The signal on the Lake Placid Airport is seen on state Route 73. (Information photograph — Andy Flynn)
Russ Francis (Offered photograph)
Rives Potts (Offered photograph)
Steve Brief poses subsequent to his twin-engine 1981 Cessna 414A, emblazoned with the Adirondack Flying Service brand, on Aug. 23. Underneath new possession, the flying service is now referred to as Lake Placid Airways. (Information photograph — Sydney Emerson)
The signal on the Lake Placid Airport is seen on state Route 73. (Information photograph — Andy Flynn)
LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid Airways — previously often called the Adirondack Flying Service — modified fingers on July 19 when former proprietor Steve Brief bought the enterprise to Rives Potts and Russ Francis.
Although each males are pilots, the duo are uncommon candidates to take over a flight service. Potts, 74, races yachts and was a member of the crew that gained the 1980 America’s Cup. Francis, 70, is a first-round NFL draft decide with a 1985 Tremendous Bowl ring and three choices to the Professional Bowl.
“We’re pals, and we have been sitting down sooner or later and speaking about how a lot we wish to fly and any individual stated … ‘Why don’t we purchase an organization so we are able to fly and have enjoyable?’ That was the genesis of this (buy),” Francis stated. He now serves because the president of the enterprise, whereas Potts is the chairman and CEO.
In a 2022 interview with the Information, Brief stated there have been round 5 entities seeking to take over the airport. On the time, he was involved that there can be no patrons fascinated about sustaining the airport’s historical past of scenic flights and instruction, two main parts of Brief’s enterprise mannequin since he first took helm of the airport 49 years in the past. To Brief, a very powerful a part of the sale was to maintain the airport small and native.
“I did have any individual else, two years in the past, and that turned out to be a dud,” Brief stated. “They have been going to do extravagant issues with the airport. They have been going to tear all this down, construct one thing a lot larger, construct two giant hangars. That was a pie within the sky, I feel.”
Russ Francis (Offered photograph)
In the long run, Brief estimates that he was approached by round 60 entities earlier than promoting to Potts and Francis in early 2023. Francis attributed their profitable bid to their respect for the airport’s historical past and the city of North Elba’s needs.
“We determined to do every part we might (to make the acquisition), with super assist from North Elba … they made clearly understood what they have been on the lookout for and have been we going to have the ability to fulfill these issues that they wanted to maintain the airport viable however to not overdevelop this,” he stated.
“I got here from Hawaii. That bought overdeveloped actually quick after I was rising up,” Francis added. “I’m not fascinated about (overdevelopment). We wish to run this airport as a service to pilots within the space and right here on the Lake Placid airport, with all of the providers that we are able to to supply them with essentially the most pleasurable expertise flying that’s attainable.”
Brief remains to be employed by Lake Placid Airways because the chief pilot and director of operations. Finally, Francis will transition to those positions as Brief glides into retirement. For now, nonetheless, Brief is taking it one step at a time and prefers a special time period for his present state of employment.
“It’s not retirement, simply but. … It’s ‘I’ve bought the enterprise,’” he stated.
Rives Potts (Offered photograph)
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From cleats to the cockpit
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Francis has been retired since 1989, however the considered operating a flight service of his personal introduced him out of retirement and in to Lake Placid.
“Coming from a vacation spot resort like Hawaii, this place caught my eye … due to the eye that they take to sustaining their Olympic picture and their Olympic presence, with all the big variety of sports activities occasions they do right here yearly. That was additionally a significant cause to think about after which to behave upon buying (the flight service),” Francis stated.
Steve Brief poses subsequent to his twin-engine 1981 Cessna 414A, emblazoned with the Adirondack Flying Service brand, on Aug. 23. Underneath new possession, the flying service is now referred to as Lake Placid Airways. (Information photograph — Sydney Emerson)
Sports activities are a significant presence in Francis’s life. He set the nationwide highschool file for the javelin in 1971 at Nice Hill Excessive Faculty in Eugene, Oregon, with a throw of 259 ft and 9 inches. That file would go unbroken for 17 years. He attended the College of Oregon on a observe and area scholarship and even participated in Olympic trials for javelin; He positioned fourth and simply missed the Olympic Video games. Throughout his junior 12 months of faculty, he performed soccer for the primary time with the Oregon Geese. Why the sudden pivot? Easy — free stuff, the rationale each school child does something. The soccer staff, in want of a decent finish, would pay for his costly veterinary science textbooks.
“I stated, ‘What’s tight finish?’ I had no thought about enjoying any soccer,” Francis stated.
It was additionally throughout his junior 12 months that Francis started studying to fly. Fascinated by the birds of his Hawaiian childhood — “excellent pilots,” he calls them — he spent most of his adolescence considering a life within the sky. Lastly, one Monday, Francis determined to go for it.
