COF Event Page, AZ September 22, 2018

Yuma Squadron 508 joins Cadet Orientation Flight event at Page, Arizona in support of the Navajo Codetalker Squadron

         The Navajo Codetalker Cadet Squadron is Arizona Wing’s newest. Located in remote northern Arizona the squadron does not have access to its own aircraft. For this special Cadet Orientation Flight event 5 aircraft and pilots from other Arizona Wing squadrons and an airplane flown in by the National Commander from New Mexico converged on Page Airport on Saturday morning, September 22. Page is located in extreme northern Arizona adjacent to Lake Powell, the Glen Canyon Dam, the border with Utah, and just to the southwest the Grand Canyon. In short, this was a uniquely scenic setting. Skies were cerulean blue, as is only seen at higher elevations, with light winds and a pleasant maximum temperature in the mid-80’s. Yuma has not seen a night-time low in the mid-80’s for weeks!

          While CAP aircraft lined up on the tarmac, cadets gathered in the hectic terminal waiting room.

CAP Flight Line in the Distance

The Page waiting room

CAP Cadet activities are fun

First time in the pilots seat

Commercial aerial tourist season was still going full blast.  

           Event organizer Chris Shehi along with able assistants sorted pilots and cadets to see that everyone had a pleasant experience. My cadet was a pleasant young woman from Cow Springs, AZ. She had never flown in a small airplane   before but had no hesitation climbing into our slightly faded red, white, and blue Cessna 182.

COF portrait

C.J. Smith getting ready to go flying

            The first flight syllabus covered basic orientation to the aircraft controls and maneuvering. We took off and headed north then east along the shore of Lake Powell. Our destination for the day was spectacular Rainbow Bridge close to Navajo Mountain. We found the arch easily, did a few circling turns then headed back west along the south shore of Lake Powell to our starting point. Having come such a long way, we were set for a second orientation flight. We completed the objectives of the second powered flight syllabus while flying southwest over the Marble Canyon area and Vermillion Cliffs. The Little Colorado Canyon and its junction with the main flow of the Colorado was visible in the distance. All too soon it was time to turn back toward Page.

          My fellow senior member, Scotty, and I had left Yuma with the sunrise early Saturday morning. We had a nice tailwind as we cruised northeast. The trip through the Zuni Point Corridor of the Special Flight Rules Area at the Grand Canyon was unforgettable. Unfortunately, we paid the penalty of having had a tailwind on the inbound journey by facing an unrelenting headwind and moderately turbulent conditions on the ride home. We arrived back in Yuma after a busy but productive day as the sun was easing down slowly toward the western horizon.