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Flagstaff and Sedona flight

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pennington(at)q.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:01 pm Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]--> Hello everyone.

  

 I flew again this morning, surprise, surprise. After yesterdays  flight to Prescott, I wasn't planning another trip but the weather was too good  to resist. I now have over 90 hours on my little bird and she is purring like a  kitten. 

  

 I filed my Flight Plan with Prescott FSS leaving from Marana Regional  Airport direct to Page Airport, (adjacent to Lake Powell). I've always  wanted to see Lake Powell and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. As an  added bonus, I would pass East of the Grand Canyon. Although there are rigid  flight restrictions over the Canyon, I would be close enough to photograph it.  The weather forecast predicted mostly clear skies with minor Cirrus clouds  along the route. Wind was calm. I activated my Flight Plan after climbing to  around 8000' and shortly thereafter, contacted Albuquerque Center for Flight  Following. Life is good!

  

 The first 50 miles or so are not special. Not much to see except empty  desert. I traded 8000' for 10,500' to clear the Superstition Mountains East of  Phoenix. After reaching 10.5, the EFIS indicated a 26 mph wind and lucky  for me, it was mostly a tail wind. My ground speed over the rugged Superstitions  was 161 mph. Now that's cruisin! A few minutes later I was over Apache Lake with  Roosevelt Lake in the distance. (see the two photos attached). During the  Summer, boaters are buzzing the lakes helter skelter, but today, not a sole was  in sight.

  

 North of the Payson, is the Mogollon Rim.... a sharply rising mountain  range extending East to West for many miles. It is a very popular escape during  the hot Summer months for desert rats in Phoenix and Tucson. For now, it is  capped in snow. (see photo).

  

 About 60 miles or so North of Payson is Flagstaff. It is known for the "San  Francisco Peaks" reaching 12,633' skyward and the "Sunset Crater", an extinct  volcano. Most of the area is currently covered in snow and the outside air temp  at 10,500' was 10 degrees. Burrrrrr! As luck would have it, I had to pee. Damn.  I knew I would not make it to Page. I had to make a decision...Flagstaff or  Sedona? Since field elevation at Flagstaff is 7014' and the temp was in the high  teens, Sedona was my choice. I cancelled Flight Following and my Flight Plan and  redirected to Sedona. I have attached two photos of Sedona...the first is just  South of town, (showing the San Francisco Peaks in the distance), and the other  is at the Sedona Airport. 

  

 Though Lake Powell will have to wait till another day, all is not lost, for  this has been a great day. I hope you enjoyed the trip as much as I did.  

  

 Till the next adventure, happy flying!

  

 Gary Pennington

pequeajim

Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 708
Location: New Holland, PA

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

Beautiful Gary.  Thanks for sharing!  

   

Jim!  

       

From: owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of GARY PENNINGTON

 Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 6:57 PM

 To: lightning-list

 Subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight  

  

  

     

Hello everyone.  

    

   

    

I flew again this morning, surprise, surprise. After yesterdays flight to Prescott, I wasn't planning another trip but the weather was too good to resist. I now have over 90 hours on my little bird and she is purring like a kitten.   

    

   

    

I filed my Flight Plan with Prescott FSS leaving from Marana Regional Airport direct to Page Airport, (adjacent to Lake Powell). I've always wanted to see Lake Powell and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. As an added bonus, I would pass East of the Grand Canyon. Although there are rigid flight restrictions over the Canyon, I would be close enough to photograph it. The weather forecast predicted mostly clear skies with minor Cirrus clouds along the route. Wind was calm. I activated my Flight Plan after climbing to around 8000' and shortly thereafter, contacted Albuquerque Center for Flight Following. Life is good!  

    

   

    

The first 50 miles or so are not special. Not much to see except empty desert. I traded 8000' for 10,500' to clear the Superstition Mountains East of Phoenix. After reaching 10.5, the EFIS indicated a 26 mph wind and lucky for me, it was mostly a tail wind. My ground speed over the rugged Superstitions was 161 mph. Now that's cruisin! A few minutes later I was over Apache Lake with Roosevelt Lake in the distance. (see the two photos attached). During the Summer, boaters are buzzing the lakes helter skelter, but today, not a sole was in sight.  

    

   

    

North of the Payson, is the Mogollon Rim.... a sharply rising mountain range extending East to West for many miles. It is a very popular escape during the hot Summer months for desert rats in Phoenix and Tucson. For now, it is capped in snow. (see photo).  

    

   

    

About 60 miles or so North of Payson is Flagstaff. It is known for the "San Francisco Peaks" reaching 12,633' skyward and the "Sunset Crater", an extinct volcano. Most of the area is currently covered in snow and the outside air temp at 10,500' was 10 degrees. Burrrrrr! As luck would have it, I had to pee. Damn. I knew I would not make it to Page. I had to make a decision...Flagstaff or Sedona? Since field elevation at Flagstaff is 7014' and the temp was in the high teens, Sedona was my choice. I cancelled Flight Following and my Flight Plan and redirected to Sedona. I have attached two photos of Sedona...the first is just South of town, (showing the San Francisco Peaks in the distance), and the other is at the Sedona Airport.   

