Welcome friends to Leg 1 of my Super Flying Adventure Across The World. My name is Starrfoxx Whitestar, and I'll be your pilot in this Grand Adventure. In my life, I have come to learn that life is an adventure and you never know where it will take you. So let's have the wind carry us to new and exciting locations and see where we go and what kind of people we'll meet.
We'll be flying in my trusty Cessna 172. These are wonderful birds and are great for learning in for new pilots. I've had a special place in my heart for Cessnas for many years as a pilot.
We are here at KFFZ, Falcon Field Airport in my home of Mesa, Arizona. It's early morning with a nice 75 degrees and a slight cool breeze. Let's get the plane started up, call ATC (Air Traffic Control), and get ready to roll out to our first destination -- Sedona!
Sedona has been a favorite get-a-way spot of mine for many, many years. The red rocks are simply beautiful, and the weather is gorgeous. It's true that it gets quite hot during the summer, but unlike Phoenix it actually cools off very nicely at night.
ATC has given us permission to pushback and start, so let's get busy!
We've been instructed to taxi to Runway 22R. What that really means is that it is the Right Runway that is facing at a heading of approximately 220 degrees. There is another runway facing the same direction to the Left. ATC wants us to use the Right runway, since we are a small propeller aircraft. We're not the only ones heading to Runway 22R either.
Throttles up! Time to lift off from Mesa to see what adventure awaits. The sunrise is beautiful here in Arizona
Our flight plan has us going to the Phoenix VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Radio) Tower, which is abbreviated PXR. So, we can see Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (KPHX) below us. We'll be turning northbound on Victor Airway 327, since we filed an IFR (Instrument Flight Route) flight plan. V327 is on the Low IFR chart.
It was a nice comfortable flight all the way up. We went into a right turn holding pattern at Sedona Airport (KSEZ), and I took the above picture. You can see the beauty from up here! We are heading downwind, and we'll soon turn on base to get ready for a final on Runway 3.
We're on Final now for Runway 3. You can see the beautiful red rocks in the distance.
Coming in for a soft touchdown at Sedona Airport.
Okay, we are down safely and parked. Let's go ahead and rent a car and visit this beautiful town in Arizona.
The airport, from what you saw, is up on a mesa so we are driving on Airport Rd which will take us down into Sedona.
As we were driving down, the view is breathtaking! I had to get a picture of it.
I love food (who doesn't?), so we are going to get ourselves some lunch at the Red Planet Diner which is on 89a. They've got some of the best burgers in town! Have you ever had a deep fried pickle? Well, Red Planet has got some and that's what I had to start off with along with a bowl of Flash Gordon Chili. I was in the mood for something spicy, so I had a Roswell Burger which has green chili and jalapenos with jack cheese. To drink, I had water and a Captain Kirk's Enterprise smoothie.
Here is a picture of the inside of the diner. I love Science Fiction, and there are some wonderful references to heroes such as James Kirk, Mr. Spock, Flash Gordon, and others.
There's even a statue of the alien who owns the establishment on the way to the restroom!
We've got a full belly, so let's go see some more of this wonderful town. We are going to drive into Uptown Sedona and turn south on Highway 179 which will take us just past the town of Tlaquepaque (pronounced Tah-lock-a-pock-ee) where the Catholic "Chapel of the Holy Cross" church is located.
The first conception of this church was from Marguerite Bruswig Staude in 1932. She was observing the newly constructed Empire State Building in New York. She was so marveled by its construction, that she wanted to build a structure that would glorify the Creator. She traveled in Europe to find a location, but didn't find the right spot until she came to Sedona. It was built and completed in 1956, and the physical construction itself is a miracle in itself!
Before leaving, I had to get a picture of the red rocks for my photo album.
I went and visited some friends afterwards, and then for an early dinner I went to the Barking Frog Grille. I wasn't overly hungry, but I did get myself some Prickly Pear Chicken Flautas and some Aztec Chicken Soup.
One of my buddies is going to let me stay the night, and get some nice rest. It'll give me a chance to plan our next flight!
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