Reflection 2023: From Floats to the FRZ

Gratitude

For over a decade, I have returned to my logbook at the end of each year to review all that occurred and select some prized images that I think best represent the preceding twelve months. Every time I do, I cannot help but feel immense gratitude for the remarkable things I have experienced as a pilot. I am thankful for pioneering aviators who made it all possible, for a career that allows me to fund it, for flight instructors who taught me their skills, for family that tolerates my fascination, and for friends who eagerly join each adventure.

The Photos

Let's briefly relive the year through snapshots...

Sundogs bracketing old Sol as observed from above a solid cloud deck.
("Sundog's Fire")

The Allegheny Reservoir on the New York / Pennsylvania border on the way home from our family vacation.
("Bears in Blue Ridge | Part 3, Down with ODP")

First Flight Airport and the Wright Brothers National Memorial, Kill Devil Hills, NC.
("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Between layers en route to Saratoga Springs, NY for a ... gulp ... college visit.
("Painted Cloudscapes to Saratoga Springs")

Lake Placid and Whiteface Mountain seen while giving colleague Jeff L his first airplane ride.
("Good Reputation")

Taxiing Warrior 481 on the ramp at the Wright National Memorial with Tom. Photo by Scott L.
("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Susquehanna River from over central Pennsylvania.
("Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks")

Seul Choix Pointe Lighthouse in Michigan's Upper Peninsula en route to Escanaba (moonlight not included) to see Tiff.
("Hydrodynamic | Part 3, Trading 160 Horsepower for Two Horses on Mackinac Island")

Twilight over Rochester, NY with Lake Ontario in the background after some IFR procedure practice.
("Just Like Old Times")

Aircraft carriers USS Dwight D Eisenhower (CVN-69) and USS Wasp (LHD-1) in Norfolk, VA.
("Flying the Strand | Part 4, Flattops in the Roadstead")

Warrior 481 after dinner at the Runway Bar & Grill, Bradford Regional Airport, Bradford, PA.
("Dinner and a Show")

The Rockliffe Airport in Ottawa, Ontario, home to the Canada Aviation and Space Museum.
("North to Ottawa | Part 1, With a Little Help from Kingston Radio")

Fuel stop while flying rides in Warrior Eight One Six during the annual Williamson Flying Club pancake breakfast. Photo by Gilead B.
("Pancakes for Bold Warriors")

Valley fog en route to Cherry Ridge Airport in Honesdale, PA.
("Return to Cherry Ridge")

Sandbars in the ocean between Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands in North Carolina.

("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Ground fog en route to the Jimmy Stewart Airport in Indiana, Pennsylvania.
("Nittany Hoosiers")

Cape Hatteras Light Station, Buxton, NC seen inbound to Billy Mitchell Airport.

("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Kalamazoo, MI at the conclusion of my weeklong seaplane odyssey in Michigan.
("Hydrodynamic | Part 4, America's Emerald Isle")

Double rainbow south of Sodus, NY seen on the way to Dansville for ice cream.
("Inclement Beauty")

A late afternoon cruise along Seneca Lake in central NY.
("Mind the Gap: A Visit to Slatington, PA")

Oregon Inlet separating Bodie and Pea Islands in the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

I earned my seaplane rating in this modified 1947 PA-12 Super Cruiser on straight floats!
("Hydrodynamic | Part 2, Float Flying")

Norfolk, VA on the return flight from the Outer Banks.
("Flying the Strand | Part 4, Flattops in the Roadstead")

Harrisburg, PA on an atmospheric morning en route to my first landing in the FRZ.
("Into the Flight Restricted Zone | Part 1, Of PINs and Prop Locks")

Cruising home over a cloud deck, playing with the iPhone wide angle lens.
("Sundog's Fire")

Wingtip lights reflected within a cloud during a rare nighttime flight in IMC over Ontario, Canada from Michigan.
("Nocturne")

Straits of Mackinac and the famous Mackinac Bridge in Michigan.
("Hydrodynamic | Part 3, Trading 160 Horsepower for Two Horses on Mackinac Island")

Parked at the Westfield Barnes Regional Airport (KBAF) to partake of excellent sushi from Tobiko.
("Spring Loaded for Assistance")

Departing from First Flight Airport, Kill Devil Hills, NC to explore the more remote areas of the Outer Banks.

