US National Park Overflights

On Feb 15, 4:24*pm, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Feb 16, 11:28*am, Whiskey Delta wrote:

Has anyone ever had to land in the canyon? *Suddenly can't get back to
either side.... *That would be a story I would love to hear (assuming
no one was hurt). *I'm not talking about Evil Knievel either...

If there's not too much sink about you could fly a heck of a long way
downriver from just below the rim, and given all the rapid there must
be a pretty good overall drop in the river too.

If memory serves me, Bill Moyes flew a very primitive Rogallo wing
hang glider from the rim to Phantom Ranch at the bottom. Circa 1970.
You probably don't want to land there in a sailplane....

Bob

On Feb 15, 6:42*pm, BravoCharlie
wrote:
On Feb 15, 4:24*pm, Bruce Hoult wrote:

On Feb 16, 11:28*am, Whiskey Delta wrote:

Has anyone ever had to land in the canyon? *Suddenly can't get back to
either side.... *That would be a story I would love to hear (assuming
no one was hurt). *I'm not talking about Evil Knievel either...

If there's not too much sink about you could fly a heck of a long way
downriver from just below the rim, and given all the rapid there must
be a pretty good overall drop in the river too.

If memory serves me, Bill Moyes flew a very primitive Rogallo wing
hang glider from the rim to Phantom Ranch at the bottom. *Circa 1970.
You probably don't want to land there in a sailplane....

Bob

There used to be an old airfield not too far from the North Rim that
was used by either the Forest Service or the NPS. In any event, there
are plenty of open landable spots along the road to the North Rim, I
had my eye on them when I flew there from Parowan a couple of years
ago as I navigated around thundershowers. Don't forget, though, the
Park Service will throw a hissy fit if you land a glider there.

I've also hiked rim to rim a couple of times and about the only flat
spot you could land a glider is in the Colorado River, which I
wouldn't recommend. In addition to wrecking the glider, you'd get
cited for floating the river without a permit!

Mike