Flight Training - August 2012 - 24

FLYING CARPET

By Greg Brown

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TYLER ALLEN at Embry-Riddle Flight Exploration Camp, Prescott, Arizona (left) and at music camp (above).

THE SWEET MELODY OF FLIGHT

SOARING TO SUMMER CAMP

yler Allen beamed as we cleared the ridge west of Window Rock Airport. Behind us in the baggage compartment, the high-school junior’s viola, bedding, and duffel bag promised musical adventure. After months of scholarship applications and paperwork, Tyler was en route to Northern Arizona University’s Curry Summer Music Camp. I transferred the controls to my young friend, who leveled us at 8,500 feet and steered over the Navajo Nation toward Flagstaff.
“Greg, do you know when to test the ELT?” Tyler asked, pointing to the emergency locator transmitter switch on the Flying Carpet’s instrument panel. Before I could answer, he cited the regulations on how often to check it, and at what time during the hour. “I’ve been studying for my pilot written test,” he boasted. “Are you excited about music camp, Tyler?” I asked. “Yes, Greg, but I’m nervous about tomorrow’s audition!” We’d recently learned that just one orchestra would encompass student musicians of all levels this summer. While Tyler had studied viola for only a year, other attendees would likely include seasoned players bound for college music programs. “Tyler, you may feel challenged, but don’t get discouraged; you’re a talented musician and the camp teachers are terrific. You’ll catch up and do great.” A month earlier when Tyler’s spring semester ended, he’d discovered that his school viola wasn’t available for summer camp. Tapping my own long-ago violin training, I’d located a viola online and had it sent to him. When it arrived, however,

TRAVEL LOG: ST. GEORGE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (SGU)
Runways: 1/19, 9,300 by 150 feet Elevation: 2,884 feet Location: Five miles southeast of St. George Extra: St. George’s Zion National Park is famous for sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red.

Tyler revealed that like many first-year string students he’d not learned to tune it. The Navajo Nation is no hotbed of orchestra expertise, so from 150 miles away I’d emailed Tyler viola-tuning videos and iPod apps. When those weren’t enough, I offered to teach him via Skype. But my old violin’s sad state of closet-induced disrepair rendered that impossible. After two days on the phone, I finally located a suitable viola teacher in nearby Gallup, New Mexico. “Tyler, this’ll cheer you up if you're playing catch-up at music camp: Next month at Embry-Riddle Flight Exploration Camp, you’ll be the one ahead of everyone else.” “Really? You think so?” “Sure, many of those kids will never have piloted an airplane before, or will have only a few hours at the controls. But you’ve flown lots with me, and all over the Southwest with our buddy Adriel in his Flight Design CT and the Navajo Nation tribal King Airs. How many other highschoolers have flown a turboprop?” “Heh! Not many,” he said. “I guess I will be one of the more experienced pilots at flight camp. I’m looking forward to that!” Jean and I spiced Tyler’s Flagstaff music-camp stay by treating him to Thai

COURTESY EMBRY-RIDDLE FLIGHT EXPLORATION CAMP

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Flight Training - August 2012

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