Redtail Spotlight – Bronson MacDonald

At the age of 11 Bronson MacDonald took a PanAm airplane ride from Washington DC to Buffalo, New York by herself. Scared, anxious and curious, she loved every minute of this new way of travel.  She knew at that moment, one day, she would become a pilot.

Bronson began flying with Redtail Air Adventure in April. Among the many adventures she has in a typical work day are flying guests on scenic tours over Canyonlands National Park, Arches and Monument Valley. She says every day is interesting with endless views of canyons, dry desert dunes, rivers, rock faces, lonely quiet mesas and talking to her passengers about all the views they are seeing from the air.

One of Bronson’s favorite parts about working with Redtail is looking at the schedule to see where she will be flying.  It may be a scenic tour, dropping off river rafters in remote areas, taking on dirt runways near Colorado, chartering guests to and from Burning Man or maybe even different locations around the Unites States.

Aside from rock climbing, trail running, and hanging out with her husband, Joel, their dogs and dear friends, she loves to fly and explore the U.S. from the air. Three days after receiving her private pilot’s license, Bronson flew with a friend in a Cessna 185 turbo Tailwheel from Longmont, Colorado to Juneau, Alaska, to visit her bush pilot brother. She flew to Key West, Florida and back, preparing for her instrument check ride and flies all over the Midwest, Wyoming and home to Estes Park, Colorado, every chance she gets.

Bronson doesn’t just fill the role of pilot.  She is a very energetic and upbeat gal who uses any spare time to run errands for Redtail and help the mechanics.

Bronson’s love of flying is more than apparent. Spend any time with her and it won’t be long before you hear (what I’ve deemed to be her personal motto) “Come fly with me!”

Originally hailing from Lewiston, New York, a small village north of Niagara Falls, Bronson has lived the past 22 years in Estes Park, Colorado where she served, bartended and managed a Baja style Mexican mom and pop restaurant for the last fourteen of those years.

Redtail Spotlight – Jan Rousseaux

In December, 2015, John Ramsey, President of Redtail Air Adventures, asked his wife, Jan Rousseaux to design and create a storefront in downtown Moab for Redtail Air.  The purpose of this store would be to book narrated scenic tours and sell aviation and travel related merchandise. John’s choice was ideal.  Jan was up for the challenge and quickly dreamed up an aviation theme design for the store.  Over a 3-month period, contractor Jeff Johnston made her sketches come to life.  “Jeff nailed it and we couldn’t be more pleased with his craftsmanship.  The store is very interesting and beautiful,” Jan says.

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was home for Jan where she grew up as a child of missionary parents.  She moved to the United States at age 18 and lived in Springfield, Missouri and Las Vegas building a career as a fashion designer for the show business industry.  She designed lines of leather apparel under her label Rousseaux for the western and motorcycle industry for offshore production.

 

Jan’s position as Store and Merchandising Manager is no small feat. She uses her background in design, her resources and contacts to bring unique merchandise and artwork to the store. “We have an excellent team of employees and each person brings special skills to their job.  I enjoy working with them to provide excellent customer service, advertising, social media, special events and promotional sales.  We even have a small sewing department which makes me feel very at home.  Redtail is a great company and I feel honored to be a part of it!”

 

Jan is excited to have recently begun flying lessons at Redtail Air with the chief pilot Kim Ruble.

 

She currently owns YellowKat Marketing, which furnishes uniforms for the hospitality industry.

 

Redtail Spotlight – John Ramsey

During the real growth phase of the computer industry, John Ramsey started a business in his basement that in the next 20 years would exceed annual revenues of $1.5 billion.

Now, Redtail Air Adventures is fortunate enough to have him in the role of Company President.  John became the President of Redtail Air Adventures 10 months ago and has used his business knowledge to navigate and grow the company.

He didn’t enter the aviation world without some firsthand experience though.  His father, a WWII pilot, instilled a love for airplanes in him by teaching him to fly when he was a teenager.   He has owned about 10 airplanes, including a 1956 Twin Bonanza that he restored to better than new condition. He holds a flight instructor certificate for airplanes and instruments, Commercial and Multi engine, and a Seaplane rating, all of which he received under the VA bill after being honorably discharged from the Navy.

As President of Redtail, John wears many hats.  Describing what he does in a day, John says “I try to put things in place that will enable Redtail to grow and prosper and provide a good career for all who are part of it.  My responsibilities range from defining our corporate strategy, making sure finances are in place to grow the business and making sure that we have a desirable work environment to retain and attract great employees.” What he finds interesting about his position is seeing all the facets of Redtail’s business and learning from others about each of those facets.

When asked about his favorite part of working with Redtail, John replies, “We have a fabulous group of people who are fun to be around, who care about each other and are really good at what they do.”

John feels that there is a unique opportunity to grow Redtail in several directions based on its core business segments.  His goal is to provide opportunities for all of the Redtail family to grow both professionally and financially.

When John is not busy with Redtail, he enjoys building things.  Every house he has owned has become a remodel project, and he jokes that the projects were “always over budget.”

Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska and Atlanta, Georgia, John currently makes his home in Moab, UT with his wife Jan.

5 Unique Ways to Stay Cool & 2 Cool Ways to Look Hot

Okay, Okay!!! You’ve probably heard it all before. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, keep the shades pulled and whatever you do, do not use the oven.

But have you heard about these unique yet tried-and-true methods of our heat harrowing ancestors?  Give them a go, you’ll be glad of it.

Loosen up

We can learn a lot from those who have spent their lives in tropical climates. Loose and light.

