Morning of May 14th: Page AZ to Flagstaff AZ

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Approaching the Grand Canyon: First Aerial Look

This was leg was to be the LONG-anticipated aerial tour of the Grand Canyon by way of one of the special flight corridors over Grand Canyon National Park. Ruth and Bob Hawkins opined that "Flagstaff"and "Tucson" would be optimistic for today -- and their optimism was rewarded.

After losing two days in Tennessee having to wait to replace a starter in one of the airplanes, and then by weather in Arkansas, their skepticism was understandable. The plan had been to fly from Page to Flagstaff to see some extraordinary but unspecified sights, airplane or other, in someone's hangar before going to Tucson.

We chose the easternmost flight corridor, since it was most direct and provided the longest flight path over the actual canyon. Launching from Page, we made our first turn over lower Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam. Then we picked up our now-familiar landmark of Horseshoe Bend and proceeded southwest along the Vermilion Cliffs and Marble Canyon portion of Grand Canyon National Park. As we went south, the canyons grew wider and deeper, from large to very large to huge to gaping to gigantically spectacular! And all that was just en route to crossing the park, well before Flagstaff.

Judy and Geoff both agree that, despite their past visits through the canyon on the surface, the aerial tour gives visitors a superior sense of the pure scope, size and beauty of the area.

Fantasy & New Friends in Flagstaff

Donna An kindly arranged for our brief visit with her in-laws -- who inspired HER to take up flying! -- and a tour of Robert T's splendid aircraft collection. Bob Hawkins inducted Robert T as an honorary Dragon in thanks.

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