Short Final

By DEBORAH McFARLAND My friend, Bob, at the Tom B. David Airport in Calhoun, Ga. (CZL), has been trying to explain to some folks in his town about the ambiance that can be found at the airport. Trying to describe the nuances of aviation to non-aviators can be a tricky business. In particular, Bob would […]

John W. Murphy never did anything that made him famous. He wasn’t rich. As a kid he entered World War II with the assurance that it was the right thing to do for his country. He was unassuming and most times quiet, but in 1946 he left the military a changed man. He found a […]

Every new year brings contemplations, convolutions and resolutions, most of which are held dear for a week or two and then thrown out with that final bit of holiday trash. Contemplations of the New Year sort can get deep and perplexing at times. One realizes the Earth is another year older and one’s backside is […]

Nowadays, when there is considerable cost involved just getting to the airport, folks often ask me how we survive financially as a flying family. I have to be creative to keep those flying dollars liberated, and as the price of automotive and aviation fuels rise — affecting our household budget across the board — I […]

She was small with flaming red hair, but I had no doubt her backbone was reinforced with stainless steel. We sat at a conference table, the Old Man beside me looking grave and concerned, as appropriate for the situation. I, on the other hand, squirmed with guilt and no doubt my discomfort was apparent on […]

A friend of mine once told me that he didn’t read most flying magazines because they were full of gloom and doom. Airplanes crashing and pilots doing stupid things were not high on his agenda for enlightening reading. Where, he wondered, were the stories of pilots who did the right things? Of those successful forced […]

Standing in front of our hangar, I can see the whole world — or at least my little portion of it. As late afternoon gives way to early evening, it is a good place to be. The March sun is bold, portending the summer yet to come. But instead of wearying heat, her warmth is […]

I like fly-ins. The anticipation and the excitement of the journey are nearly as tantalizing as the event itself, especially the first fly-in of the season. The foremost chore on my preparation list is to try on my shorts. We have all learned the hard way that this is not something we should leave to […]

I’m not certain how it happened, but aviation-wise the first of the year has become a very busy time for us. This year, annuals, medicals and insurance renewals all fall in the first quarter, and this pilot/owner-operator is rather overwhelmed with paperwork, appointments and the need to juggle the household cash flow to meet all […]