Guest Post: V is for Vino

Yet another installment from my favorite ghostwriter.  I have a feeling this one may sound as familiar to you as it did to me.  Enjoy!We take so much for granted these days. Turn on the switch and you get light, twist the handle and you get hot water, walk into any kitchen and find a …

Guest Post: “Ustedes Me trae de papel”, Uncle Bill…

A dear friend of mine has offered to "ghost write" my U - Z posts for the A to Z Blogging Challenge so that I can take my time to get back into the swing of things. I don't feel comfortable accepting credit for another's work, so I decided to present this to you as …

U Through Z is for Unscheduled Vacation from Writing due to X-ray Yield Zzzzz…

Well, it was a good run. I'm very proud that I managed to make it to the letter "T" on the "A to Z Challenge" with only a hiccup or two along the way.  I've enjoyed sharing my aviation stories with you, and gained new insights into the ebb and flow of my creativity in …

T is for Training

As the pilot of a jet, I was required to pass a competency check every six months.  Some of the maneuvers I needed to perform were less expensive and much safer to do in a flight simulator.These simulators are incredibly advanced, offering full motion and exceptional graphics which are capable of giving the pilot a …

S is for Snow

There were occasions during my flying career where snow and aviation collided. Ages ago, when I eked out a living as a flight instructor, I was able to earn more money clearing the runways with the owner's decrepit, underpowered, pickup truck rigged with an oversized plow blade and minimal heat, than the way-below-poverty-level income guaranteed …

R is for Rock

Freight pilots really are a different breed.  Perhaps it has something to do with the demands of a constantly fluctuating  circadian rhythm or the stress “on time performance” places firmly upon the pilot’s shoulders despite the line of  60,000 foot level 5 thunderstorms stubbornly raging on final approach, but a sense of humor seems to …

Q is for Quick

I’m having difficulty keeping up with my A to Z Blogging Challenge, so I figured I could get away with re-telling a little story from my freight pilot days.  Nothing incriminating, mind you, because aviation is a little bit like Vegas – what happens in the airplane, stays in the airplane.  This is especially true …

P is for PIC (Pilot in Command)

PILOT IN COMMAND (PiC) - The pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time. The Captain. I am the PIC of my destiny. I am therefore making an executive decision to cheat just a little bit today by revamping an old post so that I can finish another (way overdue) …

O is for Obama

In spite of the title, I promise this is not a political post.  I am merely continuing my aviation theme for the A to Z Challenge.  You see, for an entire week in 2007, I transported Senator Obama and his team around the country while he campaigned for the Democratic nomination. I don't believe any of …

N is for Night Flight

No matter how much I complained about having to stay late after work to do a night cross county flight with a student, I loved flying at night. Usually, the air was cool and smooth - perfect for a jaunt around the city – and the view... wow. Flying at night can be a wondrous …