The Thrills and Chills of Flying in the Alvord Desert

The Alvord Desert Fly-In is a unique aviation event that takes place in the middle of nowhere - literally. The desert is located in southeastern Oregon, near the Nevada border, and it's a dry, flat, and almost featureless expanse that stretches out for miles. Despite the harsh conditions, pilots from all over the country flock to the Fly-In to test their skills and show off their airplanes. The event is held every September, and during the course of a week, dozens of planes and pilots set up camp on the dry lake bed for a week of flying and camaraderie. There's no formal schedule or itinerary - it's much more of a laid-back, do-what-you-want kind of affair. Over the course of a few days, I saw everything from ultralights to vintage biplanes to high-performance aerobatic planes tearing up the sky. The conditions can be challenging - the desert heat can play havoc with engines and fuel systems - but the rewards are worth it. In addition to the thrill of flying in such a unique environment, there's also a sense of adventure and exploration that comes with being so far off the beaten path. If you're interested in aviation or just love exploring remote and unusual places, I highly recommend checking out the Alvord Desert Fly-In. It's an experience like no other.