not over the desolate landscape of Mars

Ray, Lots of folks seem to think this is the local scenery at Marfa. It's
not. We soar over a grassy plateau with cows grazing below. Our airport
elevation is almost 5,000' msl, so we're not that hot in the summer (compared
to lower Texas.) You will find some great (unlandable) scenery down by Big
Bend Nat'l. Park and the Rio Grande but not 'round Marfa! With such strong
conditions and high cloudbases, landing out isn't part of your mission.

The main problem of landing out at Marfa is the long distances between ranch
houses and the paved roads. An experienced XC soaring pilot will have no
problem, as Marfa is really a place to "do" XC, not to "learn" XC.

What trips up some pilots at Marfa is that they forget to bring an experienced
crew person, and think a handheld radio is good enough for the crew car. (Get
a "real" antenna for the crew car.)

In any case, we'll have a good time when you get here!

Burt Compton
Marfa Gliders, west Texas
www.flygliders.com
800-667-9464