Iconic Cessna Skyhawk Celebrates 65 Years in the Sky

ELEVATING ART: DRONING ABOVE THE CAJON PASS

By Scott Schwartz

Today, we take the ribbon of blacktop that winds through the Cajon Pass for granted. As our cars, trucks, and SUVs downshift to keep pace as the 15 Freeway ascends to the summit, linking San Bernardino with the high desert, how many of us give thought to the struggles of those who once trodded through this rugged country via horse, mule, or wagon?

(Photo by Scott Schwartz)

The great contrast; a ribbon of concrete (the 15 Freeway) cuts a swath through miles of rugged country in the Cajon Pass. (Photo by Scott Schwartz)

The word “cajon” means “box,” in Spanish. And, that word certainly describes some of the isolated canyons here. “Cajon” also formed part of the name that was officially given to the area by Padre Joaquin Pascual Nuez in his 1819 diaries: ex-Caxon de San Gabriel de Amuscopiabit. “Amuscopiabit” was the name of the Native American settlement that was located in the area.

However, military governor Pedro Fages may have been the first white man to travel though the Cajon Pass. The year was 1772, and Fages was chasing some Spanish Army deserters.

It is likely, though that the first American to cross the Cajon Pass was mountain man Jedediah Strong Smith.

(Photo by Scott Schwartz) Smith passed through the area during his 1826-1827 trek from Salt Lake City.

The Mormon Rocks, so named for the Mormon pioneers who came through the Cajon Pass during the 1850s. These rock formations are sometimes referred to as the “Rock Candy Mountains.”

The Lytle Creek recreation area. (Photo by Scott Schwartz)

To the left of the formation is Cajon Wash. The road in the distance is Hwy. 138.

Lytle Creek, today, is a community with roughly a thousand people calling the area home. In addition to its permanent residents, weekends find the area packed with visitors who come to fish (the creek is stocked with trout), hike, or just enjoy a brief respite from suburban life.

But, the story of Lytle Creek takes us once again to the Mormon pioneers. We return to the year 1851. The commander of one of the three Mormon Battalion companies that came through here was a Captain Andrew Lytle, who camped in this canyon while on his way to San Bernardino. Lytle’s group was one of the first group of pioneers to settle in San Bernardino, and he eventually served as that city’s mayor.

Author’s note: All of these photographs were taken with a DJI Phantom 4 drone. I have found the drone to be a great way of combining my love of aviation, photography, and history. Please visit my blog: www.elpasomoun tains.blogspot.com

ICONIC CESSNA SKYHAWK CELEBRATES 65 YEARS SINCE FIRST FLIGHT

Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. Throughout its celebrated history, Aviation Flying Club completed nearly company, is honoring the 65th anniverthe Skyhawk has remained innovative 200 volunteer flights for children and stusary of the first flight of the most popular and updated with the latest avionic techdents from the greater Wichita area. single-engine aircraft in aviation history, nology. In 2019, the aircraft, along with This year, Textron Aviation was Textron Aviation’s Cessna Skyhawk. the Cessna high-wing piston fleet, awarded a contract by the U.S. Civil Air Since the aircraft first took to the sky, received an addition of new standard and Patrol (CAP) for 17 Cessna piston engine more than 45,000 Skyhawks have been optional equipment as part of the Garmin aircraft, and among the aircraft were 11 delivered to customers around the G1000 NXi next-generation integrated Skyhawk 172s. The CAP holds one of world—more than any other aircraft in flight deck, which provides pilots with the world’s largest fleets of singlethe industry and solidifying the Skyhawk enhanced control and connectivity in the engine, piston-powered aircraft – 550 in as the aircraft of choice for pilot training. cockpit. total. More than 500 are Cessna aircraft,

“On June 12, 1955, the Cessna Today, the Skyhawk remains an inteused by CAP to save lives, provide disasSkyhawk took to the skies for the first gral part of Textron Aviation’s pilot outter relief and emergency services, perHistorical Cessna Skyhawk time, paving the way for more than six reach efforts with programs like Top form aerial photography reconnaissance (Courtesy Cessna) decades of piston innovation and leaderHawk, which enables budding pilots to and assist with military training. ship,” said Chris Crow, vice president of begin their flying journey. For the past five The Cessna Skyhawk platform is the Textron Aviation Piston Sales. “The airyears, the program has connected student world standard for pilot training and is craft quickly established its place as the pilots from flight schools and universities renowned for offering the best combinaultimate training tool, with more than across the U.S. with a factory-new Cessna tion of modern features, including the 1,100 built and delivered to customers Skyhawk for next-gen flight training. leading Garmin G1000 NXi avionics during its first year of production. We are Textron Aviation also donates discovery system with wireless connectivity, a stanincredibly proud of the role the Skyhawk flights to local community organizations, dard angle-of-attack display system, and plays for many pilots as they successfulgiving Kansas youth the opportunity to proven dependability. For more informaly take their first solo flight and continue experience the advantages of general aviation, visit the Textron website at to grow as aviators.” tion firsthand. In 2019, the Textron www.txtav.com. Cessna Skyhawk (Courtesy Cessna)