“I walked from campus to the Eugene airport, which is about 8 miles from campus … in between courses,” he stated. “I used to be making an attempt to determine how I used to be going to get again. However I walked in (and) there have been two operators: a bunch of younger guys, a bunch of outdated guys. Younger guys stated it’s going to price 20 {dollars} for an orientation flight, then (I might) need to take a take a look at in two weeks to verify (I) understood every part. I simply couldn’t course of all of it.”
Francis determined to strive his luck with the older pilots. They dropped every part and took him up in a airplane without spending a dime that instantaneous. After they landed, Francis realized that the day was solely starting — his first lesson began in quarter-hour.
“That was a Monday, Aug. 19, 1974. … I began on a Monday. I soloed on a Friday. Which, most instances, you’re taking some time. And the rationale you’re taking some time is most individuals weren’t flying thrice a day,” Francis stated.
He would work a graveyard shift at a lumber mill from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., exit to the airport for his first flight of the day, feed the cattle at his household’s ranch, go to veterinary courses, wash vehicles at his second job, return out to the airport for floor college and extra flying, return to courses after which around the day trip with yet another journey to the airport for flying. He would sleep on a cot behind the hangar earlier than going to work and doing it over again. His instruction was free — he washed, parked and refueled planes as cost.
“That (winter was) after I bought a telephone name that stated I’d been drafted, in school,” Francis stated. “I had already gone by the (selective service) lottery course of, so I instructed my older brother, I stated, ‘They will’t do this once more.’ He stated, ‘No, you fool, it’s the NFL.’ … I stated, ‘They will’t both; I wish to play baseball.’”
Francis had been 210th within the 1974 MLB draft, chosen by the Kansas Metropolis Royals as a pitcher. Within the 1975 NFL draft — which was once held in January — he was sixteenth total, drafted as a decent finish for the New England Patriots after one whole 12 months of play in his life. Although he had little expertise, Francis completed his diploma and signed on because the third-string tight finish, figuring that, on the very least, the NFL can be an effective way to fund his flying behavior.
“I had no thought what I used to be doing … so I confirmed up at camp as a result of I wanted the additional cash for that different factor — that was airplanes, because it seems,” he stated. “I wished to purchase this little airplane and study to fly, and I flew it from Eugene, Oregon to Boston as a rookie. I bought to see this nice nation as a child who got here from Hawaii and Oregon. These have been the one two locations I’d been.”
When the primary and second-string tight ends bought injured within the preseason, Francis needed to step up and begin. Two weeks into the season, the beginning quarterback was additionally injured and changed by a rookie. The Patriots completed final within the AFC East with a less-than-ideal 3-11 file.
“With followers being powerful in New England, they’re nice if you’re successful,” Francis stated. “We gained three video games and misplaced 11. Guess who bought the blame? The 2 rookies — as a result of I’m operating left after I’m imagined to be operating proper.”
Finally, Francis realized his left from his proper. He was chosen for the Professional Bowl throughout three consecutive seasons — 1977, 1978 and 1979 — and sat out the 1981 NFL season earlier than enjoying six years with the San Francisco 49ers. It was with the 49ers that he would earn a Tremendous Bowl ring in 1985. He retired in 1989 with 393 receptions and 5,262 receiving yards over his profession.
All through all of it, Francis took each alternative to take his airplane up. Within the ensuing years since his NFL retirement, he indulged his lifelong love of airplanes, flying constitution service and air ambulance in each his native Hawaii and Nebraska. When the prospect to buy the flight service at Lake Placid airport arose, Francis and Potts have been all in.
“We got here up right here and took a glance and, principally, like a whole lot of hundreds of different folks every year, we fell in love with the place,” Francis stated. “However, not like a whole lot of hundreds of individuals, they’ll’t simply transfer away from household or jobs or the rest. My son’s grown; He’s within the Denver space.”
In line with Francis, Lake Placid Airways was the right alternative to maintain flying whereas spending some extra time within the North Nation. He and Potts intend to maintain up scenic flights alongside constitution service on the airport. They don’t wish to overdevelop the world, however they do intend to usher in some trendy facilities that make flying extra snug for pilots, similar to gas vehicles.
“We attempt to do every part we are able to to make it snug right here as a result of Rives and I’ve each been flying lengthy sufficient and we recognize it wherever we go,” Francis stated.
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Retirement on the horizon
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Former proprietor Brief, 76, is just not fairly performed flying within the meantime.
“I plan on making myself accessible (to fly),” he stated. “I’m anxious to get a few pilots on board.”
