Photos at http://www.sahga.com/flagstaff_0704/idx ... _0704.html

Eric and I met Alan Housel and Eric's student Joel at the flyer's campground on Thursday night. Alan had been at Sheba already with Ed Bennett, who got a flight there in the evening. Giuido joined us at the campground hoping to get some PG time in as well. Joel (Mr. Costco) brought everything imaginable for camping, even to the limes for the Corona.

Friday morning we got out and while Joel and Eric were training, I set up on the bench and with Alan's help got a short soaring flight. Eric set up a Spectrum 144 for a test flight and got another short one.

Friday afternoon we made the trek 70 miles to Selligman to fly the Aubrey Cliffs. Alan showed us the way to the north launch (with a few small detours, since he'd only been there once). We arrived there at around 5 PM, quickly set up and took off. I went first, Alan followed, Eric took off last with Joel as our wire crew and driver. No problems staying up, we cruised down the 12-mile cliffs and landed at a spot along the highway where we had set up our windsock while passing by. LZ was 8.5 miles from launch according to the GPS. We got back to camp late that night, finally crawled into the tents around midnight.

Up at 7 AM on Saturday, and off to Sheba. We met up with Eric's other student, David, and headed for the top. Alan served as safety man in the LZ when Eric launched Joel first, and then David on their first altitude flights. Nice flights, and they were definitely two happy campers.

We saw a line of weather moving in and headed over to Merriam to try to catch the convergence, but by the time Eric and I were set up on top it was gusting and raining on us, so we ended up driving down to demonstrate "good judgement" (damn). Just before sunset we headed back to Sheba so that John Stokes could pick up the Spectrum Eric had rebuilt and test flown. Yes, that John Stokes, and his lady friend whose name escapes me (sorry). It was blowing like stink but Eric and I each squeezed in short flights as the conditions got lighter at sunset. Alex Serrano and his son David had arrived and joined us afterward as we all went for a good dinner and music at the 2-bar3.

Up at 6 AM on Sunday, off to Sheba once more. Students Joel and David each got another altitude flight (although one of the Falcons was slightly damaged in a blow-over when the wind switched atop Sheba). With the weather again deteriorating, subsequent planned flights by Joel, David and Alex didn't happen. Instead we headed back to the campground to break camp and get started back to Tucson.

John