I don't like to do this....

But, I feel strongly to make a statement.

I'm an aviation buff. I love airplanes, love to fly them, love to fly helicopters, air shows, etc...

But, I just feel that I have to make this statement.
NBC has rejected a TV ad by Freedom's Watch, a conservative group that supports administration policy in Iraq, that asks viewers to remember and thank U.S. troops during the holiday season.

NBC said it declined to air the ad because it refers to the group's Web site, which the network said was too political, not because of the ad's message.

"Anybody in the world who would look at this ad would come away with nothing other than we should thankful for their service," Freedom's Watch president Brad Blakeman said.


I'm sorry, but I feel that I had to get this information out. I'm a veteran and feel NBC's decision was wrong and demeaning to the group of wishes to run the ad. It doesn't bother me who the particular group produced the ad and wanted to run it. I feel NBC has made a political decision to not air something good.

FACT: Since the troop surge in Iraq, violence is down, US Troop deaths are down BUT GOOD NEWS IN IRAQ = LESS NEWS COVERAGE.

Graph and link to "fact."

I feel that I just had to rant about this poor decision fron NBC.

Little Upset with the...

"President Bush on Nov. 15 announced a series of measures to reduce airline delays, including opening restricted airspace on the East Coast to commercial flights during the holiday season. And he renewed the administration's call for higher taxes and user fees on general aviation."
Amidst airline delays, Bush calls for user fees
By Warren D. Morningstar

The President is dead wrong on asking for "user fees." Rather you like him or not, voted for him or not, this decision to support User Fees is plain wrong. I believe he is being misled by Big airline Execs who don't want to face the truth that THEIR flight scheduling is causing the problem, not GA.


"If we really want to solve this problem, it's time for Congress to modernize the FAA, and we've given them a blueprint to do so," said Bush, referring to the administration's FAA funding bill that would increase GA avgas taxes by 263 percent and impose user fees. And he praised Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) as people in Congress "who understand the need to act." The Rockefeller-Lott FAA funding bill (S.1300) includes a $25 per flight user fee on turbine aircraft." AOPA artile

By Gosh! $25.00 per flight user fee on turbine aircraft! I'm just a little dissapointed in Senator Lott, I kinda expected it from Rockefeller, but I use to like Sen. Lott, but not anymore.

I supported HR 2881, I hope the Senate does and the President Signs it. If you want more information on user fees and what the AOPA is doing, click here.

I made it! into BIG D

Made my first flight into Dallas and was granted permission to enter class B airspace. Went from Tulsa to Dallas to see the Sooners kick the tar out of Texas. Landed at Dallas Executive (redbird). Small airport, not much traffic and in the heart of Dallas.

Took off from O38 and climbed to 8,500, flipped on the autopilot and relaxed. Nice weather, few clouds, good airpseed (130 mph). Tried my new Garmin 396 w/ XM out and realized what I've been missing.

If you fly cross country regularly, I recommend buying a Garmin 396, 496 or equal just for the up-to-the-minute weather information. We had weather information with us and satellite radio. It was the first time I flew cross country while listening to Fox News and music.

It took us about 1.8 hours to fly down there, but a heck of a lot faster than commercial. Commercial flying required me to get to the airport an hour to an hour and a half before departure and after landing at Luv, for example, you have another hour or so before you get your luggage and hail down a cab.

Flying yourself is the only way!

Next stop: Indianapolis to watch my Colts play

Wonderful Cross Country Flight

Well, I made the flight from Tulsa (Riverside - RVS) to Kansas City Downtown Wheeler Airport (MKC) last weekend (10/22-07). Flew up there for some of that Famousw Kansas City Barbecue and to gain some experience flying into a Class B airspace.

It was great. Great Weather, Good Aircrat (Cherokee 6 300).

I took off from my hometown airport (Oscar Three Eight) and took flight following from there to Riverside to pick up a friend. My friend flies a Lear 45 and a wealth of knowledge and an overall good person. ( I asked for his assistance to help me make it into Class B and to make sure I wouldn't screw up.) We took on some fuel and talked to ground, got flight following to MKC and took off. Good weather, no bumps, no clouds (on the way up there), and practiced some IFR training by following the VOR needle.

Talked to Kansas City Center, Kansas City approach and received PERMISSION to fly into Class B airspace. I thought that was neat......fly into Class B airspace. It was something neat to hear Kansas City Departure to say "Cleared to enter Class B airspace." I was tickled pink.

This was a wonderful event in my flying experience. For small town pilots, it's a tremendous achievement to fly into Class B.

Had a great flight back into the Tulsa area. Another thing that was awesome was being told by Tulsa Approach to "Reduce Airspace by 20." Flying in a 300 horsepower airplane is awesome. Since my Cherokee 180 is in the middle of a panel upgrade, I have access to this PA-32-300 as long as I pay for fuel (12.5 GPH). I guess I was flying at around 135 knots IAS, but with the wind at my tail my ground speed was nearly 150 mph.

I abidided with the request and made my approach back into Riverside (RVS).

Well, my next trip is into Dallas, Tx. I'll be flying into Dallas Executive (Red Bird) to attend the Red River Shoot Out - OU vs. UT.
Go Sooners!!

Well, I'm doing it!

