Back Country Pilots host fly-in event at Huntington airport

By Phil Fauver Staff Writer

Three glider pilots flying in a cross-country contest from Nephi Utah on their way to Colorado and other locations in Utah were forced down by weather in Emery County. The rain and thunderstorms were dangerous for flying that afternoon.
These glider pilots soaring through the lifting thermals over the Manti LaSal Mountains reported the view was spectacular.
One of the pilots Steve Kurner from Mesa Arizona flying in the contest from Nephi, Utah said the thunderstorms stopped the needed thermal lift to keep the gliders flying. He was flying at 15,000 feet elevation at one time but when the thunder and lightning started it was down hill from there. These pilots saw the Emery County Huntington Airport and found it to be a safe place to land and wait out the storms. Another of the pilots was from Kansas.
After the stormy weather Jeff Gamble from Telluride Colorado flying a Cessna 180 airplane arrived to tow the gliders back to Nephi. It is assumed that as soon as the gliders were above the mountains they could glide back to Nephi.
This is the second Nephi glider contest. Last year a glider pilot flew from Nephi, Utah to Mormon Mesa, Colorado, over the San Rafael, over Cedar Mountain then on to Cedar City and back to Nephi or 750 km, a seven hour flight. “Taken from the Utah Soaring Association web site. ”