    

   

    

Though Lake Powell will have to wait till another day, all is not lost, for this has been a great day. I hope you enjoyed the trip as much as I did.   

    

   

    

Till the next adventure, happy flying!  

    

   

    

Gary Pennington   

    

   

    

   

  

       [quote][b]

n5pb(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:50 pm Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

Gary,

 Sounds like you had a superb flight.  The pics are stellar!  

 Katie from Shelbyville, TN ferried my lightning to Clearwater, Fl today.  She had a beautiful clear blue day.  

 I'm gald to have N82PB "home:....Now I can start my flying and share experiences too.

 

 Bear

 

 

 --

Clive J

Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 340
Location: UK

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

Great story and pictures, Thanks Gary.

Puts a whole new light on Flight Plans, in Europe unless you're IFR we

only use them for crossing International Borders. In the case of the

desert and mountain flying........

Or was there lots of highways underneath just out of the picture?

How many folk in the US have ballistic parachutes? 

In Spain I noted a lot of places close by where the land out options

were nil, lots of planes there had parachutes.



Great stuff, can't wait to start touring again.



Regards, Clive



--

EAFerguson(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:09 am Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

Great narratives for Buz to put in the newsletter. We just don't have the  spectacular scenery like this around Atlanta. One of my most memorable flights  was to fly the Grand Canyon at rim height from Lake Powell until we ran out of  canyon. Obviously that was before the Canyon flight restrictions came about.   

  

 Earl Ferguson

 Need a job? Find an employment agency near you.

pennington(at)q.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:19 am Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Good morning Bear

  

 Congratulations on getting your bird home. Katie is a good pilot. I did  part of my transition training with her.

  

 I've been to Clearwater. I really like Florida....the greenery, the water,  the beaches. I've always wanted to fly to Florida and cruise up and down the  beaches. I envy you. You have some very enjoyable times ahead.

  

 Happy flying.

 Gary

 [quote]   ---

pennington(at)q.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Hello Jim

  

 How is that gorgeous bird of yours?

  

 Thanks for your comments.

 Gary

 [quote]   ---

pennington(at)q.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:46 am Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Good morning Clive

  

 Most of my flight traversed rough terrain. There were no suitable landing  spots and very few roads over the Superstition Mountains, the forested areas  North of the lakes or the mountainous areas in and around Sedona. I do worry  about engine outs when flying over that sort of terrain.  I do not  have a chute in this plane and I don't believe many people do. 

  

 Happy flying in Europe.

 Gary

 [quote]   ---

pennington(at)q.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:52 am Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Hello Earl

  

 I was looking forward to seeing the Canyon. I've only seen it once in my  life, about 20 years ago. My, how time flys! 

  

 Have a great day.

 Gary

 [quote]   ---

pequeajim

Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Posts: 708
Location: New Holland, PA

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:25 pm Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

She is doing great.  Flies straight and fast!  

   

I am currently making some changes to the interior and instrument panel.  

   

It will be nice!  

   

Jim!  

       

From: owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-lightning-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of GARY PENNINGTON

 Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 10:33 AM

 To: lightning-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Flagstaff and Sedona flight  

  

  

       

Hello Jim  

    

   

    

How is that gorgeous bird of yours?  

    

   

    

Thanks for your comments.  

    

Gary  

  [quote]    

---

N1BZRich(at)AOL.COM
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:34 pm Post subject: Flagstaff and Sedona flight

In a message dated 2/21/2009 9:10:26 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  EAFerguson(at)AOL.COM writes:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Great    narratives for Buz to put in the newsletter. 	


 

 Absolutely right on, Earl.  And I will put it in the April newsletter  under the News from Builders and Flyers section.  In fact the April  Newsletter will have two other great "travel log" Lead stories with some great  photos.  First Peter Mitchell's flight home across Australia (after  building his Lightning) is a great read with some super photos of the Australian  desert.  Remember it is summer down under and Peter stops at some very  colorful places with names that are pretty hard to pronounce for US  colonist.  And then for a winter in the US perspective, our high altitude  expert,  Dick Clevinger has a great write up and some spectacular snow  covered Rocky Mountain photos to share with all of us.  He even has an  aerial  photo of the Coors brewery.  You know that beer that is brewed  with Rocky Mountain Spring Water.  Remember this will not be until the  April issue.

  

 The reason that both of these will be in the April issue and not the March  issue is that the March issue is about ready to go out and it's lead article  will be a wrap up from the Sebring Light Sport Expo, and this issue is already  29 pages long.  Also in the upcoming March issue (due out about the end of  this coming week) you will be able to see a secret (at this time) upcoming  Lightning advertisement that will make the RV guys envious.  You have all  seen the RV add that shows a photo of a newly completed RV with the pilot  smiling after his first flight - they call it the RV grin.  Well not to be  outdone, wait until you see the Lightning answer to the RV grin.  

  

 Now with those teases, I will get back to work on the March issue.   Just waiting on an update and some photos on the SLSA Lightning LS-1 and then it  will be off to Linda for her magic editing.  

  

 Blue Skies,

 Buz

 Need a job? Find an employment agency near you.

  [quote][b]

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