from_mars wrote:
> I know that national parks normally
> have some flight restrictions. I think much of that came about
> because knuckleheads kept killing themselves in the grand
> canyon. They'd go under the rim, come up on a box canyon, and
> not have enough radius to turn. Mountain flying in particular
> can be pretty treacherous.
It might have been that, but it also may have been to keep too many planes 'cruising' the view from spoiling things. Nothing like being in what's supposed to be wilderness, only to have low flying planes sightseeing. I'm sure it's a great view from a small plane, but you have to think of how many folks that might just figure it's a lot quicker and easier to do a low flight over and catch the sights, and the effect on the folks below.
Even with the altitude restriction, if photography or an unspoiled view is an interest, jet contrails are a constant annoyance. Nothing like a great storm-cloud view of the valley with a bunch of straight lines going across. Of course, that's pretty much the case everywhere. It used to be power lines we "photoshopped" out of pix, but contrails are becoming more prevalant than power lines.
Gary
Yosemite Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/roberthouse/yo
