by Stew Mosberg

Flying on a commercial airline comes complete with hassles and inconveniences, long lines, invasive security searches, hidden fees and late arrivals instead of what was once an enjoyable adventure. However, there is an alternative, chartering an airplane – which despite preconceived notions is not just for rock stars, CEOs or celebrities any more.

Most people who have lived in Durango know of Animas Air Park’s existence, but few have driven up the hill behind Home Depot to visit it, let alone been lifted off the mile-long runway to ascend into the wild blue yonder.

Delvin “Del” Gregg is chairman and president of the Board of Directors of Animas Air Park, as well as the owner and operator of Gregg Flying Service. He has been flying since he was 16 years old and is the son and grand-son of pioneering aviators James Floyd Gregg I and II. Native Coloradoans, the Greggs, in effect, started the airline community in La Plata County. Their first air strip was atop the mesa now graced by Fort Lewis College.

 
The arrival of FLC forced the Greggs to move their air service 17 miles out of town off the dirt road that is now highway 172.

The third generation Gregg admits charter flights may not be for everyone, but when time and convenience are factored in, it can be quite cost effective. Contracting Gregg Flying Service to take one person from Durango to Albuquerque or Houston or Las Vegas for example, is the same total cost for a family of four. It is easy to see how that can become economical.

Gregg is quick to point out that another great reason to go small is to bring adventure back to the flying experience. Cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet 4 provides an entirely different experience for passengers. Being on board one of Gregg’s Cessna 172 or 182 four-seat planes or the roomier six-seat Cessna 206 offers a memorable bird’s eye view. No longer losing sight of the earth to cloud cover or missing the beauty of rolling landscapes and sumptuous horizon lines, passengers enjoy a totally new perspective. Considering the Air Park’s departure rate of just two to 10 flights per day, lining up for take-off or waiting for a gate is all but unheard of.

Del Gregg, of Gregg Flying Services, checks spark plugs recently on an AeroStar at the Animas Air Park. As the son and grand-son of pioneering aviators James Floyd Gregg I and II, he has been flying since he was 16 years old./Photo by Steve Eginoire.

In addition to the “on-demand” charter service and private plane hangers available at Animas Air Park, Gregg provides airplane maintenance and fueling plus a flying school with himself or fellow instructor Ron Johnson. For less than the cost of most 10-day cruises for two, just 40 hours of instruction will result in a license to fly for most individuals.

A few miles north of the Air Park, along the edge of Highway 550, is Val Air Glider Port, home to the Durango Soaring Club. Drivers zipping by the grassy field might see a sleek, tiny aircraft deftly touching down or being hauled aloft tethered to a slightly larger airplane. The term “glider” often used to describe the engine-less plane, actually refers to the descending flight of the heavier-than-air craft. Soaring, on the other hand, is the term used when the craft gains altitude or speed from rising air, or thermals.

Experiencing the joy of silent flight above Durango is easier than most people think. Weather permitting, the facility operates seven days a week from May through October and offers a variety of options for those wanting to go aloft.

The sailplanes are towed skyward by a single-engine aircraft and then released; the immediate silence that follows creates a sense of freedom and exhilaration for most first-time passengers. Soaring like an eagle, coasting alongside the beautiful San Juan Mountains, viewing the Animas River winding through the valley, flyers can see miles of scenery in any direction.

For $125 for a 15-minute ride to $175 for more than a half hour in the air, one passenger plus an FAA certified pilot will share perhaps the thrill of a lifetime. Sharing a ride with one other passenger (plus the pilot) can be accomplished for $210 to $310 depending on the length of the flight. For another $75 there is an option to extend the flight an additional 20 minutes, providing the thermal activity is good and no additional rides are waiting. Because there is a weight restriction of 300 pounds, the two-passenger plane is best suited for one adult and one child.

Alas, after rising high above the Animas Valley for the past 35 years, owner-operator Lavern St. Clair has decided it is time to retire. Although Val Air Glider Port may still be in operation come springtime, Durango Soaring Club is for sale.

To contact Durango Soaring Club,  call (970) 247-9037. To charter a flight or take flying lessons at Animas Air Park, contact Del Gregg at 247-4632. Gregg Flying Service is located in the green building at the end of Flight Line Road.