The Sedona 99s were honored to welcome local pilot and photographer Ted Grussing for a presentation on motorized gliders and aerial photography.
Ted began flying gliders in 1996 at age 59 and quickly fell in love with silent flight. After roughly 1,800 hours in pure sailplanes, he transitioned to a Lambada motorglider he named Mariah. The aircraft let him self-launch from Sedona Airport, shut the engine down to soar, or leave it running for longer photo missions—turning the plane into what he has often called his “aerial tripod.” From that unique vantage he has created thousands of striking images of Sedona’s red rocks, the San Francisco Peaks, and the wider Northern Arizona landscape.
Members and guests were treated to stories of cross-country soaring, the pure joy of engine-off flight, and the careful work of composing photographs while aloft. Ted’s combination of flying skill and artistic eye made the evening both inspiring and educational—a reminder of the many ways aviation can connect us to the beauty of the place we call home.
It was a privilege to host him. Thank you, Ted, for sharing your passion and your remarkable view from the sky.
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