Friends - Family - Flying : 2026-07

I had some days off which were aligned with a planned get-together of some friends in Oshkosh. Fortunately, another friend let me use his A36 so I could fly direct. Yeah, it's a lot of flying for a short visit but that's not a good reason to miss seeing people I hadn't seen in years. People that are important to me. It ended up being a fantastic trip! Saw the friends, saw Oshkosh (only my second time) during America's 250th year, met my brother on the return flight and played my first pickleball. Even the temperatures were great in Wisconsin.

The group of us in front of a well-painted F-15. I repeated the picture (above right)

because it was the only picture I took the entire weekend. That's pretty lame.

A guy in the picture filmed the 250 fireworks in DC and it's on YouTube.

On the flight out, I stopped at Arthur N. Neu Airport in Carroll, Iowa. I didn't take any pictures, but there was an A-7 on display (above left), the weather was really great - overcast and in high 60s. There were even some Air Tractors flying around. I landed in KFLD in Fond du Lac for the stay which was much simpler than landing KOSH. On the way back, I dropped into Eppley Field (KOMA) in Omaha. I had a great lunch with my brother even though the heat was quite miserable. I'm so glad I went instead of taking the lazy road of not travelling to visit.

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Angel Sabre : 2024-04

I flew an Angel Flight with Bob and it was a great event. We did some practice approaches on the way to McCook - more technically, McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport. Names like that strike me a polite nod but completely impractical. It will always (to me) be "McCook traffic". I had never walked around at McCook. In fact, I think I'd only been on the ground once even though it's on the way when I visit home. There was an F-86 Sabre out front (above left) so I had to take a picture. It was in "lizard" paint which you don't see often. It was in pretty bad shape. The sign reminded me that McCook is the capital of the Great Lakes of Nebraska. The Great Lakes of Nebraska are primarily man-made with Lake McConaughy, or "Big Mac", being the largest. The plane we used was Goldilocks, a wonderful A36. She's pictured above before a lot of modifications (including paint) when she was known as Coppertop. It was a great day and the patients were quite grateful.

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Merica to Mountains : 2025-12

Merica proudly sits in the morning sun at Leadville (KLXV).

I hadn't done a mountain course in quite a while but was fortunate enough to to one in mid-December ... and in a plane I hadn't taken into mountains. It was 55K and she's affectionately known as "Merica". I suggested that the student use her because she has a 180HP engine and she's pre-"production halt" or "10-year break" which means she's lighter. The weather was perfect, the student did an excellent job and Merica nailed it, too. I'm glad we did the course.

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Friday 13 Flying : 2025-06

Flying Belle - just for fun.

Saw an impressive herd of elk, and the beautiful hills they were in.

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Mountain-Wagon : 2024-04

Was able to give a mountain course in this 1955 Cessna 180 Skywagon.

Great guy to fly with, great plane and excellent weather.

These are taken at Leadville.

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Philly and Flying : 2025-03

I'd been to Philadelphia before but didn't have the time (or weather) to walk around. It was a great day - almost 80 degrees. Above left, is the Swann Memorial Fountain which sits along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It was just a few days before the water was activated, but still nice to see. Just across the street is the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. The picture is statue in the main rotunda when you enter. There are other exhibits there, but you can see the statue for free. One exhibit was BODY WORLDS: Vital. That was a cool reminder - I had seen a BODY WORLDS in Frankfurt in 2004. If you haven't seen one, they're pretty interesting.

They view from my hotel, the Sheraton Philadelphia. That dome is on the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. I ran out of time so I didn't make it in, but I do like visiting churches. That was nice in Europe as they are almost always open and you never know what things/architecture you'll see. Kimberly and I enjoying a flight the next day.

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Cessna Power : 2025-03

Flying is Great. Cessnas are great. KC let me fly in the left seat...that'd been awhile.

Flying under the clouds is great - one of my favorite times.

Had to take this shot with that sky and just having flown Cessnas.

Thank God for so many things.

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Picturesque Days and Meals : 2025-02

We had a beautiful day to fly so that's what we did. Kimberly's working on another rating so we flew for fun and some training. It was clear, smooth and just the right temperature. Regardless of the weather, it can be tricky deciding who sits in the front.

Just one of those days.

Almost as beautiful as the weather are the meals Kimberly shares with me. She's amazing.

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Flying Toad : 2024-10

Enjoying flight, Belle, and each other.

A beautiful day to tow in Lola.

This picture is also at General Aviation News.

Some shots are just epic.

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Fly - Remember - Golf : 2024-07

Kelly Airpark has a fly-in the weekend near 4th of July. I didn't know about it, but our friend told us and we took Belle up there. KC flew with a friend in his Cessna 180 for the experience and I followed along in Belle. Yes, followed. I tried to join up but they just walked away. The Skywagon has a little more power than Belle. Not only was this our first time to the breakfast, it was Kim's first time to the airpark. Additionally, it was a memorial for a couple who recently passed away and were residents of the park. They even did a Missing Man formation which was a nice touch.

The two of us sitting in the Blackhawk that also flew in. Pretty cool for a smaller airfield. The pilot in command sits in the right seat in helicopters as opposed to the left in fixed wing. I didn't learn that until about 2006 - which is pretty late.

Aside from the helicopter, there were some beautiful, average, and unique air machines. The one on the left looks like an Avid Flyer, but I couldn't tell. The reciprocating engine was a nice touch.

A couple shots of us departing the field - us and everyone else.

The next day we finally had some great shade so we hit the last miniature golf course in the Springs - that we know about. There is another in a hotel, but we're not sure if we're going to count it. This one was pretty cool. It was Gold Mine Mini Golf. We both improved the second round. KC had three holes-in-one on the first round! I only had one. It was a great weekend!

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Stearman Field : 2024-05

Flew with a friend to see another friend at his relatively new hangar home in Kansas. This is before we received the airpark tour via golf cart. It was so great to see Ryan and Patrick again!

It was also great to be able to fly Belle again - this time solo. We flew a two-ship of Champs (my Citabria and Patrick's Super Decathlon) which are both outside Ryan's hangar in the right picture above. I had to take a solo shot of Belle against that Kansas sky!

Aside from seeing great friends, a special treat was flying in a three-ship of Stearmans. What else could you do at Stearman Field (1K1) that would be more appropriate? I was blessed to fly this one, 69G, with Greg who was an amazing guy. He even let me fly quite a bit.

Two more shots before takeoff. This was my first time in a biplane, open cockpit and war-era aircraft.

The other two in the formation. Patrick in the white one on the left and Ryan's Stearman No 75.

The six of us post flight. Patrick brought his son who probably had one of the most amazing experiences of his life. That said, I certainly did, too. What an incredible adventure.

On the return home with the Super D in front. This trip won't be forgotten!

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Flying to Nebraska : 2024-05

Kimberly and I flew back to Nebraska - just to have lunch with the parents. Airpower is so great.

Above is the flight there - with great tailwinds.  It was 30 minutes shorter than the return.

A shot of those we went to see. We ate at Valentino's which was my recommendation. I recommended it but might not go back. Friendly staff and the food was good enough, but it was just good. When I was a kid, Valentino's had pizza that I couldn't wait for. Luckily, the pizza is still pretty good. It's also a Nebraska thing (minus one location in South Dakota) so people have no idea what I'm talking about when I mention it.

A shot of the departure (from KEAR), a classic Nebraska scene and some of the weather we skirted.

For the return we swapped seats...so I had to deal with the weather.

Just kidding, it was bumpy but easy enough, and it was a great way to spend the day!

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