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Soaring Photo Safari... Aspen, Colorado Photography and Story by D. Purtell - SOARING June '94 |
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June 1994 Front Cover Photograph by D. Purtell © 1993 Aerial Photo: GROB 103 Twin III SL shot from Super Cub above Aspen, Colorado Grob Pilot & Owner: Dieter Bibbig of Aspen, Colorado |
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Excerpts from the story....events occurring in August 1993 ...The person calling was Walter Chi, a local police officer and pilot with Gliders of Aspen. He proceeds to tell me that Dieter Bibbig, a friend of mine who owns Gliders of Aspen, can arrange a flight in his Super Cub over Aspen allowing me to shot air-to-air photos of his new motorized Grob 103 Twin III SL. After a few moments of hem hawing around and Walter starting to say, "If you have other plans...," I finally agree to load up the Nikon and roll my car onto a 27 degree heading for Aspen airport... ...Dieter is one of just a few people in Aspen who can proudly say that he was living there before it became the glamorous hot spot for the rich and famous. Becoming a resident in 1957, he started flying at the local airport when it was nothing but a dirt strip with only three airplanes...He has accumulated over 12,000 hours in powered aircraft and gliders plus over 10,000 tows... ...Reluctantly, I allowed the back seat control stick to be removed. It was not a comforting thought having no controls and flying in the vicinity of one of the busiest airports in Colorado. But the possibility of binding the controls while shooting took priority... ...At a slightly higher altitude, Walter flew me close enough for my 180mm lens to hone in on the Grob as it flew over Aspen. Towards the end of my first roll of film, my camera was not working properly. I thought, "What is the problem?"...Switching to my left eye, suddenly the camera was in focus. It appeared that somehow I had lost my right contact lens. With all the commotion, I couldn't determine if the prop wash had blown it out or if it was lost in the back of my eye... ...I continued clicking the shutter with my lens pointed out the open windows of the Super Cub, using my one good eye, and shivering almost to death. Yes, it was cold at 10,000 feet MSL with the windows wide open and prop blast pelting my face... ...the moments captured on film are their own reward...Next stop Barron Hilton's Flying M Ranch - just dreaming with my fingers crossed... - D. Purtell, August '93
Aspen Slide # 8 © 1993 D. Purtell
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Maroon Bells © 1993 D. Purtell |
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Aspen Slide # 3 © 1993 D. Purtell |
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Aspen Slide # 1 © 1993 D. Purtell |
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