Twenty-nine years ago last month, my mom, dad, sister and I loaded all my belongings into our 1973 Beechcraft Baron and flew me to Grand Forks, N.D., to move me into McVey Hall at the University of North Dakota. Fast forward 29 years and the roles had reversed. My wife and I drove to the […]
Opinion
How much is this gonna cost?
Surveys have shown that cost isn’t the number one impediment that prevents folks from learning to fly. But it is a significant consideration for almost anyone who puts serious thought into getting their wings. Other industries that sell high dollar products or services face similar challenges. And so they engage in something called exceptional customer […]
Night vision
Night vision is a perennial problem for pilots. Nature did not design us for night operations. Our eyeballs are too small, our pupils too narrow, and the rods in our eyes that allow us to see in the dark are located 20° off center. That is why to scan for traffic at night, we must […]
Every journey starts with a single step
You’ve heard this old bromide many times. We all have. There’s probably a bumper sticker with it printed between images of a map of the world and a cuddly puppy. There are certainly similarly worded inspirational posters slapped up in classrooms and office spaces all over the country. But have you really thought about it? […]
Pilot Perspectives: Lori MacNichol
By DEREK ROBERTS. With miles of unmanned wilderness, the backcountry of Idaho is an untamed expanse that begs to be explored. A mix of jagged and rolling alpine peaks, vast glacial lakes and canyons as grand as any that claim to be, it’s an aviators paradise, open to all those brave enough to explore it. […]
On fathers and sons and being afraid
True story: I’m afraid of heights. But I’ve got a sense of humor about it. This is probably best illustrated by a visit to the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center I enjoyed a few years ago. The ground floor exhibits really caught my attention. On the second level, I enjoyed the view. By the time I got […]
Are you a pilot with a plus one?
There are few things in life more magical than flying. Even better is when we take someone else along for the ride. Whether our passengers are kids or kids at heart, nurturing their interest is key. Some may want to become pilots themselves. Others are happy to be passengers. While a few are interested, many […]
At the confluence of ignorance and fear
Bad judgment lives at the confluence of ignorance and fear. Not that most folks notice. I direct you to an astoundingly popular activity that involves a carnie strapping you and a friend into a device intended to shoot you into the sky. It then allows you to drop at the speed of gravity, before boinging […]
Want two, three, or no engines with that Gooney Bird?
It was not uncommon for mass-produced aircraft of the 20th Century to stick with one type of engine, albeit with model advances as the engines improved. All production B-17s except the Model 299 prototype flew with some version of the Wright R1820 radial; B-24s were loyal to Pratt & Whitney R1830s. The Douglas DC-3/C-47 series […]