Aviation - Flying - Pilot Ratings - A Lifelong Hobby

Flying History

I caught the flying bug when I was 9 years old. I began reading about airplanes and asking adult friends to clip and save airplane pictures. During my early teens, I joined the Civil Air Patrol and the Air Scouts. At age 15, Frank K Smith's book called “Weekend Pilot” boosted my flying interest tenfold. At 16, I started taking flying lessons, at 17 I soloed (on December 17, 1961), and, at 19, I completed my Private Pilot check ride while serving in the US Air Force (Viet Nam Era).

During the following years—while developing computer software across the US, earning multiple degrees from multiple universities and traveling the world for business and pleasure—I earned additional FAA ratings, flew at every opportunity, owned 4 different aircraft, flew hundreds of glider tows and parachute jump runs, served in numerous air and ground positions in the Civil Air Patrol and, intentionally or unintentionally, led many people to into aviation.

Fifty plus years of flying experience

• First flight – Nov 6, 1960 - Electra, TX - pilot Mrs. Jimmie Culp - Cessna 195
• First flying lesson – Nov 6, 1960 - Wichita Falls, TX - CFI J A Cornish - Piper J-3 Cub
• First solo – Dec 17, 1961 - Chattanooga, OK - CFI Dalton Watts - Cessna 150
• Private Pilot License – ASEL rating - Sep 21, 1963 - Wichita, KS - CFI Bob Uhlenhopp - Cessna 172
• Commercial Pilot License – Oct 13, 1968 - Dallas, TX - CFI Hal Edwards - Cessna 140
• Instrument Rating – January 25, 1972 - Lubbock, TX - Mooney Ranger
• Multi-Engine Land Rating – Nov 10, 1973 - El Paso, TX - Piper Seneca
• Glider Rating – Jan 10, 1992 - Odessa, TX - CFI Randy Auburg - Schweitzer 2-22

Great piloting memories include

• hearing “Welcome to Oshkosh” over my headset;
• soaring flight levels above the mountains of New Mexico;
• flying home after midnight at 10,500 feet on a smooth, moonless, cloudless, star-rich night with the panel lights dim and three snoring passengers missing indescribable beauty;
• answering questions after aviation presentations to school-age children;
• hearing soaring pilot Jim Crisp wondering out loud “what all those miserable souls are doing down on planet earth today;” and
• taxiing at sunrise through prop mist and wet grass on an emerald dew drop morning.

Aircraft Flown

Aero Commander 100

Aero Commander 180

Alarus CH-2000

Beech A36 Bonanza

Beech V35 Bonanza

Beech E33 Debonair

Beech F33A Bonanza

Beech C23 Sundowner

Bellanca Super Viking 300

Blanik L13

Cessna 140

Cessna 152

Cessna 172

Cessna 172XP

Cessna 177

Cessna 177 RG

Cessna 182

Cessna 182 RG

Cessna 205

Cessna 206

Cessna 210

Cessna 310C

Cherokee 140

Cherokee 180

Citabria

Grob 103

Grumman American TR2

Jantar Standard 1

Libelle 201B

Mooney Executive 21

North American P-51D Mustang

TS-11 Iskra (jet trainer)

Favorite Aircraft

See above "Aircraft Flown"