The guayabera, a relative of the traditional Filipino barong and sometimes called the “Mexican wedding shirt,” is constructed to cool naturally by wicking moisture from the skin. This shirt is worn untucked to increase airflow around to the wearer.

In modern day Moab, Redtail Air Adventures has a great variety of these light weight, fashionable sundresses.  There’s really no need to accessorize, as they are a cool fashion statement themselves, but you could add a necklace or bracelet in the evening to make it a date night ensemble.

Get to the point

The pulse point that is. Pulse points are located in several places over the body.  Blood can be cooled at these points and then carried throughout your body to reduce your overall body temperature.

Bring your body temperature down by running cold water over your wrist for a few minutes hourly. Resting your feet in a tub of cool water, splashing water on your face, or wearing a cold towel over your neck will produce a similar effect. While you’re at the faucet, fill a glass and hydrate the inside as well.

Go shopping

Spend your dollar on something tangible instead of a huge cooling bill.  Really, you don’t have to buy anything but, those downtown shops are going to be air conditioned anyway so take advantage.

Eat…all day long.

Yes, that’s what I said. HOWEVER, the real idea is to break up your eating into smaller, more frequent meals. You’ll want to eat on the lighter side, fresh fruits and vegetables, cool soups.  Steer clear of large or protein packed meals as it will force your body to stoke its metabolic fires (fire = hot).

And, eat to sweat. This may seem a little contrary to the eating light idea but take example from the cuisine of some of the world’s hottest places like India, Thailand, and Latin America.  Spicy foods make you sweat without actually raising your body temperature and, once your skin is damp, you will cool by evaporation.

Cool your head

Cooling your head cools your entire body. If you’re going to wear a hat in the heat, put a few drops of peppermint oil in the lining. Mint oils have a high percentage of menthol to act as a cooling agent.  Peppermint oil can be especially potent so use sparingly.

When resting your hot and weary head, store your feather pillows away for colder nights and replace them with a pillow of organic cotton.  Billowy cotton disperses the heat from your head, while down holds the heat in.

Remember those pulse points we talked about earlier?  Try filling a water bottle with cold water, wrapping it with a light towel and placing it under your neck or at your ankles.  You can also bag your sheets and throw them in the freezer for a half hour or more before you go to bed.

Do you have any ideas to beat the heat?  Share them with us in the comments.

P.S.  If you liked the items you saw in this post but can’t make it down to the Retail Air Adventures store in downtown Moab, give them a call.  They’re super friendly and helpful.  AND, they ship!!

 

Show Your Patriotic Side

This Stars and Stripes Stunt Kite is the perfect toy to keep the kids occupied while you get the Independence Day BBQ started! With a 56″ inch wing span, this kite will be noticed by all around! It comes with two control handles that allows it to do spectacular tricks such as fast turns, spirals and power dives! This is a fun toy for the entire family! $32.95

American Flag Key Chain

This is the perfect item to show your everyday patriotism! Affordable at only $1.95, this key chain will help you remember your keys while showing pride in your country!

 

Our Vintage American Flag scarf is a beautiful piece that can be worn in a variety of ways! As a light weight scarf, it can be worn around the neck even in the summer, but also works as a great swimsuit cover when tied around the waist. $21.95

For a limited time these tanks are 50% off with the purchase of a Distressed Shirt

 

This adorable tank top shows off some of the best things about America! Within a heart to show your love for the grand US of A, you’ll see America’s cultural icons such as The Statue of Liberty, The American Flag, Uncle Sam’s Hat, American Football, the Sheriff’s Star and food favorites such as Hot Dogs! This tank top is perfect for your holiday celebrations as it will keep you cool in the summer sun, while matching the festivities of the 4th of July! $21.95

 

This great bag is made from vintage canvas, making it durable and long lasting! Printed with USA, this bag is perfect for your 4th of July celebrations! This bag can fit all your summer time needs, and still show off your love for the USA! $31.95

These US Military Laundry Bags are the real thing! Previously used by the United States Military, these laundry bags have been refurbished and are ready to be used by you! They are durable and can fit anything you need! Great for travel or storage, they certainly make a great conversation piece.$39.95

 

If you can’t make it into our Down Town Moab Store or to the Redtail Air Adventures outlet at the Canyonlands Airport, give us a call at (435)355-0889.  We ship!

 

Redtail Air Opens Retail Store on Main Street Moab

There has been a lot of hubbub going on at 23 Main Street and this had a lot of locals and frequent Moab visitors wondering, what is going on?

What’s going on is Redtail Air Adventures retail store in downtown Moab. And, what can we say, perfection takes time.  

Our team has been busy putting this “not your typical tourist” store together. While we have plenty of tourism related items, i.e. tees and children’s busy books, we offer an amazing variety of aviation related items from clothing to home decor.

Have this fun, relaxed Moab look anywhere.

One of our favorites, and several of our guests as well, is the uniquely distressed plaid shirts.  No two of these shirts are alike and they come in both men and women styles.  They’ve been branded with our exclusive Moab tag so they make a perfect memento or gift.

When you come into the store you will meet some of the best people in the world.  These ladies will most likely be ones you want to come back and visit.  (Check out our Redtail team profiles published weekly on Facebook)

While you’re here we can sign you up for an out of this world, well, an awesome off the ground experience with one of our unforgettable aerial tours. You haven’t seen the Canyonlands until you’ve seen them by air.

We are excited to share this journey with you and hope that you will check back with us to see how the store has come together and future plans.

It would be safe to say you won’t find a store like this anywhere else.

 

Everything Aviation