Things Seen : 2026-02

15 February 2026 : Amazing shots of a rocket launch the day after Valentine's Day.

Pictures simply do not do it justice...it just made me happy to see it.

(L) 02 March 2026, the incredible sky after a day of tailwheel training and attempted cross county.

(R) 03 March 2026, the next day with the plane used for tailwheel instruction.

06 March 2026, the Liberty Memorial Tower outside the National WWI Museum and Memorial.

It was my kind of weather and really added to the solemness of the scene.

I happened to see it for the first time in its 100th year (1923-26).

- mm -

Why I Love Aviation : 2025-07

This is Lola and the sky is magnificent. I thank God I am able to fly.

- mm -

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!

- mm -

Cub Carry : 2022-05

I was lucky enough to fly a Top Cup to Arizona with a great co-pilot, Matt. The epic sunrise pics were taken by him as we flew out of KAFF to KAEG. We thought it was going to be a rough ride (turbulence), but it turned out to be a great ride.

Just departing KAFF.

Passing KCOS.

This pic is after departing KAEG and on our way to Marana, AZ. Personally, I think our Top Cups are fantastic airplanes. They're only about four years old.  Matt took this pic and it turned out perfect.

Let's not forget, there is no way we could make it from CO to AZ in less than seven hours without airpower. And this airpower is about as slow as airpower can go. Nonetheless, airpower is incredible!

- MM -

Official Club Member : 2022-02

I've been towing for the High Flights Soaring Club (HFSC) for about six months and it's been a great opportunity.  Flying their Super Cub at fist and a smooth transition to their Pawnee.  I'd never flow a Pawnee so it's been a priceless experience.

This makes it official.

The sky was epic and new wind flags were added to the fleet - I thought it'd make a great picture.

This is Zoey, our Pawnee.  They have ridiculously long noses.  It offers great visibility, but their slant is something you have to get used to.  The sky was epic and I thought this would make a good pic. This is looking back at Zoey's cockpit.  You can see how much nose she has.  You can't even see the prop.

What a great day to tow!

- FIG -

Seriously : 2021-11

As you read, I was checked out in the Pawnee a couple days earlier, but this was my first tow day. The checkout didn't use a glider. All I can say is, "seriously"?  Look at this day.  Not only did we have shade, the winds were screaming right down the runway. It truly was a day you wish for.

I thank God for things like this.

- mm -

Epic Friday : 2021-11

I took a student in his Mooney to Leadville (KLXV) - which is always great. They get their certificate of navigating to the highest airport in North America. We had impeccable weather and arrived with no issues.

The Mooney against the indescribable background. 

I think this 'mission statement' / 'mission objective' of Leadville is great.

It sits above a prop bended by a ground impact.

After the mountain flight, the day only got better. I flew formation with one of the greatest guys in the world. He was lead since he had about 50 less horsepower. It worked great. I do not like how cameras push things further away then they are.

I was in Belle and he was in Betsy.  It was such a fantastic day.

Ryan (in Betsy) finding other places to explore.

Same picture with much more sky The flights I share with Ryan are truly beyond comparison. They are the flights that many pilots only dream of. And, probably the best part of that is that neither of us take it for granted. Flying is great!

- mm -

Why I Love Aviation : 2021-10

I was fortunate to tow again for a gliding club. Just look at this day! It was super calm, smooth and there was shade! Someone thought this was a beach - it's not beach. It's actually pretty rough dirt.

Different day (later) but same subject. Had to add it.

Imagine, a sky like that and 20+ knot headwinds...it was great.

This placard is in the back of the aircraft pictured above. I know it's supposed to imply unauthorized passengers AND use, but it doesn't say that. To me it reads "use of this airplane is strictly prohibited..." I think it might be one of the best placards I've read.

- mm -

Great Planes: 2021-10

Airplanes sitting in epic settings never gets old. I grew up in the Great Plains and always considered eastern Colorado as the same. According to the map I found (below), it seems I was correct. These shots capture the beautiful sky, the fall colors and even the moon. How could you get tired of shots like this?

