Flights into the Idaho Backcountry
Meet the Smiths
Walt Smith’s love of flying began as a child. A family friend took him on an airplane ride; later his parents chartered a small plane to take their boys for a ride as a 12th birthday gift. In his late teens, he was working a manual labor job when a small plane buzzed the hill he was on. He thought, “That guy is having more fun than I am.”
Walt earned his private pilot’s license at age 20, bought a small plane, and immediately started building his flight time and backcountry experience. He was hired by Arnold Aviation in his mid-20s, and flew for them for 20 years. In 2023, he and his family started their own business, Smith Air.
If Walt isn’t flying an airplane, he’s working on one as an aircraft mechanic. In his free time he reads about airplanes and talks about flying. He also enjoys time spent with his family, camping, and being outdoors.
Rachel Smith enjoys handling the logistics of running Smith Air and interacting with the customers. We attract an interesting crowd of adventure-loving folks who are fun to be around! You’ll most likely see her coordinating planes, pilots, and passengers, but she also homeschools their kids, gardens, and enjoys dark chocolate.
The Smith Daughters love to fly with Walt anytime he has an empty seat. They keep close tabs on whose turn it is for the next ride. They were flying before they were walking! The girls make a great ramp team - loading airplanes, running errands, and helping in the shop and office. They spend their free time with a busy schedule of sports and music lessons.
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What We Do
Smith Air operates Cessna TU-206s. Our planes have five passenger seats, and a payload of 800-1000 pounds.
We charge $600 per flight hour for each airplane. We invite you to contact us for a customized quote, to ask questions, or to book a flight!
Our main service area extends throughout central Idaho and eastern Oregon, with charters throughout the northwest.
We fly hikers and hunters, fishermen and rafters.
We support the private ranches in the Idaho backcountry by delivering their mail, groceries, building supplies, and anything else they need that will fit! These ranches are mostly located along the Main Salmon River, the South Fork of the Salmon, the Middle Fork of the Salmon, and Big Creek.
Contact Us for more information
* Permission Required
- Big Creek (0.8 hour)
- Bernard (1.1 hour)
- Boise (1.0 hour)
- Cabin Creek (1.0 hour)
- Chamberlain Basin (1.0 hour)
- Cold Meadows (1.1 hour)
- Cougar Creek (1.0 hour)
- Dixie (1.0 hour)
- Flying B (1.1 hour)*
- Indian Creek (0.8)
- Johnson Creek (0.7 hour)
- Lower Loon Creek (1.1 hour)
- Mackay Bar Ranch (1.0 hour)*
- Mahoney (1.0 hour)
- Morgan Ranch (0.6 hour)*
- Roots Ranch (1.0 hour)*
- Soldier Bar (1.2 hour)
- Stanley (1.0 hour)
- Thomas Creek (0.9 hour)
- Wilson Bar (1.0 hour)
- Big Creek (0.8 hour)
- Bernard (1.1 hour)
- Boise (1.0 hour)
- Cabin Creek (1.0 hour)
- Chamberlain Basin (1.0 hour)
- Cold Meadows (1.1 hour)
- Cougar Creek (1.0 hour)
- Dixie (1.0 hour)
- Flying B (1.1 hour)*
- Indian Creek (0.8)
- Johnson Creek (0.7 hour)
- Lower Loon Creek (1.1 hour)
- Mackay Bar Ranch (1.0 hour)*
- Mahoney (1.0 hour)
- Morgan Ranch (0.6 hour)*
- Root Ranch (1.0 hour)*
- Soldier Bar (1.2 hour)
- Stanley (1.0 hour)
- Thomas Creek (0.9 hour)
- Wilson Bar (1.0 hour)
Charter Rate: $600 per hour
Popular Destinations from Cascade
We are privileged to work in the pristine Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest contiguous wilderness in the Lower 48 states. This protected area consists of steep, rugged mountains, deep canyons, and wild rivers. The US Congress designated the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness in 1980 and it now encompasses over 2 million acres.
The Salmon River Canyon is one of the deepest gorges in North America, deeper even than the famous Grand Canyon. The Middle Fork of the Salmon flows through the heart of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness.
Frank church
River of no Return Wilderness
