By Ted Grussing
… the first photo is a shot of my instrument panel as I waited for the oil temp to come up; this gives you a glimpse at the control panel in Mariah and what I rely on for information when in the air. A combination of “steam” instruments and electronic flight information systems (EFIS) as well as manual inputs. I had just started the engine and everything in the green except for oil temp and within a minute or so it was in the green too … a trip up taxi way A to R21, magneto checks, flaps put in for takeoff, clear the area visually and by radio and rolling on R21. After about a 300’ run, rotate and Mariah returned to the air … me too!
The area was overcast at 9,000’ and there was a lot of virga in the area and very little sun coming through. I took the next shot from roughly 7,500’ S of the Village of Oak Creek and was lucky to get a few rays coming through the clouds … they were the last ones I saw.
In the foreground is the Sedona Resort Golf Course and just above that, the Oak Creek Country Club, which is the course I live on. SR 179 comes into the photo at the bottom on the right side and just above the bottom you can see the roundabout which is the entrance to the Hilton which houses the Shadow Rock Grill where you can fine food and service. Great place to stay also and less than five minutes from our home. To the left of SR 179 near center is Castle Rock and just to the right of SR179 is Bell Rock and to the right of that Courthouse Rock. Just above and to the left of Castle Rock is Cathedral Rock and across from that to the right is the Chapel area and Chapel of the Holy Cross. The airport can be seen above and to the right from Cathedral Rock and the other prominent rocks in the area. Wilson Mountain is to the right and above the airport and is the only true mountain in Sedona … it is a dormant volcano and on the far side of it is Oak Creek Canyon. The volcanic cone of Wilson was sheared in roughly half by earthquakes on the Oak Creek Fault line which along with erosion is responsible for forming Oak Creek Canyon. Above the Red Rocks is the Colorado Plateau and right of center you can see the San Francisco Peaks with snow still on the peaks (wonderful, I’ll be up there Saturday) and to the right and appearing to be connected is Mt Elden. To the left of the peaks is Kendrick Peak, to the left of it is Sitgreaves Mountain and at the left edge of the image is Bill Williams Mountain. Above it all a very overcast and cool sky. Yes!!! After nearly four months Mariah is back flying … good things happen!!!
We’re into the weekend and methinks a lot of air time. Have a wonderful time and enjoy your family and friends … smile and as a friend always tells me, keep the faith!
Back Monday morning … smiles.
Ted
If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember.
You are braver than you believe,
Stronger than you seem, and
Smarter than you think.
But the important thing is, even if we’re apart … I’ll always be with you.
— A. Milne
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The easiest way to reach Mr. Grussing is by email: ted@tedgrussing.com
In addition to sales of photographs already taken Ted does special shoots for patrons on request and also does air-to-air photography for those who want photographs of their airplanes in flight. All special photographic sessions are billed on an hourly basis.
Ted also does one-on-one workshops for those interested in learning the techniques he uses. By special arrangement Ted will do one-on-one aerial photography workshops which will include actual photo sessions in the air.
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