Well, if it's March 09, it must be 6 months after hanging up the jet keys and letting the kids have all the fun.
Here I am, recruiting a new pilot to the fold. Note the technique of enticement, a small bit of cheese-stuffed hotdog in hand. Typical recruit ... the bugger gave my fingers a nasty rasp with his beak which quickly got ugly but finally healed.
Since March comes only one month before April (I counted), I have to practice for my checkride in the Wright Flyer if the simulator comes to Sun-n-Fun again ...
Even after applying all the skills of a theatre major (apologies to Dave Barry) the results of my last checkride were humbling ....
Son John, Citation X Captain and hot stick, did better ....
No dings at all ... the old man must have done something right ... (when your student turns out OK the instructor always takes the credit) ...
Last January was pretty cool ... the Light Sport Expo was held at Sebring FL and was a huge success. My favorite was this nifty Sport Cruiser from the Czech Aircraft Works. It has all the goodies in the panel and room for the puppy in the back. Maybe I'll get a stimulus check so I can run out and buy one or two (or three).
February was also a neat month ... Old schoolmate Ed flew over for lunch in his Glasair TD. Ed raced at Reno and Lakeland and was recently seen in a Yak-52 ... the Glasair is a tweaking project - a little glass here, a little more horsepower there ... Ed is an inveterate tweaker and will eventually get it Right (and faster) ...
Stu and Bill C. came all the way from Bayport NY to Florida for a little R&R this weekend ... spent Saturday and Sunday glider flying at Zephyrhills with Gino. It was great to see these guys again and we spent some time looking over some beautifully restored antique and classic cars.
Champ is biding its time in the Hendersonville hangar while the Bonanza gets a workout with John (and, occasionally, me) ... I did manage to get a color match for a small paint repair job for Champ so dabbed a little color on before rotating back to Florida for awhile. Next trip to NC, Champ will launch its summer flying season.
Fly safely! Fly often! Spring has sprung!
