MY SPECTACULAR FLIGHT WITH

GARRET WILLAT

AFTER A COMPLETE CHECK OF ALL COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS

ON MAY 9, 2010 WE SLID THE NOSE CONE FORWARD AND PROP

BLADES CAME OUT EACH SIDE OF THE NOSE CONE ON THE STEMME S-10

THERE WAS A BRIEF MOTOR WARM UP AND WE STARTED DOWN

THE RUNWAY WITH 3,000RPM. AT 3OOFT WE BEGAN TO CLIMB

IN A VERY TIGHT THERMAL. THE MOTOR WAS SHUT DOWN AND PROPS RETRACTED BEFORE 2,000 FT., NEVER TO BE STARTED AGAIN IN THE DURATION

OF A 5 HOUR 36 MINUTE, 360 MILE FLIGHT!

GARRET MADE ME PILOT IN CONTROL IMMEDIATELY AND

WE HEADED SOUTH SEARCHING FOR THERMALS, OUTSIDE

THE 5 MILE CYLINDER.

WE SPOTTED CUMULUS CLOUDS OVER MT. LEMON

AND CHANGED HEADING. WE REACHED THE MOUNTAIN AT 7,000

FEET AND I SUGGESTED HE TAKE THE CONTROLS. WITH A 15MPH

WIND HITTING THE ROCK FACE, HE POLISHED ROCKS UP THE MOUNTAIN

AND SLID THROUGH THE RIDGE 50-100FT AGL!

GARRET LET ME FLY 50 PERCENT OF THE TIME WHILE GIVING ME POINTERS ON HEADING AND SPEED TO FLY UNDER CLOUD STREETS. THIS WAS UNKNOWN TERRITORY TO ME BUT I DID SEE SAN CARLOS LAKE AND COOLIDGE DAM TO THE NORTH FROM 11,000FT. THE EDS OXYGEN SYSTEM WORKED WELL AND WE NEEDED IT BECAUSE WE HIT WAVE LIFT ON OUR RETURN. WE TURNED FOR HOME ABOUT 20 MILES SOUTH OF EAGAR AZ. AND NEAR SUNRISE SKI AREA!

WHEN WE HIT THE WAVE, WE RAPIDLY CLIMBED TO 17,800FT! WE THEN

WERE FIGHTING A HEAD WIND OF 47 MPH ALL OF THE WAY BACK TO MT. LEMON. WITH THAT HEAD WIND WE HAD TO HIT ANOTHER THERMAL OVER

MARANA REGIONAL TO MAKE EL TIRO.

THIS FLIGHT WAS THE MOST MAGNIFICENT EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD OR EVER HOPE TO HAVE! ONCE MORE, I THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO MADE THIS,

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LEARNING FLIGHT OF MY LIFE!!

CHUCK CRAMER