Archive for the flying destinations Category

« Older Entries

“Perfect Use of an Airplane,” Greg’s June column

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg's photographs on May 3, 2012 by Greg Brown

The date had long marked my calendar – a Friday night gala in Santa Fe introducing aerial photographer Adriel Heisey’s new book, The Rio Grande: An Eagle’s View. Adriel’s invested the past ten years photographing the 1875-mile river from its Colorado headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico, all from ultralight and light sport aircraft.

I was intimately aware of my friend’s tribulations in shooting, refining, and culling some 35,000 photographs for the book, all while piloting fulltime for the Navajo Nation and completing other photography commissions. Every month or so he’d call and say, “Greg, I’m flying the President to Flagstaff for a meeting today. Can we hang out someplace with ‘wi-fi’ and good coffee?”

Over sandwiches and cappuccinos, Adriel would share his latest milestones, flying stories, and photos for this seemingly endless project, all while uploading images to some phantom editor from his laptop. Often, he expressed discouragement over the years-long burden of the massive undertaking, but by next visit he’d be renewed by some new fix of flying and photographing amazing sights along the river. Finally, at the upcoming Santa Fe event, Jean and I would experience the long-awaited book of dazzling photographs, essays, and a forward by Robert Redford. No wonder we were excited!

Shortly before the gala, Jean was invited to attend a professional panel in Huntington Beach, California. “That’s the day before Adriel’s book debut,” I reminded her.

“It’s just a morning commitment, Greg,” she replied. “We can fly to California on Wednesday, get a beach fix, and dine out together. There’ll be plenty of time to return home Thursday after the meeting, and get to Santa Fe on Friday for the gala. Surely you won’t mind flying four days in a row…”

Read the story in Greg’s June Flying Carpet column, “Perfect Use of an Airplane,” here. (Non-AOPA members select the preview option on sign-in screen.) First appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine, 6/12 issue.

Main photo: Cochiti Reservoir on the Rio Grande, just west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. See more photos here.

©2012 Gregory N.Brown

Leave A Comment »

How the “Flying Carpet” got its name

Posted in aviation history, flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg on writing, Greg recommends on March 9, 2012 by Greg Brown

Reader Sergio Schaar wrote to ask, “What inspired you to call [your airplane] the Flying Carpet?”

Years have passed since I last explained it, so I thought it appropriate to share my very first Flying Carpet column that tells the story behind the name.

“Magic! The whining of the gyros gave way to mystical drums and rhythmic chanting, crazily mixing images of flight with those of ancient and sacred ceremonies. Chills traveled up and down our spines-we could scarcely have been more astonished if we had arrived by flying carpet.

“Adventurer Richard Halliburton would have appreciated our situation. After hitching ’round the world by freighter and camel in the 1920s, he became obsessed with visiting remote Timbuktu, a legendary mid-Sahara caravan stop. The way to get there, he decided, was by The Flying Carpet, a black-and-crimson Stearman that he bought and shipped to England in 1931.

“With pilot Moye Stephens guiding the Stearman, Halliburton traveled the ancient world to exotic places such as Baghdad, the Dead Sea, headhunter country in Borneo, and, yes, Timbuktu. During the course of his journey he enthralled princes and paupers alike as he took them on their first airplane rides.

“It’s tempting to look back at those times and think we missed the real adventure of flying. Well, we didn’t. Flying was out of reach for all but the wealthiest people in Halliburton’s day, so most people could enjoy flying only vicariously through his writing.

“Today we live exploits that Halliburton’s readers could only dream of — piloting our own flying machines on our own adventures.

“On this particular day, our flying carpet had taken us to a mystical and exotic place in the New World — Window Rock, Arizona, capital of the Navajo Nation, where Jean and I had invited friends to spend the day exploring the annual Navajo Nation Fair…”

Continue reading my first Flying Carpet column, “Ninety Minutes to Another World,” here. (Article takes a moment to load.) This column first appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine, January, 2000 issue.

Read my book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane for more on how Halliburton’s flying adventures inspired the naming of my column and steed.

Top photo: LeRoy Peterson’s black and crimson Stearman biplane, similar in appearance to Richard Halliburton’s Flying Carpet. Lower photo: Miss Navajo Nation at the Navajo Nation Fair, Arizona, as detailed in the column.

Richard Halliburton was a renowned travel writer in the 1920s-30s. Among his most popular works are Richard Halliburton’s Book(s) of Marvels, and The Royal Road to Romance. His lesser-known 1932 book, The Flying Carpet, tells the story of his adventures flying North Africa, Europe, and Asia in a 1929 Stearman biplane.

For more about Richard Halliburton and his “original” Flying Carpet, see “Richard Halliburton and Moye Stephens: Traveling Around the World in the ‘Flying Carpet’“ and “Moye Stephens: Aviation Pioneer and Adventurer“ at Aviation History magazine.

