After 20+ years and over 680+ posts, there are a lot of entries in this logbook. This page contains shortcuts to my favorites.
Bucket List Adventures:
Goal: Buy my own airplane.
From Renter to Owner, April 2004.
Goal: Land at Lake County Airport in Leadville, CO, the highest public use airport in the USA.
Rocky Mountain Dawn Patrol, May 2008.
Rocky Mountain Dawn Patrol, May 2008.
Goal: Land on Mackinac Island in Michigan (KMCD).
Goal: Land at First Flight (KFFA) in Kill Devil Hills, NC where the Wright Brothers flew in 1903.
"In Commemoration of the Conquest of the Air", August 2013.
"In Commemoration of the Conquest of the Air", August 2013.
Goal: Conduct an international flight and land at Toronto City Billy Bishop Airport (CYTZ).
Billy Bishop's Alternate Universe, Part 1, May 2017.
Goal: Fly a classic J-3 Piper Cub and earn a tailwheel endorsement.
Dragging Tail, June 2017.
Dragging Tail, June 2017.
Goal: Land at the Alton Bay Ice Runway, the only FAA-charted ice runway in the continental USA.
Winter Carnival, February 2019. (Not the first time, but a memorable later trip.)
Goal: Fly the Hudson River / New York City Special Flight Rules Area at skyscraper height.
These Vagabond Wings Are Longing To Stray, September 2019.
Goal: Fly a low approach to the Shuttle Landing Facility (KTTS).
Tales from Braying Dock Manor | Part 6, Mission STS-481, July 2021.
Goal: Fly a float plane and earn a seaplane rating (SES).
Hydrodynamic | Part 2, Float Flying, May 2023.
Goal: Secure a FRZ PIN and land at College Park Airport (KCGS), the oldest continuously operated airport in the world.
Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks, October 2023.
Goal: See one of the most unique, ambitiously designed aircraft ever built, the Spruce Goose.
Forged by Vulcan | Part 6, When the Elephant in the Room has Wings, July 2025.
Forged by Vulcan | Part 6, When the Elephant in the Room has Wings, July 2025.
Goal: Fly my airplane to Vero Beach Regional (KVRB) and tour the Piper Factory where she was built.
Sentimental Journey | Part 3, Vero Beach, July 2026.
"Oh, the Places You'll Go!":
Favorite flying trips
An Aerial Road Trip to Fort Myers (Or, How Kristy Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Airplane), June 2005.
- My wife takes her first, multi-state cross country flight and actually enjoys it. It was a big step for us both.
- Family flight to Luray Caverns in Virginia.
- A flight from New York to Florida and back again with Kristy and The Bear.
- Solo day trip at the 1000 hour mark to visit the Wright Brothers memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC.
- The Bear flies to Michigan and visits the Sleeping Bear Dunes, Mackinac Island, and other places.
- Visit to historic Fort Ticonderoga with the family.
America's Castles - Part II: Return to Heart Island, August 2014.
- Family flight to visit Boldt Castle on Heart Island.
- Landing on the only FAA-certified ice runway in the continental United States.
- Kristy and I fly to Boston in some weather, experiment with Uber, and see John Williams conduct the Boston Pops.
Flight to Totality, August 2017.
- Family flight to Copperhill, TN for viewing the total eclipse.
Expedition to the Outer Lands, October 2017.
- Solo flight to Block Island.
Sublime, February 2020.
- A beautiful visit to the mountains in winter.
Carolina Sojourn | Part 4, Where Red Tails Soared, August 2021.
- An inspiring visit to Moton Field in Tuskegee, AL, birthplace of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Ghost Ship: The Nighthawk, August 2021.
- An inspiring visit to Moton Field in Tuskegee, AL, birthplace of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Ghost Ship: The Nighthawk, August 2021.
- I got some hands-on time during restoration of a Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter.
To Boldly Go..., September 2021.
The Flying Bear, August 2007.
- The manifold challenges of flying cross country with a two month old infant.
Knoxville...Deferred, April 2009.
- General aviation: bringing families together since December 17, 1903 (roughly).
New Copilot, July 2011.
- The Bear rides shotgun for the first time.
Whirly Bear, May 2012.
- The Bear flies in a helicopter for the first time.
That First Time Grin, September 2012.
- Clear the skies, five year old at the controls!
Yankin' and Bankin', August 2013.
- The Bear gets more comfortable at the controls.
Clan of the (Flying) Cave Bear, September 2016.
- The Bear and I returned to Luray and stopped for incredible brunch at Latrobe.
That Old Autumn Magic, October 2016.
- The Bear lands on grass for the first time in Basin Harbor, VT.
Bear Versus Airplane, December 2018.
- A return to form for The Bear.
Landing Blind, September 2001.
- First solo in a Cessna 150 (N9327U) at Dowagiac, MI.
Mishaps at Muskegon: Student Pilot Solo Cross Country Flight, July 2002.
- Set loose, alone, in southwest Michigan skies. Learning ensued.
Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad, DPE?, September 2002.
- Angst and the private pilot check ride.
Origin Story, May 2013.
- How I came into the world of flying.
Unscripted IFR, July 2013.
- My first serious flying in real world weather and possibly my best ever flying lesson.
With One Eye Tied Behind My Back: Instrument Check Ride (Part 2), July 2013.
- Overcoming a check ride bust to earn my instrument rating.
Majesty and Menace Aloft, August 2014.
- A serious introduction to IFR re-routes and weather deviations on a family trip.
Here There Be Monsters, June 2016.
- My first time ever truly frightened while at the controls of the airplane.
