The Grand Canyon in an RV

[ScottSchmidt]

Yesterday afternoon I took a couple of friends down to St. George UT.
I had an open seat so I called another friend who hasn't flown in small planes much. I surprised them by flying over Fish Lake for fall colors, Bryce Canyon and finally the Grand Canyon. We all were blown away by the flight.

I have flown over the Grand Canyon many times before but the light and sky was the best I have ever seen it. This was also the first time I had flown through the west corridor called Tuckup. This is near Tuweep and the Bar Ten ranch.

This is not much of a write-up, just some beautiful country.
Enjoy!

Fall colors starting to change near Fish Lake


Flying near Bryce Canyon




Rainbow over Kanab, UT

[ScottSchmidt]

Flying into the Grand Canyon

[ScottSchmidt]

[Louise Hose]

....of anyone living in the great, open West. When is retirement?????

Thanks for sharing the photos. I sure miss spending time at the Canyon.

[N520TX]

Those are some excellent photos, Scott. Thank's for sharing. You mentioned that this was not your first time overflying the canyon - I wonder what your first experience was like. Kelly and I overflew it last month for the first time and it was awe-inspriring on one hand and mega-scary on the other ! Seems the closer we got to the canyon rim (from the south) the quieter we both became as we were filled with the "are we really going to do this" line of thoughts. 25 miles across on the Dragon Corridor with nothing but steep canyon walls everywhere - no room for mistakes or hiccups of any kind - adds to the adventure ;o)

[ScottSchmidt]

Originally Posted by N520TX

You mentioned that this was not your first time overflying the canyon - I wonder what your first experience was like. Kelly and I overflew it last month for the first time and it was awe-inspriring on one hand and mega-scary on the other ! Seems the closer we got to the canyon rim (from the south) the quieter we both became as we were filled with the "are we really going to do this" line of thoughts. 25 miles across on the Dragon Corridor with nothing but steep canyon walls everywhere - no room for mistakes or hiccups of any kind - adds to the adventure ;o)

I remember being a little nervous as well which is actually a disease. It is called Grandcanyonitis. The only known cure is to go fly all four corridors with your favorite music playing in the background.

My wife and I were the same way the first time. I flew over Marble Canyon and always felt I had a way out to the east on the bluff. But once you commit to Dragon, Tuckup or Fossil corridors you are committed.

I don't think about it much anymore and just enjoy taking pictures and trying to identify different areas from the air.

You better get started on the cure!

I still have not flown Fossil corridor.

[N282S]

I believe there use to be procedures for the flying the canyon. Some radio calls or something. Can't remember. Are they still in effect? I know, I could look it up but...

[ScottSchmidt]

Originally Posted by N282S

I believe there use to be procedures for the flying the canyon. Some radio calls or something. Can't remember. Are they still in effect? I know, I could look it up but...

From what I know there are no defined procedures but pilots will typically announce which corridor they are entering, altitude and direction.
"RV104XP at the north end of Tuckup at 10,500 southbound."

There is no one monitoring the traffic as far as I know.

Now, here is my soapbox speech about the Grand Canyon.
As private pilots we have all these minimum altitudes we have to maintain and areas we cannot even enter below 14,500 ft. Now the tour groups can fly much much lower and in areas we cannot go.
If I were president it would be the opposite.

You can put lipstick on a tour plane and it is still a loud, slow tour plane.

I would like to see the same rights for us, the taxpayers, as the tour groups have at least.

Even at the minimum of 10,000 ft. over Marble Canyon, it is still amazing. It just bugs me when I see the tour planes cruising around a couple thousand feet below me.

Vote for me and I'll make sure RV's are required by law to stay below the rim of the canyon. Flying under the bridge at Phantom Ranch gets you a 10% tax break.

[n5lp]

Originally Posted by ScottSchmidt

...Now, here is my soapbox speech about the Grand Canyon.
As private pilots we have all these minimum altitudes we have to maintain and areas we cannot even enter below 14,500 ft. Now the tour groups can fly much much lower and in areas we cannot go.
If I were president it would be the opposite.

You can put lipstick on a tour plane and it is still a loud, slow tour plane...

Amen brother! A few of my comments at the bottom of this page and a few more here.

[Ron Lee]

If you want to fly over Grand Canyon get the map. The VFR routes are defined as well as the frequencies. All I did was announce once or twice. Never heard anyone else except tour flights.