GRAND CANYON DISCOVERY TOUR

"What an awesome experience it was to fly around the Grand Canyon last Monday. The entire staff at the Grand Canyon Airport was tremendous... "

"The scenery is absolutely gorgeous. It is definitely worth the money."

"Thank you so much for making Donna's and my wedding a huge success..."

• Prices are per person
• Safety and VIP service are our #1 priority
• Mustang only flies state-of-the-art ECO-Star EC130 B4 helicopters
• Surround sound stereo with individual headsets and voice activated microphones to communicate with your pilot and other guests
• Air-conditioned cabin for year-round comfort
• Personalized narration from your friendly, knowledgeable and highly qualified pilots
• Photo ID is required upon check-in for all flights
• Visa, MasterCard, American Express, traveler's checks and cash accepted
• Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended

Travelers wish for a dry and clear day on their Grand Canyon tour but sometimes Mother Nature has her own plan. The weather at the Grand Canyon can change quickly and for those going during the summer months of July and August commonly called "Monsoon Season" you may get a bit wet.

You may encounter some rain as you walk through this wonder but some incredible photos of the Grand Canyon happen after a refreshing rain shower.

One of many nice things about going on a Maverick Airlines or Maverick Helicopters sightseeing tour to the Grand Canyon is you won’t have to carry a heavy backpack stuffed with survival gear. But there are a few important items that will help you make the most of your time in this wondrous place. Here are five tips about what to take on your trip.

BACKDROPS AND TIPS FOR THAT PERFECT GRAND CANYON PHOTO

Want to impress family and friends with amazing photos from your visit? Here are some views you must capture during your Mustang Helicopters tour to the Grand Canyon:

• Las Vegas Valley
• Lake Mead and Lake Las Vegas aerials
• Hoover Dam aerial
• Fortification Hill
• Grand Canyon aerials—above and below the rim!
• Hualapai Indian Reservation
• Eagle Point view
• Guano Point view
• Colorado River aerial
• Grand Canyon Skywalk

Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Valley of Fire are among the world's top travel destinations. Every year, millions of people come to enjoy these natural and manmade wonders. And when they visit they take lots of photos—hundreds, maybe even thousands of them!

Want to make the most of your photo opportunities? Here are a few tips to help you best capture these breathtaking views from our Mustang team members:

• Cameras: It doesn't matter whether you have a disposable, manual or digital camera. Just be sure to bring the one you're used to shooting with—along with some spare batteries. Large-format, Polaroid or video cameras are also fun to try out and can provide different perspectives of the landscapes.
• Film: If you aren't using a digital camera, you may want to have a couple of types of film on hand. Generally, film is given an ASA or ISO speed rating between 100 and 800, based on its sensitivity to light. Higher numbers are better suited to landscapes where there isn't much light. You'll want to use a 100-speed film during the brightest daylight hours. If you're shooting in the morning or early evening, a 400-speed film is the better choice. TIP: Black and white film can make for remarkable pictures at the Grand Canyon.
• Lighting: Strong, direct sunlight can wash out a landscape. Sometimes it's better to photograph during sunrise or sunset when the light is softer—plus, you'll capture deeper shades of red and orange in the rocks. TIP: You may want to use your flash for evening shots when photographing people or wildlife. A flash can also fill light in some of the darker, shadowed sides of the canyons, rock formations or dam.
• Composition: Though landscape shots seem like a cinch, they are quite tricky. Generally, the faster your shutter speed, the more detail and sharpness your photo will have. You also might try framing a distant scene with a strong foreground object—a tree, rock or person. Just make sure you are standing only an arm's length away from it. This technique lets you spotlight the distant background and creates a three-dimensional effect.
• Stability: With helicopters, there is often vibration and movement due to the engine and rotor blades. Professional photographers usually have a VR (vibration reduction) lens to address this issue. The best thing you can do is to try not to let any part of your arm touch the frame of the helicopter while you're shooting.
• Patience: When you visit these remarkable locations, almost every moment—24 hours a day—is a photo opportunity! So relax and don't worry. You'll have plenty of chances to get a great shot. In fact, the opportunities are so abundant they'll reveal themselves at every dip and turn of the helicopter ride.

Here are some tidbits and facts that you might enjoy learning about the Grand Canyon National Park, mighty Colorado River, Skywalk and my personal experiences. Read and enjoy!!!

21 Reasons

• The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world - and it's a lot easier to access than some of the others, like Mount Everest, the Paricutin Volcano and the Great Barrier Reef!
• More than five million people visit the Grand Canyon National Park each year. This many people can't be wrong!
• No photograph or verbal description of the Grand Canyon is ever going to suffice. You just have to experience its overwhelming vastness and awe-inspiring splendor in person.

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By The Numbers

• The Grand Canyon National Park covers 1,904 square miles (or 1,217,403 acres) and includes an extensive system of tributary canyons.
• The highest points at the Grand Canyon are found at Point Imperial on the North Rim, which is 8,803 feet high, and Navajo Point on the South Rim, which is 7,498 feet high. Compare this to the elevation of the lowest point at Phantom Ranch on the bottom of the canyon floor - which is 2,400 feet high.

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Larger Than Life

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, which is located a mere 300 miles from the Grand Canyon. That's a four-hour drive by car, and less than an hour flight by helicopter. Since the Grand Canyon was right here in my backyard, I never felt a pressing urge to visit - even though it's one of the most written about and most photographed places on Earth. I just assumed I'd get around to it some day.

Well, some day finally came. I won't tell you my age - but suffice to say, my Grand Canyon visit was at least 30 years overdue...