It’s just a hot dog, Roy. It certainly feels a lot more than that. But I have to keep reminding myself. It’s just a hot dog. Perhaps the reminders of the physical nature of tonight’s meal are mental exercises that prevent me from a cataclysmic emotional overload that the sweet old man who’s patiently waiting […]
As a father of five children, I can attest to the vast usefulness of superglue. The wondrous medium that binds broken toys, split fingertips, and said split fingertips to said broken toys works wonders in extending the life of those favorite toys, enhancing the lack of structural engineering in other toys, and keeping the hands […]
Having been (and will continue to be) a proponent of flying stabilized traffic patterns, I’m reminded of a presentation I gave earlier. One that I’m actually preparing to give again in less than a week on the topic of backcountry flying. In this presentation I talk about three basic concepts that I believe will not […]
Perspective is something that is easily lost in the midst of our modern lives. The near-freezing temperatures that filled the night preceding brought that reality to the forefront as a cadre of astute gentleman (and one in training (read: me)) stood atop a small hill and gazed into the heavens above. Small lights emanating from […]
A colder than anticipated autumn night mixed with the faintest of winds out of the northwest made the evening a cold one. Battling the physics of sleeping on uneven ground to being slightly elevated on an ultralight cot, one soon learns that in the balance of warmth versus comfort, warmth will always win. Multiple layers […]
A necessary reprieve from the rigors of a busy summer flying schedule brought forth a week of sunshine, crystal clear waters, and soft sandy beaches. The benefits of the entire world being accessible makes organizing these semi-spontaneous sabbaticals somewhat strenuous. This time, a few last-minute changes to my schedule opened up more time, and an […]
How do you explain to the uninitiated what Oshkosh means to you? Do you lead them on over ten miles of wandering between the wings of the hundreds upon hundreds of flying machines that make their annual pilgrimage to the place the Poberezny’s built? Do you share with them the tales of these machines, each […]
I want to think that I’m a better pilot than most. Looking back at logbooks that span shelves in my study one would have a hard time finding any intentional or unintentional bent metal, broken bones, or even nicked propellors in those volumes. However, I find myself watching airplane accident videos on repeat trying to […]
Often times I find myself saying I’m a father of five children and it’s certainly easier to explain that than the six I’ve brought into this world. When the observant notice the alphabetical nature of the names of our kids, they’ll sometimes ask “Where’s the N?” Well, Nora Catherine’s enjoying an eternity of love and […]
In a dramatic turn of events, the seniority percentage has reversed course. Having successfully completed my Captain upgrade training and required operational experience and evaluations, the eastern seaboard will once again be graced by the presence of yours truly. While the battle continues to be fought, the scheduling gods decided to take an unblemished record […]