REFLECTOR: Utah Sightseeing

[Mark Magee]

One of my most memorable flights of all time was out of Sedona, over the
Red Rocks toward Flagstaff in a Long EZ at and below 300ft AGL and 150KTS.
Under tips from a fellow Long EZ driver that lived in Sedona we climbed to
about 500ft AGL over Flagstaff to stay semi-legal and continuing NNE (not
looking at a chart) and skirting snow capped Humphrey's Peak we dropped
down to the deck (another Long EZ on my Right Wing), and ran the Painted
Desert at treetop level toward the eastern end of the Grand Canyon. Little
mini volcanoes everywhere. We stayed well clear of restricted air space for
all the GC Sightseeing birds and approached the eastern end of the canyon
at 150 KTS on the deck. There wasn't (or wasn't back then) ANYTHING out
there. Approaching the Grand Canyon from this perspective you will run
across the fissures leading to the GC that look like they go down thousands
of feet. At tree top level you can't see the Grand Canyon such that when
you burst out over the Canyon it's quite an experience. Once the buzz job
is done and you go instantly from 15ft AGL to 3000ft plus AGL it qualifies
as a rush. My wife demanded I return to the rim (which I did NOT). After
all that shock and awe punch the Meteorite Crater (near Winslow AZ) into
your INAV and in about 15 mins your over the worlds largest meteorite
crater. Only some Forestry Service folks working there so we buzzed at low
level generously, under the assumption they enjoyed it.
Information complete.
If you have time, the rest of the story:

>From there we low-levelled back toward the airport at Grand Canyon National
park and my wing man went NORDO on me. He then committed a deadly sin and
broke off from his Flight Leader, and his white Long EZ disappeared in the
white snow below.
I was flying by LORAN back then and gave KCGN a shout about 5 miles out.
The VOR was still -above- me as I climbed to KGCN's altitude so I had no
cross reference on my position. The Mid Continent chain of the LORAN system
was variably effective and drove me to a spot of snow and pine trees where
KCGN should have been.
"Long EZ N34RF, do you have the runway in sight?"
"Not yet Tower, still looking."
"OK, give me a shout when you have the runway in sight."
"Roger."
I began to panic as there was nothing but snow and trees, and an airport
somewhere nearby with considerable Twin Otter traffic in the pattern.
A minute or so later:
"Long EZ N34RF,  can you see the runway yet?
"Tower I'm still lookin' sir."
"Roger, call me when you see it."
"Roger."
I was now humiliated as I was lost, but worse Tower knew it. I climbed up
trying to get a fix on the VOR and as I was climbing up tower called me
again.
"Long EZ N34RF, you got the runway yet?"
"Negative Tower, still looking."
"Long EZ N34RF, can you see the Twin Otter -*directly in front of you*
-?".....

Nothing but snow and pine trees.

I got a quick shot of adrenaline which set my mind to thinking intensely. I
paused before I answered.
"Tower, Long EZ N34RF, I lost a White Long EZ that was flying my right wing
and went NORDO about 15 minutes ago."
"Standby" Tower replied as I imagined he picked up his binoculars.
My buddy had been flying the pattern in his Long EZ waiting for the lights
to land for what he said was at least 5 laps around the track.
Tower thought I was him. Yet I was lost in the forest. I was talking and
squawking but couldn't see the airport, my buddy was flying the pattern
NORDO with tower thinking the voice he had in a Long EZ was the pilot
flying his pattern, yet couldn't see the runway or any Twin Otters in the
pattern as well.
Buddy got the lights, I found the airport. Spent the night tent camping at
Grand Canyon National Park.

We laughed, we cried.....

Does a day end any better that that?

I'd even do it with a wing man to run in NORDO....

Bob, sorry for the long response. It was Epic.

Mark B. Magee
N34XL XLFG
Brady TX




On Wed, Sep 5, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Bob Jackson (Jax Tech)
<bobj at jaxtechllc.com>wrote:

> ** ** ** **
>
> I’m flying to **Utah** tomorrow and would like to fly through several of
> the National Parks on Friday – Arches, Canyonlands, **Glen** **Canyon**,
> Grand Staircase, ****Zion****, etc..  Is anyone a particular ‘pro’ with
> respect to procedures, clearances, check-in authorities, how low can you go
> for these areas?  I’m coming from the East, so plan to make
> Moab/Canyonlands (KCNY) my first stop, unless someone has a better
> suggestion.****
>
> ** **
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions, guidance, links or anything else
> anyone thinks would be useful.  Sorry for the short fuse…****
>
> ** **
>
> Bob Jackson****
>
> Velocity Turbo XL/RG/XC****
>
> N2XF****
>
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