EvanK, August 11th, 2009
One of the last requirements that I needed to complete for my Private Pilot's License was a cross country trip after hours. I needed to go 50 miles away, and the trip had to last a total of two hours. Dana and I met on Wednesday at 21:00 to depart Westosha to Madison, Wisconsin. We couldn't have asked for a better night. The sky was both clear and smooth with an almost full moon lighting up the darkness. The trip was one of the best trips I've taken in a long time. Read More >>
Posted in Airplanes | 1 Comment »
EvanK, June 30th, 2009
Last Saturday, I got my first taste of vintage aircraft. My neighbor invited me to his friends house to take a ride in his North American AT-6 Texan. I wasn't quite sure what it was at the time, but of course I said yes. When we arrive at his home (he lives in an airport community) my jaw immediately drops at the sight of his hangar. Inside of it was not one but two aircraft! I was amazed that people could afford to do that (own more than one aircraft).
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Posted in Airplanes, Training | 3 Comments »
Steve Tupper, June 29th, 2009
If you ask SSgt Jason Bireley what he does for a living, he might say that he lies on his belly and passes gas. SSgt Bireley doesn’t give me the impression of a guy who’d actually put it that way, but it’s true in a sense. Read More >>
Posted in Airplanes, Careers | 4 Comments »
Steve Tupper, June 15th, 2009
When you get into aviation, it creeps into your blood and every part of you is somehow influenced by it. If you’ve ever spelled your name for a restaurant reservation using the phonetic alphabet, you know what I mean. Read More >>
Posted in Aerobatics, Airplanes | 6 Comments »
FrancoisD, May 29th, 2009
Here's an interesting little movie by a fellow pilot landing at my 'home' airfield, Altiport de Méribel (LFKX).
He first flies over the runway to announce his arrival, then heads east towards Courchevel, turning north, west and then south again on final.
You'll notice how difficult the short runway is to spot. Actually the fairway of the golf course running down from the runway is a good indicator to line up with the runway. Read More >>
Posted in Airplanes | 3 Comments »
A Pilot's Story movie, May 27th, 2009
First, we'd like to apologize for the infrequent blog entries. Will and I have been on the road quite a bit filming exciting content for the upcoming film, A Pilot's Story. Read More >>
Posted in Aerobatics, Airplanes | No Comments »
Steve Tupper, May 26th, 2009
It’s been something like 18 months since I completed what I consider to be my “core” training. By that, I mean the private pilot certificate and the instrument rating. The certificate and rating that make aviation practical and fun and give you the best initial set of capabilities. Read More >>
Posted in Advanced, Airplanes, Certification | 4 Comments »
FrancoisD, May 21st, 2009
.... from US Homeland Security paranoia, no less!
Yes, you know me from posting about flight simulator topics, but real aviation is also close to my heart, and more in specific the history of it, old planes and old airfields. Here's a story you have to hear if you have any fuel running through your veines..... and why else would you read an AOPA blog !!?? Read More >>
Posted in Airplanes | 5 Comments »
Steve Tupper, May 18th, 2009
For many of us, the initial thrill of aviation came from military aviation as it was portrayed in the movies and on television. Read More >>
Posted in Aerobatics, Airplanes, Careers, Training | 7 Comments »
BrentR, May 14th, 2009
On April 20th, I had to do a night operation in order to complete my training. I needed to do ten total takeoffs and landings at night as the sole manipulator of the flight controls. I first did eight takeoffs and landings with my instructor at my home airport. I completed the task without problems and then did the next two takeoffs and landings on a different night and at a different destination. I was required to fly at least 100nm roundtrip at night to move on with the training, so I flew from Independence State Airport (7S5) to Portland International Airport (PDX).
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Posted in Airplanes | 3 Comments »