©2012 Gregory N. Brown


1 Comment »

“Ski Telluride!” Greg’s April column

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg's piloting tips, Greg's photographs on March 1, 2012 by Greg Brown

Mountain flying adventure

Finally, we were on our way! With skis, boots, and homemade chili shoehorned behind us, we soared over the ancient Hopi Mesas, isolated Navajo Nation ranches with their eight-sided hogans, Black Mesa’s snow-frosted forests, and the red barrens of Southeastern Utah. Just days earlier Steve and Molly Palley had invited us for a ski weekend at their Telluride condo. Their car would be full for the six-hour drive from Flagstaff, but if we cared to fly…

Telluride! The name quickens the hearts of skiers and pilots alike. Renowned for superb skiing and funky festivals, Telluride also hosts the nation’s highest commercial airport, perched at 9,070 feet in a dead-end canyon ringed by rugged “fourteeners.”

A diehard skier, Jean jumped at the Palleys’ invitation. But I dared agree only conditionally – homework and perfect weather would be required to tackle this notoriously challenging airport.

Pilots must be well-versed in mountain-flying techniques before attempting such destinations: lean the fuel mixture before takeoff; accelerate to climb speed in ground effect; “fly the numbers,” as there’s little horizon reference, cross ridges at an angle, and especially, assess wind flow over terrain to predict and avoid dangerous downdrafts and turbulence.

Continue reading Greg’s April Flying Carpet column, “Ski Telluride!” here. (Please allow a moment for the article to load.) This column first appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine, 4/12 issue.

Top photo: Telluride’s ski slopes overlook the airport (visible at upper left). Lower photo: Final approach to Runway 9, Telluride Airport, Colorado. See more photos here.

©2012 Gregory N.Brown

2 Comments »

Greg’s featured past column: “Cowboy Pilot”

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg's photographs, Well, I'll be! on July 27, 2011 by Greg Brown

“So, do I have to fly out of Flagstaff to hang with the ‘airport slugs?’ Or, are us’ns outta Williams Airport not fit for polite company?” It was the first “official” pilot query from Bruce Bloomquist, who just earned his private pilot certificate and took delivery of a shiny new-to-him airplane in the same week. [Congratulations, Bruce!]

“You need not fly out of Flag to join the slugs, Bruce,” I replied. “My cowboy buddy Baldy, for example, flies out of Seligman. The only requirement is to be hungry on Sunday mornings.”

“Ha! I’ve already heard a story or two about the, um, infamous Baldy!” said Bruce. “I’m really looking forward to meeting him − and all the other flying locals.”

“Baldy is a total character, Bruce − and one of the coolest guys you’ll ever meet!” I offered to share my columns about Baldy. Then I realized that YOU might enjoy knowing Baldy too, so here is the true tale of a real cowboy pilot!

Read “Cowboy Pilot” here. One of my favorite columns, about one of my favorite people, it first appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine back in May, 2005. If you like it, comment below and I’ll post an additional column about him.

Photo: Baldy Ivy and his ’41 “T-craft.” See additional photos here. Visit Baldy’s web site, PilotShareTheRide.com.

©2011 Gregory N. Brown

3 Comments »

“Lessons and Landmarks,” Greg’s August column & photos

Posted in aviation history, flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg's photographs on June 30, 2011 by Greg Brown

Cross-country odyssey during the Air Traffic Controllers strike

“Four-four-Mike, I’ve been calling you for two minutes!” I was climbing with Jean and two buddies out of Salt Lake City International Airport, in a Cessna 210. Frantically, I apologized for missing the controller’s calls. “There are mountains out there!” he chided, “What if you missed a vector?”

There was little danger, as we were in good visual conditions. But missing radio calls on an instrument flight plan is inexcusable. Why such a blunder? While another pilot flew, I was attempting to monitor two frequencies while filing a flight plan four hours in advance of our final leg home to Lafayette, Indiana.

The reason? Three months earlier, 30 years ago this month in August, 1981, President Reagan had fired 12,000 air traffic controllers in the ugly wake of a strike… Continue reading Greg’s August Flying Carpet column, “Lessons and Landmarks,” here. (Please allow time for the article to load.)

Photo: Santa Catalina Island’s “Airport in the Sky,” California (Chris Dejongh photo). See more photos here. Thanks to all the pilots who provided “Airport in the Sky” photos this month, including Chris Dejongh, Barry Knutilla, and Bill Rote −and extra kudos to Diane Myers, Gabe Wisdom, and Jeff White, who flew dedicated photo missions to help me out!

©2011 Gregory N. Brown

Leave A Comment »

“Santa Fe Concorso,” Greg’s June column & photos

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg's photographs on May 5, 2011 by Greg Brown

“’Another great reason to come to Santa Fe!’ read Bruce Papier’s email. ‘It promises to be almost as good as Pebble Beach or Hilton Head. If you’re interested, I’ll get tickets.’

“I’m accustomed to such cryptic communications from my old friend, who’s always trying to lure Jean and me to visit him. Not that it takes much urging to draw us to the old Spanish territorial capital, with its rich blend of Spanish and Native American arts, cuisine, and adobe architecture. Then again, my record hasn’t been exemplary lately. It’s become a standing joke that I always seem to be overflying my buddy’s home without landing there.”

