Mountain Valley Airport converted to a fire-bomber base

Mark LaCiura.

CH-47 Chinook taking on fire retardant.

The place where I and many other glider pilots learned to fly has been converted to an helicopter fire-bomber base these pasted few weeks.

On July 15, I witnessed lots of flying activity with fueling and servicing at Mountain Valley Glider Port. I got to see the CH-47 "Chinook" and the CH-54 "The Flying Crane" operate this day. With the White and El Rancho Fires and other fires in Kern County, Mountain Valley is a perfect location for a base of operations.

In my 40 years living in Tehachapi, I know this is not the first time our glider port has been used for this important job. It just shows we need both of our airports here, especially with fires and other emergency that can happen. I feel blessed to have worked at both Tehachapi Airport and Mountain Valley Airport to see firsthand all the great benefits of the Tehachapi Valley.