Flight Training - August 2014 - 29

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also intrigued by the cascade's unusual
configuration, spilling 90 degrees from
a wide, lazy stream into a narrow rock
chute. Masses of mud tinted the torrent
umber; no wonder the cataract is nicknamed "Chocolate Falls."
After obsessively orbiting and photographing the falls, I finally broke free of
their spell and steered westward toward
the San Francisco Peaks and home. But
hardly had I turned when distracted by
another remarkable sight-a splash of
raw vermillion punctuating the barren
landscape.
Renowned artist and pilot James Turrell, who works exclusively in the medium
of light, years ago purchased Roden
Crater-a volcanic "cinder cone" east of
Flagstaff-and embarked on a long-term
project to craft a giant art piece out of it.
Inspired by the celestial alignments of
New Mexico's Chaco Canyon and other
native ceremonial sites, Turrell sculpted
the crater and pierced it with concretelined light channels penetrating to the
interior. In the process, the cone's weathered surface was excavated, revealing raw
red volcanic cinders visible from miles
away. (Hopefully Turrell's masterwork
will one day open to the public.)
I'd overflown Roden Crater before but
only randomly, and now mentally fixed its
location just west of Grand Falls. Again I
circled and took photos. Then I returned
to sightsee town from aloft, practice a few
landings, and spoil myself with that occasional but eternal joy of flyers: scoping my
house from the air. As one who is so often
destination-focused, it was a rare pleasure
rambling local skies for an hour on this
heavenly morning.
Such aerial attractions beckon to all
aviators on lazy summer days, wherever they may roost. It's just a matter of
discarding the practicality of a destination, and rising to the occasion. Taxiing
in, I remembered the rich words of J.R.R.
Tolkien, who wrote, "Not all those who
wander are lost."
Greg Brown is an aviation author, photographer,
and former National Flight Instructor of the Year
(www.gregbrownflyingcarpet.com).

AUGUST 2014 FLIGHT TRAINING

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Flight Training - August 2014

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