Continue reading Greg’s June Flying Carpet column, “Santa Fe Concorso,” (Please allow a moment for the article to load.)

Photo: 1938 Delahaye 145-V12 at last fall’s “Santa Fe Concorso,” La Mesita Equestrian Facility, Santa Fe, NM. See additional photos here.

Learn about attending the 2011 Santa Fe Concorso.

©2011 Gregory N. Brown

Leave A Comment »

Greg’s featured past column: “Festival Flying”

Posted in Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg recommends, Greg's photographs on April 25, 2011 by Greg Brown

Fly into the Route 66 Fun Run this weekend!

Just got an email from my buddy Mark Harris. “Let’s take the girls to Seligman Saturday morning to see the start of the Route 66 Fun Run!” he wrote.

Hey, that’s one of my favorite auto events! I even wrote a column about it. Read “Festival Flying” here. And it’s happening again this coming weekend, April 30th-May 1st, on the longest existing original stretch of legendary Route 66.

The organized events are Friday night and Saturday morning at Seligman, Arizona; Saturday night and Sunday morning at Kingman. I always attend Saturday morning because you can fly into Seligman’s fine airport (P23), walk a few blocks into town, scope out all the incredible cars, and then dine at Lilo’s or the Roadkill Cafe before flying home. (Kingman requires a ride into town.) Are you within flying range of Northern Arizona? Then check out this weekend’s Route 66 Fun Run!

Photo: Mr. Dwarf Car Ernie Adams at the Route 66 Fun Run in Seligman, with his miniature ’39 Chevy. See more Fun Run photos here.

©2011 Gregory N. Brown

Leave A Comment »

“Grand Canyon New Year,” Greg’s January, 2011, Flying Carpet column & photos

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg recommends, Greg's piloting tips on December 10, 2010 by Greg Brown

“Greg, do you and Jean have New Years plans? I’m thinking of bringing my girlfriend to Arizona for a few days.” It was my brother calling from Chicago.

“We’ll be here, Alan, and we’d love to see you. In fact we’ve got a party in the works. Come on out!”

“Great, I’ll make reservations! Oh, and I’m hoping to take Sue for her first visit to the Grand Canyon. How long a drive is that? We also want to lounge at the pool, so that leaves only a day.” I explained that the road trip from Phoenix, where we then lived, required 4-5 hours each way.

“Driving that in one day wouldn’t be much fun, Alan. Would Sue consider flying?” I knew my brother would, because he’s a pilot himself.

“Sure, she’d love that. But could we see much if we flew there? You can’t overfly the Canyon anymore, can you? And how would we get to the Rim?”

“Leave that to me,” I said. “Just get yourselves here, and weather permitting, I promise a day at the Canyon that Sue will never forget.”

Continue reading Greg’s January, 2011 Flying Carpet column, ”Grand Canyon New Year,” here. (Please allow a moment for the column to load.)

Photo: The Colorado River meanders beneath us through the mile-deep Grand Canyon. See more photos here.

©2010 Gregory N. Brown

12 Comments »

“Scent of the Sky,” Greg’s June column and photos

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg recommends, Greg's photographs on May 6, 2010 by Greg Brown

Owner Mike Teeple shows us around Red Rock Ranch Lavender Farms.

“Ever heard of the ‘Arizona Lavender Festival,’ at someplace called Concho?” asked Jean from behind the Sunday section. We were lazily sipping coffee over the weekend paper.

“No, but Concho is over by St. Johns, on the New Mexico border. It’s just an hour away by Flying Carpet.”

“Well, I like lavender, and nothing’s happening today. Maybe we should go.” So lavender grows somewhere besides Provence, France, eh? And who would expect it to flourish in parched Arizona?

Ride along for our surprisingly compelling visit to the Arizona Lavender Festival in my June column, “Scent of the Sky.” (Please allow a moment for the column to load.)

Above, owner Mike Teeple shows us around Red Rock Ranch Lavender Farms. See more photos from our trip.

What’s more, there’s still time to plan your own trip to this year’s festival, June 24th to July 3rd. Visit Red Rock Ranch Lavender Farm’s website for more information. ©2010 Gregory N. Brown

Leave A Comment »

Greg’s April column, “Bar 10 Ranch,” and additional photos

Posted in flying adventures, Flying Carpet column, flying destinations, Greg recommends, Greg's photographs on March 9, 2010 by Greg Brown

Recently, our local “airport slugs” from Flagstaff, Wickenburg, Seligman, and Aguila, Arizona flew across the Grand Canyon to a backcountry airstrip perched on the North Rim, to enjoy good company, a home-made pancake breakfast, and a horseback ride. Talk about incredible! Read my April Flying Carpet column, “Bar 10 Ranch,” about the adventure, and see additional photos here.

Interested in visiting Bar 10 Ranch? Light-plane pilots are welcome at the ranch’s Whitmore International Airport (1Z1), but research the strip and phone ahead for reservations before landing there.

©2010 Gregory N. Brown

Leave A Comment »

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 87 other followers