telling you were to be, what to wear, when you will eat, everything about BM it is up to you to decide how you will enjoy it.

The airport area is more sedate, the people there actually get up in the morning and have a community breakfast, and do a fair amount of flights, lots of mile high club certificates were given out. There was one private pilot there, he had his first multi engine flight, although two others rode in the back, and her feet kept hitting his head the whole time I think 150 airplanes came in during that week, from Cessna singles, to a AN-2, and a jet. There was this smoking hot woman with her own 206, and even some long haired pilots flying yak-52s.

I saw the best fireworks displays there I had ever seen before, lots of explosions too, so if you think its a hippy kumbaya event, its not that at all.

It can be a harsh environment though, with sandstorms, sunburn, sleep deprivation, etc, but if you are prepared, its no problem. If one goes there unprepared, it would be a completely miserable experience. Also you cant drive around there, so bring a bicycle

I certainly do not see it as some decadent immoral event. There is nothing inherently wrong with people just being themselves, having a great time. I think I met more genuine real people there, than anyplace else. There is no trying to impress others with clothing logos or cars, no one could care about status or background, its just who you are as a person. Something you creatively made, is going to be impressive to others, not something you bought.

All in all, I had a great time, and hope to go again. However, I would also not recommend it for everyone, because it is not for everyone either. I think a lot of people, especially in commercial aviation, would just not get what it is about.

 

[SSDD]

I was there about 20 years ago, but I don't remember much

 

[tathepilot]

The place is nuts, anything goes except violence of course. Drugs are everywhere and the people are nice but from a different planet it seems. The experience made me realize what freaks normal looking people become with percieved anarchy.

AWESOME!! Sounds like a baby Woodstock!! I wanna go!!

 

[tracearabians]

I went last year, had a blast. The experience is totally what you make of it though, anything you can think of, from tame to wild, happens out there somewhere. You can hang out at your camp area the whole time if you want, or go out for days seeing everything

Last year, about 50,000 people attended. this year, there are no ticket sales at the gate, which is a good thing, since someone showing up at the last minute, probably has not done any planning and had no idea what they are getting into.

It is getting more expensive, but the earlier you buy the ticket, the cheaper it is. Burning Man organization is non-profit, and a lot of that money goes to BLM, getting emergency services people out there, all the planning and surveying that goes into it. and the art grants for some of the things there you see

It is about self expression, and self sufficiency. So in a way, both individualism and community. You bring your own food, water, shelter, all that stuff, there are no food stands, no vendor sales, no one out there with a water truck to take care of you when you run out.

I volunteered some at the airport, manning the unicom radio. I think a lot of pilots who are used to highly structured lives and careers, or who have repressed any last bit of individualism, would not enjoy BM. There is no one telling you were to be, what to wear, when you will eat, everything about BM it is up to you to decide how you will enjoy it.

The airport area is more sedate, the people there actually get up in the morning and have a community breakfast, and do a fair amount of flights, lots of mile high club certificates were given out. There was one private pilot there, he had his first multi engine flight, although two others rode in the back, and her feet kept hitting his head the whole time I think 150 airplanes came in during that week, from Cessna singles, to a AN-2, and a jet. There was this smoking hot woman with her own 206, and even some long haired pilots flying yak-52s.

I saw the best fireworks displays there I had ever seen before, lots of explosions too, so if you think its a hippy kumbaya event, its not that at all.

It can be a harsh environment though, with sandstorms, sunburn, sleep deprivation, etc, but if you are prepared, its no problem. If one goes there unprepared, it would be a completely miserable experience. Also you cant drive around there, so bring a bicycle

I certainly do not see it as some decadent immoral event. There is nothing inherently wrong with people just being themselves, having a great time. I think I met more genuine real people there, than anyplace else. There is no trying to impress others with clothing logos or cars, no one could care about status or background, its just who you are as a person. Something you creatively made, is going to be impressive to others, not something you bought.

All in all, I had a great time, and hope to go again. However, I would also not recommend it for everyone, because it is not for everyone either. I think a lot of people, especially in commercial aviation, would just not get what it is about.

The smoking hot woman in the 206 was probably Ramona Cox ( skychick ) . She is awesome !!

 

[414Flyer]

Thats her!

 

[414Flyer]

Put some photos up online that I took. Unfortunately, cant include the women in our camp wearing body paint for the critical tits bike ride.

http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s34/nmfirepilot/Burning Man 2007/?albumview=grid

 

[414Flyer]

http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/burning_man_airport.html?page=1

Article in Air and Space, on the airport at Burning Man

 

[414Flyer]

http://www.portofentry.org/

Airport information for those who might be planning to fly into there

 

[414Flyer]

A couple photo albums. The playa has claimed 1 airplane scrapped (Seneca I - nose gear collapse), one Cirrus still out there stuck and unable to move.

Even met an 86 year old pilot there with his wife, who were both living it up more than most people would be half their age.

http://picasaweb.google.com/grdn.mills/BurningMan#

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2824542581_203fcb316b_o.jpg

http://picasaweb.google.com/DeanSiracusa/BurningMan2008#