("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Old Mission Point and Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse City, MI seen on the way to Beaver Island.
("Hydrodynamic | Part 4, America's Emerald Isle")

Holding short of runway 24 in Muskegon, MI at sunset after dinner with Chris J.
("Hydrodynamic | Part 2, Float Flying")

Aerial photo of the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC.

("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Michigan's awesome Mackinac Bridge.
("Hydrodynamic | Part 3, Trading 160 Horsepower for Two Horses on Mackinac Island")

Jeanette's Pier, Nags Head, NC.

("Flying the Strand | Part 3, Pirates and Devils")

Sunset inbound to the Williamson Sodus Airport.
("Sundog's Fire")

The Highlights of 2023

It's been an amazing year in the sky, so much so that I even visited two of my favorite airports (Burke Lakefront, Cleveland, OH and Basin Harbor, Vergennes, VT) and did not write a thing about them! For 2023, identifying the standout experiences is simple.

Beached on Lake Missaukee moments after officially earning my seaplane rating. Photo by Tom B.

• I earned my seaplane rating in a modified 1947 PA-12S Super Cruiser on straight floats in Traverse City, MI. Float flying is uniquely fun, the vintage airplane was a joy to fly, and instructor Tom B was first class. This was a great experience.
• While earning the seaplane rating, I spent a week exploring northern Michigan where I visited cool places like Beaver Island (KSJX), revisited the charming Mackinac Island (KMCD), and reconnected with family as well as old friends Chris J (KMKG), Tiff Z (KESC), Ross R (KMKG), and Kent & YY (KAZO).
• The Williamson Flying Club travelled in a pack of four airplanes to Tangier Island (KTGI), First Flight Airport (KFFA), and explored the Outer Banks (KHSE, W95). Thanks to Tom C for the company!
• I earned a Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) PIN and navigated the procedures to land at College Park Airport (KCGS), one of the notorious post-9/11 "MD-3" airports and the oldest continuously operated airport in the world set seven miles from the US Capitol and with Metro access for unfettered access to Washington DC. I see a family vacation there sometime in 2024.
• I flew to the Canadian capital in Ottawa, landed at Rockliffe Airport (CYRO), and visited the very impressive Canada Aviation and Space Museum.

The Numbers for 2023

192.7 / 2768.4: The number of hours accumulated in 2023 for a lifetime total of 2768.4.

39.9: A record number of hours flown in a single month (May 2023). This was largely due to my week in Michigan for seaplane training in which I logged 31.4 hours in a single week combined across time in my Warrior and Tom's Super Cruiser.

8.8 / 79.1: Number of hours flown in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) in 2023 for a lifetime total of 79.1.

12.7 / 135.6: Hours flown at night for a lifetime total of 135.6.

Straight line distances between airports rather than actual flight telemetry shown. From MyFlightBook / Google Earth.

14: States and provinces visited including Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Ontario (Canada), Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

36: I had the pleasure of flying with several different people in 2023. Thanks to Ed C, Jeff L (first GA flight), Jamie O, Kristy, The Bear, Tom B (seaplane CFI), Kevin S (seaplane DPE), Tiffany Z (first GA flight), Luke H (first GA flight), Ryan H (first GA flight), Gilead B (safety pilot), Ziad S, Tom C (safety pilot), Terry B, Bob C, Shane H (first GA flight), Mattie H (first GA flight), Joe F, Mark G, Kim L, Scott L (safety pilot), Bill E, Sadie E, Darrell K (safety pilot), Bobbie Jean (first GA flight), and eleven others from the local community who paid for rides with me at the annual Williamson Flying Club Apple Blossom Pancake Breakfast.

22 / 58 / 272: I visited 22 airports that were new to me, landed at a total of 58 unique airports, and brought my airport total up to 272 in 2023.

See You Next Year!

Whoever you are, wherever you are, and however you celebrate, wishing you the happiest of holidays, blue skies, tailwinds, and a successful new year in 2024!