Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I think the first Sedona Flyin can be summed up in one word...SUCCESS ! I would first like to thank Howard and Elaine Ginn for setting up the Sedona Command Post in their motor home . It provided a handy place to meet and grab a quick bite and something cold to drink during the event ! I had a roster sign up sheet and hopefully everyone signed it . If I have not listed you as in attendance , I apologize in advance .

Ken Knowles
Matt & Linda Smith (Drove)
Terry & Lori Hagle (Drove)
Howard & Elaine Ginn (Pineapple Express motor home)
Rich & Sil Brazell 115RX
Ray & Connie
Bruce & Diane Finney 18JF
Lou & Renee 2751
Gary Jacobsen 118JT
Les & Linda Krumel (Drove)
Ira Zermeno 25801
Jon Levi 165JL
Fraser & Darcy MacPhee 926WM
Tony & Star Ginn
"Cubes" Jim Grahn

Friday was arrival day and the WX was pretty much picture perfect ! Folks began to muster at the Ginn Command Post and then it was time to check into the Sky Ranch Lodge . Several AC made the flight to see the Grand Canyon . Anyone get pics ? The Lodge has one of the best views of the Sedona area...period ! Staff was helpful and the rooms were more than adequate . We all saddled up and headed to town for chow at Jose's Café for some local Mexican/American food and we were not disappointed . Then back to the Lodge to turn in (some of us anyway) as we had a FULL day planned for Saturday .

Saturday started out with beautiful weather again and now we had 9 T-18' on the ramp and six AC headed out for the Winslow Meteor Crater . We made several laps around the crater before heading back to home base . Hopefully someone got some pics they can post . I think Lou might have some GoPro video ? By the time the crater flight was done it was time to head to town for a lunch at the Golden Goose café to honor Ken Knowles . Ken was a significant part in making the T-18 AC a reality for a lot of folks by supplying ready made parts and kits for a lot of us , including me ! We had a great turn out for Ken . I think I counted 24 at the lunch . After lunch it was back to the airport for a quick break and then for those of us that signed up for the Jeep tour it was 2 hours of bone crushing excitement as we traveled one of the back country roads . The rock formations were amazing and the Jeep driver/guide was both funny and informative . If you are on the waiting list for a new kidney I DO NOT recommend one of the Jeep tours ! Good chance you will need a double kidney transplant when it is over ! We got back to the Lodge just in time for a quick bathroom break and some clean clothes (without the Red Rock trail dust) and then it was a short walk to the Airport Mesa Grill for dinner . Good thing we had a reservation as it was packed . Dinner was very good and the end to a perfect day !

Sunday was depart day . Sleep late if you want , leave when you want . Again the WX was near perfect ! I think the first Sedona Flyin rates a 9.5 out of 10 based on location , things to see and do and almost endless places to eat . One of the reasons I picked Sedona was the fact that billeting and the airport restaurant were all within walking distance . The only concern I has was the possible lack of transportation , but as it turned out we had plenty of vehicles . Unless I hear other wise I'll plan for Sedona 2016 for next April .

If you have pics or videos that have not been posted please send them in ! Here are a few from my files...

Here are various pics of the good people and good gatherings in Sedona.

Matt was right in the previous thread - Lori still looks 19!

We had a very nice lunch to honor Ken Knowles.

Renee told the waiter it was Cubes' Bday -- he passed the cake on so as not to rack up an another year!

Starr told the table to smile and don't take a bite - Skipper Rich ignored the command!

It got crazier as the night went on. We took over the bar long after they closed. The nose art on the Navion in our row said it all.

The scenery was spectacular! Thanks to all for a fun trip! - Tony

A picture of the crater 20 minutes SE of Sedona. Pretty incredible how it hit so close to the visitor's center, without causing damage.....eh...?



Our kidney replacement specialist Jeep Tour operator guides. We called them Highley and Williams......



Darcy and I in route formation with Cubes and Matt Smith on the way to the crater with Flagstaff Mountain in the background.



Our Thorp spent 5.9 hours in the air on this trip (including the Crater outing) and saw some of the most amazing scenery this country has to offer, including Lake Powell, The Grand Canyon through Tuckup corridor, Zion's NP and Kolob Canyon, as well as partying with great people and playing tourist........all in a 32 hour period. We could not drive there and back from Salt Lake in that time frame. Darcy is finally getting to experience this GA T-18 world, and is realizing it the wonderment we all have known it is.

_________________
Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

looks like the one in blue had a hankerin for a knife fight. Good pictures. The crater pic is very neat.

Yep , the guy in blue wanted to throw Fraser out of the Jeep after the first mile on the trail ! Something about him being a "City Boy ?"

I hope you organize the Sedona event again in 2016 and also hope that I can manage to be there.
Gary Green

Rich,
Throw is not the proper term, as Fraser was sitting in the rear of the vehicle he was trying to "bounce" him out.

_________________
Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

Not to worry Buffalo Bob will get him next year !

RB

Finally got time to download some of my photos.

Grand Canyon, just south of Grand Caynon Bar Ten (1Z1) airport, altitude of 9500', we were going to cross through the Tuckup Corridor but the ceiling was approximately 10k and the min altitude in the corridor is 10.5k.


The canyon looking east with the cloud cover.


The red rocks just west of Sedona.


Preparing for the Crater Dash, 4 of the 6 ships, the rock formation at the right just behind Fraser's aerial machine is cathedral rock.


Matt and Linda Smith's dog enjoyed the jeep tour.


The "tribe" rock formation, just one of many spectacular scenes on the jeep thingy tour.

_________________
Bruce Finney
N18JF T-18C #262
Yelm, WA USA

Sorry I had to leave abruptly. Back home now too and thanks all for the friendship and a really good time. Special thanks to Rich Howard and Elaine. You make everyone so welcome. we'll post some pics later.

Les & Linda Krumel
Albuquerque

Hey, Renee finally finished the Sedona video we took with the new wing and tail gopro mounts I made. Short and sweet.

_________________
http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

That is slicker than chicken in the bucket , chicken in the beans !

RB

Pretty cool. It looks gyro stabilized. Is it?
Cubes

That is cool, Lou... very nice!

_________________
John Evens
Arvada, Colorado
T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE

That is awesome. Thanks Lou and Renee!

_________________
Matt Smith
Des Moines, IA
55RC