At the moment, Brief is the one constitution pilot on the airport, although Francis will quickly be part of that roster. Insurance coverage has been hesitant to proceed masking Brief as he will get older, and although he has by no means made a declare in his 49 years on the airport, he isn’t positive how for much longer the protection will final. So, as enterprise picks up and extra constitution pilots come on board, Brief plans to fly right-seat — that’s co-pilot, to ground-dwellers — and prepare the pilots to navigate the distinctive Adirondack terrain.
“Lake Placid is just a little little bit of an intimidating airport for flatlander pilots to fly into, and so I’ll in all probability be flying right-seat to get them snug flying out and in,” Brief stated. “It’s not terribly tough, however there’s some issues it’s good to know.”
Brief has had his pilot’s license since 1965 and the airport since 1974. He has spent his entire life round planes — his father, additionally a pilot, bought a airplane when Brief was one 12 months outdated. Brief took over the airport after his father suffered an aneurysm in 1974.
“I took a depart of absence from Kodak,” Brief instructed the Information in 2022. “I’m nonetheless on a depart of absence.”
Brief is at the moment contracted till early February as a constitution pilot. Past that, it’s all up within the air.
“I don’t suppose retirement goes to be actually laborious for me. … I’ve bought so many issues that I wish to do this I don’t suppose there’s going to be any grass rising underneath my ft,” he stated.
Brief’s first vacation spot is Bellingham, Washington, the place his two youngsters — each of their 30s — and his grandchildren reside. Someday quickly, they’ll go to him out in Lake Placid, too. Brief and his youngsters are all Adirondack 46ers, and he hopes to introduce his grandchildren to the Excessive Peaks. After that, as a self-proclaimed “awful tennis membership member,” Brief hopes to get in a while on the courtroom. He additionally plans on extra journey and extra time outdoor, particularly mountain climbing and biking.
“One good factor is that I’ve bought quite a bit on my bucket listing, and so there’s loads of touring that I wish to do. I wish to spend extra time with my youngsters and grandkids,” he stated.
As for the way forward for the airport, Brief hopes that Francis and Potts maintain its unparalleled service to pilots a high precedence.
“I hope it continues to be good for pilots flying of their single-engine and twin-engine planes,” Brief stated. “We’ve had a five-star ranking primarily not as a result of we had vehicles for fueling or an enormous pilot lounge or something like that.
“It’s as a result of nearly all my workers, most of my workers, have been pilots — even the individual sitting within the workplace. Pilots recognize that.”
rewrite this title New homeowners land at Lake Placid Airport | Information, Sports activities, Jobs
Summarize this content material to 100 phrases The signal on the Lake Placid Airport is seen on state Route 73. (Information photograph — Andy Flynn) Russ Francis (Offered photograph) Rives Potts (Offered photograph) Steve Brief poses subsequent to his twin-engine 1981 Cessna 414A, emblazoned with the Adirondack Flying Service brand, on Aug. 23. Underneath new possession, the flying service is now referred to as Lake Placid Airways. (Information photograph — Sydney Emerson) The signal on the Lake Placid Airport is seen on state Route 73. (Information photograph — Andy Flynn) LAKE PLACID — Lake Placid Airways — previously often called the Adirondack Flying Service — modified fingers on July 19 when former proprietor Steve Brief bought the enterprise to Rives Potts and Russ Francis. Although each males are pilots, the duo are uncommon candidates to take over a flight service. Potts, 74, races yachts and was a member of the crew that gained the 1980 America’s Cup. Francis, 70, is a first-round NFL draft decide with a 1985 Tremendous Bowl ring and three choices to the Professional Bowl. “We’re pals, and we have been sitting down sooner or later and speaking about how a lot we wish to fly and any individual stated … ‘Why don’t we purchase an organization so we are able to fly and have enjoyable?’ That was the genesis of this (buy),” Francis stated. He now serves because the president of the enterprise, whereas Potts is the chairman and CEO. In a 2022 interview with the Information, Brief stated there have been round 5 entities seeking to take over the airport. On the time, he was involved that there can be no patrons fascinated about sustaining the airport’s historical past of scenic flights and instruction, two main parts of Brief’s enterprise mannequin since he first took helm of the airport 49 years in the past. To Brief, a very powerful a part of the sale was to maintain the airport small and native. “I did have any individual else, two years in the past, and that turned out to be a dud,” Brief stated. “They have been going to do extravagant issues with the airport. They have been going to tear all this down, construct one thing a lot larger, construct two giant hangars. That was a pie within the sky, I feel.” Russ Francis (Offered photograph) In the long run, Brief estimates that he was approached by round 60 entities earlier than promoting to Potts and Francis in early 2023. Francis attributed their profitable bid to their respect for the airport’s historical past and the city of North Elba’s needs. “We determined to do every part we might (to make the acquisition), with super assist from North Elba … they made clearly understood what they have been on the lookout for and have been we going to