Lessons learned during a rough ride today...(Longish)

Great write-up, Jay. Having flown Atlas out your way in '03, and having
just co-piloted out there with Jim & Tami Burns this past March (we flew the
crater, too), it was kinda neat to be able to "fly with you" in my head.

When we were in that neck of the woods in March, the weather was
unseasonably cool. Parts of Arizona had just been hit with 15 inches of
snow two days earlier -- so density altitudes weren't an issue. It *was* an
issue for us back in '03, and I was really, REALLY glad to have Atlas' 235
horses. Even so, his short wings meant that flying at 11,500 was labored,
and 12,500 was a real chore.

The flight up was really, really nice and while most everywhere in Arizona
is awesome from the air, the vast expanse of nothing between Winslow and
Tuba City was amazing (and humbling.)

That whole area is other-worldly. Iowa is sparsely populated, too, but it's
because the entire state is under cultivation. Arizona is sparsely
populated because it's unsurvivable. Quite a difference...but it's sure
beautiful, nonetheless.

- A corollary to the point above: If Wx information is inconsistant, plan
using the worst case scenario.

Amen. When the Weather Channel is saying something completely different
from Flight Service, I start getting nervous. We always believe the most
pessimistic report, and (occasionally) are pleasantly surprised when the
worst doesn't happen. This is far better than the other way 'round...

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aerials

Great pix!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"