Reality show 'star' on display at EAA

OSHKOSH - Aviation enthusiasts, at EAA, are celebrating 75 years of a hard-working, long-lasting plane.

It's the World War 2 era DC-3, and one in particular that is drawing a lot of attention is part of a hit reality TV show in Canada.

The owners of Buffalo Airways flew 1500 miles from Northern Canada to get to AirVenture.

The family owned business based out of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories is featured on a show called "Ice Pilots." It's like the American reality show "Ice Road Truckers."

Ice Pilots NWT documents the trials and tribulations of operating 75 year old planes in minus 40 degree weather to transport cargo and passengers.

"We're the last scheduled daily passenger service of a DC-3 in the world. We still use them every day to haul passengers around just like a bus," said General Manager Mikey McBryan.

McBryan is the general manager of Buffalo Airways. He says nothing is scripted or staged for the show... it's simply a real look at the rough, tough dirty world of flying in the wilderness.

"Where we're from roads are not common, so sometimes an airplane has to be a road," said McBryan.

Joe McBryan, Mikey's father, founded Buffalo Airways forty years ago. The elder McBryan owns and operates 6 DC-3's plus dozens of other airplanes that help maintain life in the Canadian arctic.

"Everything is flown in. It's a necessity of life, not a luxury airplane. So yes we fly every day that's what we do," said Joe McBryan.

The family business has drawn quite a following on television.

"All of the Canadians and the far north, the good things, the bad things and the indifferent so it's just exciting to watch," said Allan Mahon of London, Ontario, Canada as he checked out the plane.

For Joe McBryan, who grew up in small Canadian communities, meeting fans of the show at EAA is exciting, but the whole experience is also overwhelming.

"I've never ever dreamt in my wildest dreams that I'd be signing autographs and shaking hands with people it's not part of my makeup. I was just supposed to be a bush pilot, go home, do your thing, get off the ground," said Joe McBryan.

Mikey McBryan is hoping the visit to EAA will garner even more interest in Ice Pilots, and increase the chances of an American network picking it up. Pilots we spoke with say they hope that happens.

"I have not seen the show I'd like to see it. I mean it sounds like it's kind of a neat show to see and airplanes are kind of a neat thing for me to see anyhow so if they can use the airplanes as a good background use I'm all for it," said Jeff Waletzko of North Branch, Minnesota.

The last episode of the show's second season won't take place in frigid temperatures -- instead it's being shot at AirVenture.

"To finish it all off we came here to EAA in 0shkosh because this is for one week of the year the mecca of aviation - everybody is here every airplane is here and if you do a show about aviation, and you don't have Oshkosh in it you're missing a whole big deal," said Mikey McBryan.

The Buffalo Airways plane is currently at AeroShell Square but will head out Thursday around noon.