The annual trip to the Navajo Reservation was a huge success. With
airplanes from our club, others from the valley, and a large contingent from
Sierra Vista, there were a total of 32 airplanes that made the trip. It is
estimated that we took over 3 tons of clothing,
toys, non perishable food and basic hygiene items for distribution to the
various agencies on the reservation that are in need. This broke the old
record of 28 airplanes making the trip.
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Saturday morning briefing in preparation for Navajo Christmas Airlift flight to Window Rock |
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At the conclusion of the briefing, |
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ABSF President Dewey Harnagel extended a cordial invitation to all pilots and crewmembers to come join in on the festivities at the ABSF Christmas party December 9th
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People enjoying the cookies provided by Margaret and Sandy |
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Overhead shot of Greg addressing the crowd prior to departure |
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Keith got a good shot of Dewey and Sandy on the way up. |
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He has a good zoom lense on the camera, we really were not that close |
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Participating in the airlift, |
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volunteer pilot Steve Grothe, pictured here, with his Comanche 260; clothing, toys and food donations have been unloaded and are awaiting to be picked up by the Navajo Division of Social Services
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Co-pilot Jim Little pictured with Steve Grothe’s Comanche 260; |
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unloaded cargo placed ahead of the aircraft is waiting to be picked up by the Navajo Division of Social Services |
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Sandy, Keith, Dewey and Margaret, cargo unloaded from Keith’s Skylane and ready for pick-up |
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Multiply this picture by 16 (32 aircraft made the flight) |
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and it gives you a good idea of how crowded the small Window Rock ramp appeared with 32 aircraft parked on it, with large piles of precious cargo stacked neatly in front of each aircraft |
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A Skylane witll hold a lot of stuff!! |
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Actually, a Mooney will hold quite a bit too! |
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A new term has recently been added to pilots vocabulary……”line up and wait” |
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Well, that’s just what these pilots are doing as they lined up to wait their turn to get fuel for the return trip home. As an expression of their gratitude, the Navajo Nation offered us the opportunity to fill our tanks with fuel priced at a deeply discounted rate |
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Lots of airplanes, lots of stuff! |
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This Navajo gentleman assisted the pilots flying in the airlift with their fueling needs. |
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He has been there every year in the past to first, help get everyone parked and second, to assist with fueling the aircraft. |
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People heading off to the restaurant |
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Sandy and Margart with their hands full of cookies |
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In flight, southwest bound out of Window Rock at 10.5 thousand feet nearing Holbrook. |
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This look to the northwest is of a barren yet beautiful view of the Painted Desert. On the far distant horizon is the San Francisco Mts. at Flagstaff |
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Passing over Holbrook; |
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a great day for flying, smooth air, little wind to deal with and unlimited visibility. The San Francisco Mts. at Flagstaff are in the distance about 75nm away |
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