Arizona Pilots…Mark Your Calendars!

APA/RAF Payson Fly-In Picnic and Air Camping Adventure

By:  Ken Nebrig – APA Member (Based in Prescott)

Register Now: http://www.paysonflyin.eventbrite.com/

If you are like me, I look at the impressive array of backcountry fly-ins that Mark, Stef, Tommy and the gang have put together for the Arizona Pilots Association and Recreational Aviation Foundation with envy.  While these fly-ins look like a heckuva lot of fun, the sad reality is that with low wings and a low-slung prop, my trusty ground luvin’ Grumman Cheetah could never be confused for a backcountry airplane!  While I have made a few of the fly-ins (Grapevine & Pleasant Valley) where the runways tend to be paved and a little less “dusty”, most of the time the great air camping adventures tend to be reserved for those folks with taildragging, short/rough field airplanes.

For those APA’ers who are in the same boat as me (you know who you are…your Cherokee, Bonanza, or RV-6 just doesn’t have balloon tires or a STOL kit)….don’t despair!  Here in Arizona, air camping thankfully isn’t reserved for just the STOL crowd.  Arizona aviators are fortunate to have one of the absolute best air camping facilities in the country just sixty miles or so Northeast of Phoenix as the crow flies up in Payson, Arizona.  Best of all for the Non-STOL crowd…this magnificent campground is attached to a modern municipal airport, Payson Regional Airport (KPAN).  Payson features a 5,500’ x 75’ paved and lighted runway with plenty of paved parking right next to the campground as well as full FBO services. 

Last year, Mark & Stef (who own a Grumman Tiger in addition to their backcountry “Tail Snagger”), Tommy in his old Piper Super Cub as well as Asa & his bride in his trusty motor home made the trek up to Payson to visit with our Grumman type club as we held our annual picnic and air camping trip at Payson Airport.  We all had so much fun together that we decided then and there that we needed to open it up to everyone in the APA and RAF (as well as NMPA’ers) and make a fun weekend for everyone.

Fast forward to this year….we are now finishing the planning for our annual APA/RAF Payson Fly-In Picnic and Air Camping Adventure, which will be held on the weekend of September 29-30.   We have held it at this same time for the last couple of years, and have had really nice weather, as the monsoon season has generally “moved on”  by this time.

We will be gathering at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday for the picnic on the air campground at KPAN, so bring your picnic basket, lawnchairs or a blanket and join your fellow APA’ers for a picnic in the pines of the Payson Airport.  If you don’t feel like packing your picnic basket, just give the Crosswinds Café (Airport Restaurant) a call that morning & they will have a box lunch ready for you to pick up!

If you feel like staying overnight, just throw your tent and sleeping bag in your airplane and join us Saturday night for a potluck dinner and overnight stay at the magnificent Payson Airport Campground.  You camp just a few feet from your airplane & we are going to have a happy hour, potluck dinner & then enjoy the sunset ‘round the campfire while enjoying the sounds of our more talented APA’ers who moonlight as guitar & banjo pickers!  Some of our aspiring campground chefs (that’s you, Tommy and Lorrie) are bringing their trusty dutch ovens & are going to try out some of their best chuckwagon recipes for everyone!  Break out your old Boy Scout/Girl Scout recipes & join in the fun!

If you are a little “shy” on camping gear, just let me know because at last count I had six tents of various sizes & a bunch of extra gear.  Would be happy to throw some extras in the back of the Cheetah for anyone who might need em’. 

For those of you who have never been air camping at Payson (or even air camping at all!), you couldn’t find a better place to “go backcountry” for the first time!  Payson Airport Campground sports individual campsites right next to the paved aircraft ramp (park right next to your campsite), fire rings, grills, running water, real bathrooms (you know…the kind that have sinks and flushing toilets) as well as HOT showers!  Sure….you can tell all your friends that you were “roughing it”, but only you and your fellow Payson Air Campers will know the true story!  The campground has the best views of the spectacular Mogollon Rim in the state!  Don’t believe me…just look up the campground at the airports website at www.paysonairport.com  and see for yourself!  Best of all, our good friend Beth at Payson Airport has made the use of the ramp, campground and all the facilities absolutely free for the weekend!

If you want to stay overnight, but your idea of “roughing it” is an older Holiday Inn, then come on up anyway.  Payson has dozens of motels in every price range.  We keep an old airport car at Payson that I will be running folks into town for food, beer, etc., so I will be happy to run you to/from the motel of your choice as well!

One of the questions that always seems to come up is if children are welcome at these types of events.  Let me set you straight right away…children are ALWAYS welcome at our fly-ins.  The kids have plenty of room to roam at KPAN, and we always stock up on marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey bars for the kids to enjoy s’mores by the campfire.  So…load the kids or your grandkids in your aircraft or car and bring em’ along!  The cost of bringing them along…..NADA!  The memories that you will make with them….PRICELESS!

Stef and Mark started using a free service to publicize and record RSVP’s for events for the Arizona Pilots Association that we are now using as well.  It makes things a lot easier for keeping track of how many folks are coming!  Anyway…look up the event website at www.paysonflyin.eventbrite.com and register if you think you might be joining us for the picnic or for the whole weekend.  Either way….won’t cost you a dime!

So….APA’ers, it is time to wake up your airplane from its monsoon season slumber, pull it out of the hangar and set a course for Payson to join your fellow APA’ers at the end of September for a weekend of fun with your fellow Arizona Aviators. 

If you have never been air camping before, or have any questions about our Payson Fly-In Picnic & Air Camping Adventure, just e-mail me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will get your questions answered pronto! 

Fly Safe and Fly Often!

Ken Nebrig

Grumman Cheetah N26917 (Based KPRC)

Regional Director - Four Corners American Yankee Association

2835 Willow Oak Road Prescott, Arizona 86305

Register Now: http://www.paysonflyin.eventbrite.com/