Every year, the Blue Sky Fliers from Phoenix conduct a Christmas airlift of clothing, food and toys to the Navajo Nation. This year’s flight will be Saturday, November 11th. 2017 will be the 33d year with Sierra Vista supporting the airlift for many of those years. Dick McColley was a founder of the airlift and was responsible for bringing participation to Sierra Vista. Planes fly with a pilot and optional passenger and the rest of the useful load is dedicated to donations of clothing, toys, toiletries, food, etc. Clothing should be new or lightly used. Children’s clothing, and especially cold weather clothing is in need. Pilots are responsible for collecting their own loads. Cross leveling is typically arranged one on one between pilots, or with the assistance of the organizers.
The 33rd Annual Navajo Christmas Airlift is now being planned for Saturday, November 11th. We will be flying into the Navajo Indian Nation at Gallup, New Mexico (KGUP), approximately 196 nm from DVT on a 055 degree true course. We will synchronize for an arrival with another core group departing Sierra Vista Libby Field (KFHU) that morning, although we have pilots participating from across the Valley and the State.
