CFIs often act as if they aren’t teaching if they aren’t talking. A more productive course of action might be to put greater emphasis on the pre-flight brief and the post-flight debrief. In between, allow the student the space to absorb the situation, analyze their own performance, and fix their own problems.
Fly the airplane
It’s a great flight. My first from the left seat in this particular airplane. There will be many more in the years to come. But I will remember on each flight, in any aircraft, no matter how much instrumentation is available or unavailable to me, keep the distractions to a minimum, enjoy the ride, and always remember to fly the airplane.
Make dollars make sense
It takes dollars to fly. As daunting as the costs may be, those dollars aren’t locked away in a secret vault, hidden from public view, reserved for only the wealthy few. They’re flowing through our wallets and checking accounts on a regular basis. Our challenge is to get focused enough to direct a portion of those dollars to the goal we most sincerely want to achieve.
Getting on with the Good Ol’ Boys
Make no mistake about it, there is a Good Ol’ Boys Club in your town. They’re in every town. But the door is open and the opportunity to participate as a member exists. All any of us has to do is lend a helping hand on projects that matter to us, and we’re in.
If there’s a soapbox, get on it
Yep, I’m up on my soapbox again. Whenever and wherever I can. Because there is at least the sliver of a chance that somebody, somewhere needs to hear the words coming out of my mouth. And I truly believe that something good might come from all this blabbering.
An airplane for everyone
You don’t have to be rolling in discretionary income to be an airplane owner. It doesn’t hurt, of course. However, it’s not a prerequisite. If you can afford a motorcycle, or a boat, or a vacation timeshare, you can probably afford to own an airplane. Or a percentage of an airplane which, in all honesty, might be the even better deal for most of us.
Let’s go somewhere
Yes, it’s worth the trouble to go somewhere. To travel by air with the freedom to go this way or that on a whim. To land on a grass strip for fuel just because you can. Or to set your sights on a destination you’ve dreamed of for years, but never thought was within your reach. The whole world is ours if we seek it out. One hop at a time. With a mindset that allows us to even enjoy the weather delays and unexpected diversions.
Auf Wiedersehen von einem freund und mentor
Goodbye to a mentor and a friend. You were that and more, Dr. Gleim. Now, you are on to whatever comes next even as your legacy continues to benefit so many you’ve left behind.
Passing it on — for good or ill
Let’s take a moment to consider a few of the things we know. Or more particularly, things we think we know that aren’t actually true, or valid, or helpful in any way.