Kirk is a living bush pilot legend! I was lucky enough to buy a 4 place cub from him several years ago and after spending a little time with him I made him sign it! After really seeing what is possible with the 4 seat cub we started building another, because what’s better than one cub? 2 cubs! With this new build Kirk has created another masterpiece! These 4 place cubs are just incredible to fly. Thanks for getting this interview and capturing a little bit of the Ellis story.
Great work! I got my PL at 16 in Red Devil AK. Hunted sheep with the Ellis family many times. Lynn was the one I flew with most. I loved their cubs. Great memories.
I was very lucky to fly in for a drop off sheep hunt with Kirk in the hulk several years ago. I could have listened to his stories for weeks! What a legend and it’s very amazing what he is able to do from flying to building aircraft. I will never forget that trip
Kirk is such a gentleman and legend in the bush flying world. I wish he would do an interview like this once a week so we would have more of his knowledge and stories to glean from!!
Another amazing video/interview. Kirk has built two planes for a buddy of mine here in Utah so it is cool to listen to his stories. I had watched the super cub hardcore before, truly an amazing family. And yes you make GREAT seats! Thanks and keep up the great work
These interviews have been absolutely amazing!!! Great questions, great guests and I love the sit down & chat style format!! Look forward to more in the future!!!
Enjoyed this interview a lot. First, you did the seats in my wife's Cardinal several years ago and they are great. Second. I worked, as a teenager in the late 60's, at Chistochina Lodge for two summers on the Tok Cutoff, a few miles south of Nebesna Road. We had fuel and a 1500' runway that most of the guides came in and fueled up. One of my jobs was fueling aircraft. I met Bill Ellis and one landing in particular I recall. He had lost a wheel on takeoff. We got a phone call that he was going to land at Chistochina so we got ready. He made a low pass and dropped out a heavy tool box. The second pass he landed. I remember how he held that plane up on one wheel until nearly all forward speed was exhausted, dropped the wheel-less axle down (left one?) and then it nosed over. He had a son with him. Wonder which one? They brought in an engine and mechanic and got it back in the air in short order. The lodge was a cool place to work for a 15 year old in 1967 and 1968. At the ripe old age of 72 I'm finally learning to fly our Cardinal. Some days i wish I had a Cub.
Great point on keeping the plane light. It’s not a bad idea to carry your return fuel in cans, so you can ditch them before you go exploring new spots. Shuttling weight to an easy spot is wise.
In 1970 I worked with the State of Alaska in geology and stayed with the Ellis' (along with a large crew). Bill Ellis (Kirk's father) got an emergency call requiring him to fire up the supercub. He knew I was watching him get ready to takeoff, so while walking to the parked cub he weaved and bobbed (like he was intoxicated)- he jumped in and did a perfect takeoff. Kirk flew my son and I into the mountains a couple of times for unguided sheep hunts. What a blast!
What a great time you must have had. I’ve enjoyed reading your comments on my interviews. You should call me sometime, I would love to talk to you. You can contact me on my website sportaircraftseats.com. I’m not going to post my number on here.
I had a DPE call me a "promising young pilot" on my commercial checkride. I'm still riding that high. Now I'm working on my multi-engine and I'm back to hearing how bad I am, how I'm not progressing, etc. Now I'm riding that low haha
Great interview! Have you considered doing an interview with Charley Center while he is still around? I bet he could tell some stories on airplane recovery....
You should do an interview with the guys over at Helio Alaska to talk why bringing the Helio Courier back into production is a big deal for Alaska and backcountry flying in general.