have the ability to fulfill these issues that they wanted to maintain the airport viable however to not overdevelop this,” he stated. “I got here from Hawaii. That bought overdeveloped actually quick after I was rising up,” Francis added. “I’m not fascinated about (overdevelopment). We wish to run this airport as a service to pilots within the space and right here on the Lake Placid airport, with all of the providers that we are able to to supply them with essentially the most pleasurable expertise flying that’s attainable.” Brief remains to be employed by Lake Placid Airways because the chief pilot and director of operations. Finally, Francis will transition to those positions as Brief glides into retirement. For now, nonetheless, Brief is taking it one step at a time and prefers a special time period for his present state of employment. “It’s not retirement, simply but. … It’s ‘I’ve bought the enterprise,’” he stated. Rives Potts (Offered photograph)– From cleats to the cockpit – Francis has been retired since 1989, however the considered operating a flight service of his personal introduced him out of retirement and in to Lake Placid. “Coming from a vacation spot resort like Hawaii, this place caught my eye … due to the eye that they take to sustaining their Olympic picture and their Olympic presence, with all the big variety of sports activities occasions they do right here yearly. That was additionally a significant cause to think about after which to behave upon buying (the flight service),” Francis stated. Steve Brief poses subsequent to his twin-engine 1981 Cessna 414A, emblazoned with the Adirondack Flying Service brand, on Aug. 23. Underneath new possession, the flying service is now referred to as Lake Placid Airways. (Information photograph — Sydney Emerson) Sports activities are a significant presence in Francis’s life. He set the nationwide highschool file for the javelin in 1971 at Nice Hill Excessive Faculty in Eugene, Oregon, with a throw of 259 ft and 9 inches. That file would go unbroken for 17 years. He attended the College of Oregon on a observe and area scholarship and even participated in Olympic trials for javelin; He positioned fourth and simply missed the Olympic Video games. Throughout his junior 12 months of faculty, he performed soccer for the primary time with the Oregon Geese. Why the sudden pivot? Easy — free stuff, the rationale each school child does something. The soccer staff, in want of a decent finish, would pay for his costly veterinary science textbooks. “I stated, ‘What’s tight finish?’ I had no thought about enjoying any soccer,” Francis stated. It was additionally throughout his junior 12 months that Francis started studying to fly. Fascinated by the birds of his Hawaiian childhood — “excellent pilots,” he calls them — he spent most of his adolescence considering a life within the sky. Lastly, one Monday, Francis determined to go for it. “I walked from campus to the Eugene airport, which is about 8 miles from campus … in between courses,” he stated. “I used to be making an attempt to determine how I used to be going to get again. However I walked in (and) there have been two operators: a bunch of younger guys, a bunch of outdated guys. Younger guys stated it’s going to price 20 {dollars} for an orientation flight, then (I might) need to take a take a look at in two weeks to verify (I) understood every part. I simply couldn’t course of all of it.” Francis determined to strive his luck with the older pilots. They dropped every part and took him up in a airplane without spending a dime that instantaneous. After they landed, Francis realized that the day was solely starting — his first lesson began in quarter-hour. “That was a Monday, Aug. 19, 1974. … I began on a Monday. I soloed on a Friday. Which, most instances, you’re taking some time. And the rationale you’re taking some time is most individuals weren’t flying thrice a day,” Francis stated. He would work a graveyard shift at a lumber mill from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., exit to the airport for his first flight of the day, feed the cattle at his household’s ranch, go to veterinary courses, wash vehicles at his second job, return out to the airport for floor college and extra flying, return to courses after which around the day trip with yet another journey to the airport for flying. He would sleep on a cot behind the hangar earlier than going to work and doing it over again. His instruction was free — he washed, parked and refueled planes as cost. “That (winter was) after I bought a telephone name that stated I’d been drafted, in school,” Francis stated. “I had already gone by the (selective service) lottery course of, so I instructed my older brother, I stated, ‘They will’t do this once more.’ He stated, ‘No, you fool, it’s the NFL.’ … I stated, ‘They will’t both; I wish to play baseball.’” Francis had been 210th within the 1974 MLB draft, chosen by the Kansas Metropolis Royals as a pitcher. Within the 1975 NFL draft — which was once held in January — he was sixteenth total, drafted as a decent finish for the New England Patriots after one whole 12 months of play in his life. Although he had little expertise, Francis completed his diploma and signed on because the third-string tight finish, figuring that, on the very least, the NFL can be an effective way to fund his flying behavior. “I had no thought what I used to be doing … so I confirmed up at camp as a result of I wanted the additional cash for that different factor — that was airplanes, because it seems,” he stated. “I wished to purchase this little airplane and study to fly, and I flew it from Eugene, Oregon…
