The principal objective of this work party is to move the big rocks out from the aircraft parking area on Runway 17/35 south of the crosswind runway. The grass is tall on both sides of the runway and a lot of grapefruit-to-basketball sized rocks are hiding in that grass waiting to prang a prop or catch a wheel. NMPA is cooperating with the Gila N. F. folks on the work program. We expect to do work parties at Negrito for the next couple of years to make a range of improvements, including installing firepits and a pit toilet, and erecting a picnic shelter. Last year at the Negrito Fly-in (October 1-3, 2010) we installed a new wind sock and repainted the tetrahedron at the runway intersection.
We'll need a lot of pairs of hands for this effort. We're also lining up a backhoe to assist in the effort, if we can work out an agreement on same with the USFS.
Anybody interested in participating, just go on over to the NMPA website at http://www.nmpilots.org, look on the events page, and you'll find the info you need including a Safety Briefing on Negrito and a liability waiver to print, sign, and send in.
Besides the work party stuff, of course there'll be camping, cook-outs, maybe some of Gary's margaritas
, and maybe even a little guitar pickin' again too! We had a great time last October at Negrito, with 27 aircraft and around 50+ participants from four states (NM, AZ, CO, and TX).We're in the process of building our working relationship with the Gila N. F. folks, and conducting another safe and fun and productive event at Negrito next month will go a long way to nurture that relationship ... one of our goals is to get a couple more airstrips reopened in the Gila, including Rainy Mesa, so this work party is a step in that direction.
