AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022 - 62

pilots after the 2021 airlift. " The mountain
of donations that you delivered is by
far unprecedented. SWIF will be shutting
down much of their operation through
Wednesday to expedite the handling of
this valuable bounty. Southwest Indian
Foundation will be going out into communities
to manage the distributions, which
are so very appreciated. "
Aircraft departed from 12 different
airports: Montezuma (19AZ), Mogollon
(AZ82), Show Low (SOW), Sierra Vista
(FHU), Chandler (CHD), Falcon Field
(FFZ), Goodyear (GYR), Deer Valley
(DVT), Albuquerque (ABQ), Sandia/
Edgewood (1N1), Taos (SKX), and Santa
Fe (SAF). Aircraft range in sizes from
Piper Cubs, Cessna 150s, and RVs to
Beechcraft King Airs and Cessna 425s.
Pilot George Mower flew his bright
yellow and white Van's RV-9A from
Benson, Arizona, after collecting clothing
from his community and local thrift
store. " I wasn't exactly sure how to fit that
much into my airplane, but I removed
the passenger seat and stuffed 16 bags
of clothing into the baggage area, seat,
and floor-up to the top of the canopy. It
was quite a tight fit, " he says. After landing
in Gallup, volunteers from Wiseman
Aviation unloaded his airplane, surprised
at how many bags he'd stuffed inside.
When he took off to return home, he says
his RV jumped off the runway without the
weight. " I have compassion for the poverty
on the Navajo Nation. I'm involved
in our local food bank where I live, and
it seemed very natural to me to want to
participate. And being a pilot, it's a great
opportunity to visit a new place, " he said.
Bob Wirth of Scottsdale flew his
Beechcraft Bonanza A36 from Deer Valley
Airport filled with donations in the airlift.
He's been flying the airlift for more than
25 years. " During my over 50 years as an
active pilot, I have always felt I wanted
to use my hobby and airplane in a way to
help other people. Transporting muchneeded
items of food, clothing, personal
care, toys, tools, et cetera to the Navajo
people in great need of these items right
here in my home state of Arizona provides
particular satisfaction, " says Wirth. " My
heart goes out to these wonderful people
62
AOPA PILOT / December 2022
who are living in conditions much worse
than my own; the opportunity to help
these people motivated me to participate
in the airlift for over 25 years. "
And it was the first time participating
for the New Mexico Wing of the Civil
Air Patrol. Three aircraft participated.
" Making a difference in people's lives is
a rare opportunity, " said Maj. Charles J.
Graham. " I joined CAP to give back to
others through aviation, so participating
in the airlift was extremely gratifying. I
sometimes wonder who is wearing a particular
jacket or pair of shoes, but it doesn't
matter-it's the giving that counts. " Four
squadrons in CAP are currently collecting
donations-likely there will be more,
Graham says. " So, yes, the New Mexico
Wing will be a part of this year's airlift. "
" So many people in aviation, God
bless them, have such great hearts, " says
McColley. " I think it's primarily an opportunity
for the aviation community to speak
up and say they care. "
The thirty-eighth annual Navajo
Christmas Airlift was scheduled for
November 10 to 12, 2022.
julie.walker@aopa.org
navajochristmasairlift.com
The bags of donations are gathered first on the
airport ramp, then trucked to a hangar, and then
sorted and moved out into the nation. Wiseman
Aviation, a large FBO in the area, has helped
organize the airlift for many years. Staples such as
the makings for a simple chicken chili are among
the goods that pilots stuff inside every available
nook and cranny in their airplanes and go to help the
indigenous Americans on the reservation.
SOUTHWEST INDIAN FOUNDATION
http://www.navajochristmasairlift.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - December 2022