The Great Plains per the Center for Great Plains Studies.

Flying is Great!

- mm -

Fortunate to Tow : 2021-10

I'm very fortunate to tow with a local gliding club. I've wanted to do this for quite some time and am very grateful to the club. When I think about opportunities like this and then get to fly on a day like this, I'm kind of speechless. The two pics are the same plane and same day, but one at the beginning of the day (top) and at the end.

- mm -

Super Yellow Cubbie : 2021-10

I first flew this Cub (16GV) in May 2021. It was the maiden flight after the second owner purchased it. Interestingly enough, I was able to ferry it to the third owner after the second owner sold it in October. I have a feeling the third owner will have it for quite some time. It's a Cub, but not a Cub - hence the "Experimental".  The first owner/builder made it as close as possible to an actual Cub, but since Piper didn't make it, it remains experimental. It flies great and gave me no problems on the trip.

The route was KFLY > KSYF > 0V3 > KMLE. Or translated, Meadow Lake (Peyton, CO) to Cheyenne County (St Francis, KS) to Pioneer Village (Minden, NE) to Millard, NE. It took almost exactly six hours in the airplane.

This is after getting fuel in KSYF. Note - they have not bathroom facilities on the airfield. You have to take the courtesy car to a gas station and use theirs. Likely won't return to KSYF.

This is in Minden, Nebraska (0V3). The spacing worked out (broke the trip into thirds) but also had to stop here because it's called "Pioneer Village". That evoked a lot of memories. First, Pioneer Village is a museum of "Authentic Americana" which I visited as a small boy. It also reminded me of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. This is a museum we'd visit on field trips in elementary school. I always thought it has one of the coolest buildings I've seen.

Funny enough, this was hanging in the Minden FBO.

A panoramic on Minden field. You can see the ramp is all squares of concrete. The runway was the same - very cool. I had to add the text on the second version because the pic is a good representation.

I was picked up by a friend in a Skylane 182 for the return trip. Having delivered an aircraft and returned while still in daylight, this would have been an excellent use of airpower. However, the pickup aircraft forgot all the paperwork for the Cub. That defeated the airpower a little bit.

- mm -

Blue Jay Delivery : 2021-08

I was fortunate enough to ferry a Citabria for a friend of mine I've only met thrice. The first was by phone, the second by chance and the third was when I delivered Blue Jay.  He's a fantastic guy and was one of the best recipients of an aircraft delivery. There's nothing worse than a "ho-hum" recipient. If I just brought you your airplane, "ho-hum" is not appropriate. It separates aircraft owners from aircraft lovers. This recipient was NOT hu-hum! He's an aircraft lover.

Pre-departure shot of Blue Jay

Sellers are always interesting. This seller was rather typical. I hate to say it, but a 'typical' seller may or may not supply anything (oil, fuel dipstick, water, paper towels). This seller actually provided everything except gas. I think he prepositioned the aircraft on three gallons of gas. I did appreciate his sundries (paper towels, water, oil), but did not appreciate his 100% reluctance to add gas. I never appreciate that. They've just sold an airplane and they're kibbling about gas prices. Don't be that seller.

And to the seller's credit, he took a pretty good video of the departure...

Departing Lamar MO (KLLU) with a whopping 100 HP.

Blue Jay at her half-way point, Kennett Memorial Airport, MO (KTKX)

Blue Jay arriving Barwick Lafayette Airport, GA (9A5)

Although it was GA and August, it was a surprisingly nice arrival. A storm had just passed, there was shade (clouds) and it was significantly cooler. I couldn't've asked for nicer conditions.

I mentioned a storm had just passed. This is my track. While it looks like I fly towards cells, I don't. I do my best to avoid them. However, I will say a picture like this gets lots of attention from ATC (air traffic control). That attention can be very helpful. I was essentially hand-delivered into 9A5. I love that.

And this...great pic. It has the name of someone close and the sky was great. Flying is Great!

- mm -