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Posted By: Hal Brown
Date Posted: Nov 20, 2007
Description: The Aerodromo Fransico Lobo was primarily a heliport. There were some serious helicopters based there. There was also a classic 1967 Bell that I admired.

“Would you like to learn how to fly this?”

“Oh, yeah.”

“Then I will teach you.”

The Aerodromo owner was a helicopter aficionado named “Cookie.” He was also an A&P who was charged with maintaining the SeaRey. I didn’t hesitate in accepting his offer.

I discovered that flying a helicopter was a lot of work. I decided to stick to my old SeaRey for flying fun. But that was back in Florida.

“Maybe I could buy Cookie’s Bell and ferry it back to Florida. Yeah, that’s the ticket!”

I figured I better get back home before I bought a helicopter. I know what Ann would have to say about that!

“Oh no you didn’t!”

That’s right.


Date Taken: Nov 20, 2007
Place Taken: Monterrey, MX
Owner: Dan Nickens
File Name: 6_Classic_Bell.jpg   - Photo HTML
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Category: 289, An Indirect Relocation
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Read what others had to say:

Joe Friend - Nov 21,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    Incredible, Dan. Just incredible! You certainly are the Megellan of the SeaRey community. Thanks for sharing, again.     
  
Don Maxwell - Nov 21,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    Joe said it well, Dan.<br /><br />Now that you've delivered a SeaRey to Monterrey, how would you feel about flying there on your own?     
  
Dan Nickens - Nov 21,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    I would be cautious, Don. Left out of my tale was the undercurrent of officialdom trumped by big bucks and border crimes.<br /><br />On the day Diego and I did some local flying he had to negotiate conditions with the managers of El Norte airport. One of the officials was uncooperative and demanding. He spent a lot of time checking my pilot's license. Diego whispered that the guy didn't speak (or read) a word of English. Further, on a very meager salary he was living quite well. I didn't have to ask how he made up the difference. Diego was ultimately able to get the authorizations he needed, but not without some serious negotiation.<br /><br />I absolutely abhor the thought of ever bribing an official to do anything. I have a hard enough time with figuring a tip.<br /><br />The second part of the story is the crime wave that has crested in the border towns. After 9-11-01, the border got a lot harder to get across according to Diego. Drug dealers no longer had the easy commute. In a panic, they started selling drugs in Mexico. This has created a big problem for areas that were previously by-passed by the drug scourge. Diego told me stories of some of his friends and acquaintances that had succumbed to the habit and the problems that followed (all very familiar to those of us in the U.S.).<br /><br />The second part of the drug equation was that drug dealers couldn't make as much money selling in Mexico. To supplement their income they have taken to following the Mafia's example of resorting to a smorgasbord of crimes: extortion, kidnapping, prostitution, and so on.<br /><br />Several people warned me to avoid the border towns. One was a guy that had been kidnapped. His car was surrounded and gunmen jumped out yelling that they were federal authorities. He was handcuffed and blindfolded. He was then told he would have to pay $100,000 in ransom to live another day.<br /><br />The kidnappers called the man's father. The father panicked and refused to talk to them at all. The victim had to negotiate for his own life.<br /><br />The victim told the kidnappers he could quickly get his hands on $2000. '$2,000 or nothing,' was his offer. They took the two grand and dropped him off on the outskirts of town. 'It is so common now we just call them 'Express Kidnappings,' I was told.<br /><br />Before flying south of the border I would want to make sure that I was flying into either a cosmopolitan area or a tourist place. I wouldn't even think about landing in a border city.<br />     
  
Dave Edward - Nov 21,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    Couldn't agree with you more Dan!!<br />As you know, we are in our 8th year of spending winters in BCS...Baja California Sur...almost at the tip of the Baja Peninsula. We love it and the people ...but....things are changing. There was very little crime in '98 and now, because of the huge developments and influx of American and Canadian retirees/ investors, the cost of doing business is on the rise and the bureaucrats are on the take. We are told that the further south of the border you go, the less the crime and morbida...pay-off.<br />We have American friends who fly here from CA at least twice a month in their twin Cessna . He knows the protocol and has no problems.He would confirm that close to the border brings a greater risk of crime and officals on the take. <br />Having said that, there have been two thefts of a/c from our local private strip this season.<br />I would love to have my SeaRey here for the winter....it is a great area to fly in, but very windy from late Dec. till late Feb.<br /><br />Thanks for the great pics and narrative .....     
  
Don Maxwell - Nov 22,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    Thanks, Dan--although I'm sorry to hear about the recent increase in crime near the border. Mexico is a lovely country, despite the 'tipping' problem. Driving there is no big deal (with the extra insurance required), but I'm less comfortable with the idea of flying in and out.     
  
P.C. Russell - Nov 23,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    Dan;<br />I went on a flight in one of these when it was new. Scared the hell out of me. The pilot ran the engine wide open the whole time. I've never ran an engine that hard. By the way it scared my friend enough he sold it soon after. Papa Charlie     
  
Robert Lee - Nov 26,2007   Viewers  | Reply
    Fantastic trip Dan! Of course another great example of journalism and photography. We are very lucky to have access to your great adventures. I just worry you will burnout and move on to golf or something before I have a chance to retire and join you on a adventure or two.     


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