The Human Chain: How Dougall Got His Wings, August 2018.
Stupid Pilot Tricks, August 2009.
- Good habits can still save the day when complacency sets in.
Carpe Diem, January 2010.
- All kids should fly an airplane before driving a car...there's less to hit up there.
To Boldly Go..., September 2021.
- Exploring a recreation of the original Star Trek Enterprise in Ticonderoga, NY.
An Eighteen Year View Through the Acrylic, March 2022.
- Eighteen years worth of photographs through the windows of Warrior 481.
Breaking Away, August 2022.
- Returning to the laboratory of my late PhD advisor for the last time.
Aircraft Ownership:
And the joys and trials thereof...
All Shook Up, September 2004.
- How I learned that my aircraft troubleshooting skills could use some work.
The Second Breather, April 2006.
- Engine issues on a cross country flight. To fly, or not to fly...
- Engine issues on a cross country flight. To fly, or not to fly...
Scattered, May 2020.
- A remote location heart transplant.
Ghost in the Machine, March 2021.
- Warrior 481 got an upgrade to an autopilot that subsequently tried to kill us.
The Fateful Call, March 2024.
- On the 20th anniversary of becoming an aircraft owner.
Tales of the Flying Bear:
Adventures of a young aviatrix
The Flying Bear, August 2007.
- The manifold challenges of flying cross country with a two month old infant.
Knoxville...Deferred, April 2009.
- General aviation: bringing families together since December 17, 1903 (roughly).
New Copilot, July 2011.
- The Bear rides shotgun for the first time.
Whirly Bear, May 2012.
- The Bear flies in a helicopter for the first time.
- Clear the skies, five year old at the controls!
- The Bear gets more comfortable at the controls.
- The Bear and I returned to Luray and stopped for incredible brunch at Latrobe.
- The Bear lands on grass for the first time in Basin Harbor, VT.
Bear Versus Airplane, December 2018.
- A return to form for The Bear.
"One Peculiar Passing Moment":
Milestones and noteworthy experiences
Landing Blind, September 2001.
- First solo in a Cessna 150 (N9327U) at Dowagiac, MI.
Mishaps at Muskegon: Student Pilot Solo Cross Country Flight, July 2002.
- Set loose, alone, in southwest Michigan skies. Learning ensued.
Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad, DPE?, September 2002.
- Angst and the private pilot check ride.
- How I came into the world of flying.
- My first serious flying in real world weather and possibly my best ever flying lesson.
With One Eye Tied Behind My Back: Instrument Check Ride (Part 2), July 2013.
- Overcoming a check ride bust to earn my instrument rating.
- A serious introduction to IFR re-routes and weather deviations on a family trip.
Here There Be Monsters, June 2016.
- My first time ever truly frightened while at the controls of the airplane.
The Human Chain: How Dougall Got His Wings, August 2018.
- My first animal rescue flight for an old friend.
Thirsty, September 2018.
- Excessive fuel burn nearly became an emergency.
Two Decades of Flying, August 2021.
Thirsty, September 2018.
- Excessive fuel burn nearly became an emergency.
Two Decades of Flying, August 2021.
- A return to the scene of the crime 20 years later.
A Nice PARE, May 2025.
- My first spin flown in a Super Decathlon (with a tailwheel refreshed to go along with).
Ultimate Geocaching, June 2026.
- Whoosh! And it was gone. For an evening.
- Whoosh! And it was gone. For an evening.
Essays and Commentary:
Stupid Pilot Tricks, August 2009.
- Good habits can still save the day when complacency sets in.
Carpe Diem, January 2010.
- All kids should fly an airplane before driving a car...there's less to hit up there.
"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", November 2010.
- It's the weather over Upstate NY that you have to watch out for...
- It's the weather over Upstate NY that you have to watch out for...
Symphony in Jackson, March 2011.
- A masterful air traffic controller saves the day for a novice pilot.
Exodus: The Professional Life of a Private Pilot, May 2011.
- How I came to be based at the birthplace of Jell-O.
"Remember", September 2011.
- On being a pilot and father on 9/11.
Caretakers, March 2012.
- On the bond between pilot and aircraft.
Attend the Tale of Eight Two Fox, April 2012.
- Reincarnation is real, at least for airplanes.
Know Your Limits, May 2012.
- Aeronautical decision making is not a one size fits all proposition.
Being a Good Neighbor, January 2013.
- Making peace with the community whenever possible.
"PIC" Is More Than Just a Column in the Logbook, March 2013.
- Difficult lessons are sometimes the best lessons.
Find Your Voice, February 2015.
- On the love/hate relationship I have had with the radio.
- A masterful air traffic controller saves the day for a novice pilot.
- How I came to be based at the birthplace of Jell-O.
- On being a pilot and father on 9/11.
- On the bond between pilot and aircraft.
- Reincarnation is real, at least for airplanes.
- Aeronautical decision making is not a one size fits all proposition.
- Making peace with the community whenever possible.
- Difficult lessons are sometimes the best lessons.
- On the love/hate relationship I have had with the radio.
Special, June 2015.
- On the thorny matter of medical certification challenges.
Dust of the Stars, Part 3, August 2018.
- Flying in the midst of family tragedy.
- Now fortified with more corporate churn.
Warrior 481 Gets a Useful Load Increase, July 2025.
- Overcoming health challenges to remain in the air.
Whatever became of that Corsair that got stood up on its nose during an air show practice at the Kazoo airport??? I believe it was in the early nineties!!
ReplyDeleteDon't know...that was before my time there. Though I have to wonder, with a nose like that, I wonder how you could stand the airplane up on it!
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