I think it's time to purchase a Garmin 396. I've been wanting one for quite some time now due to its ability to download and view in-flight weather reports. I was doing some cross country and saw some particular clouds in the distance and without being followed by center, I didn't have any weather info. I could have called flight watch, but enjoying the flight too much and didn't want to break into other pilots giving pireps I didn't want to break in.

So, I made a bid on E-bay and we'll see how it turns out. So far, I'm the highest bidder at $1400, but with 18 hours to go, I'm sure I'll have some visitors.

I've looked on XM radion's website and found the in-flight weather subscription cost $75.00 for the activation fee and then either $29.99 a month or their deluxe version at $49.99 a month. XM pricing plan website

We'll see if I win the unit. If I do, I'll post my reviews soon!

My Cherokee Update

Here' a few pics of my Cherokee. It's all in disarray. Seats are out of the cabin, the door is off, and the cabin roof panel is dangling....ALL FOR a panel upgrade. I'm in the middle of converting this VFR aircraft into a certified IFR airplane.
Few Things I'm adding:
DME
Glideslope
VOR
Auto-Pilot
Pitot Heater
IFR GPS
Garmin 396 with XM satellite weather
ADF (NDB)
New Altimeter
New VSI
New Tachometer
New Vemeer Mixture Control Knob


I'm guessing that I'll be flying it sometime this fall. Ready to fly in time for Football!! Flying from the Tulsa area to Norman, OK to watch the OU Sooners, baby!!

Here's a few pics

General Aviation Tribute

History of Aviation Video

Played to the theme Song of "Top Gun"

IFR Training

I've been a private Pilot since 1999 and after 250+ hours, I've decided to go after my Instrument rating. Just started my Instrument ground school and I can't believe how much information I didn't know! ADF, VOR, LOC, DME training, etc. is definitely a must for all pilots even if you never want to fly near clouds. Even if you're a fair weather pilot and never go near the hanger when there's a slim chance of low visitibility, you really need to learn Instrument Flying.

(1) As power is reduced to change airspeed from high to low cruise in level flight, which instruments are primary for pitch, bank, and power, respectively?
A Attitude indicator, heading indicator, and manifold pressure gauge or tachometer.
B Altimeter, attitude indicator, and airspeed indicator.
C Altimeter, heading indicator, and manifold pressure gauge or tachometer.

The Answer: C

(2) If an airplane is in an unusual flight attitude and the attitude indicator has exceeded its limits, which instruments should be relied on to determine pitch attitude before starting recovery?
A Turn indicator and VSI.

B Airspeed and altimeter.

C VSI and airspeed to detect approaching VSI or VMO.

The Answer: B


I'm using Sporty's Inst. DVD course, books, and some King Schools videos along with Gleim online course. I recommend using videos, books, on the online course at Gleim if you're going to do it yourself at home. I recommend attending a classroom style Instrument ground school if there is a local class going on at a local college, high school, or flying school. Where I'm at, there wasn't any local ground schools going on this time of the year. So, I opted out for home study and other aviators.

If you never intend on becoming an instrument rated pilot, I heavily recommend taking an instrument ground school.....it will only make you a better pilot.

Log Books & Online Stores

Is it hard to find a good log book? I still have my original logbook and still make entries, but I'm running out of columns. I tried to look on Sporty's and other online pilot stores, but cannot find any of these stores showing how many columns each book has, etc.

I need a Rotorcraft columnn, Taildragger Column, Instrument Column, Simultated Inst. Column, Complex Column, and with getting some time in the Cherokee 6 300, I would like another column for 300 horsepower time. Along with Night, Day, Cross Country, PIC, Dual, Actual Inst., Siumul. Inst., and Total Time I would like four more columns.

Now, I may be going overboard here, but I like being organized with each category. I would like to just glance down at the log book and read the total hours in each cateogry. Is there a book out there that has these columns in it?

Lear 45

My Goal is to one day fly this Lear 45. I'm working on my instrument rating. Been htting the books, videos, online test taking, etc. Got a Cherokee lined up, instructor lined up, and get that written test out of the way and get Instrumented rated. Second is my muli-engine sign off and get some right seat time in the Lear.

Since this Lear is owned by a family member, I'm able to catch a ride in it when it's flown. Since it's family who owns it, I can only ride right seat when it'she uses it. When he charter's the plane out the two pilots must be ATP certified part 135, since I'm not I can't right seat it. But, any time helps.

My goal is to one day be able to pilot-in-command one day. Get some time in it, get my type rating and it can happen. One flight and one lessen at a time is the plan.

45 Hours in a Helicopter

This is a picture of a bell 47 that I trained in. It has a useful load of 550 lbs with full fuel, large, wide main blades, and one heck of a helicopter. They knew how to build em' back then.

I recommend all pilots learn how to fly a helicopter. It's a great endorsement to get for all fixed wing pilots. You really learn how to use the pedals with a helicopter, it can help fixed wing pilots learn how to properly use those pedals.

Can you fly cross country without using the yoke?

Canada Fly-In Lodge

Well, made it to Canda again for the 11th year in row and want to go back. Lake Nueltin is where it's at. Take a plane from Oklahoma to Winnipeg then onto Thompson, Manitoba and then onto a dirt landing strip about 150 to 200 miles from the nearest road.


At the camp there was also a RARE Norseman on floats. Rag Wings, big radial engine...great flying machine. But, the real treat was watching an Otter on floats with a turbo prop engine. Man! Are you talking about no problem getting off the gound! 7 guys with gear, Mercury engines, flshing poles, extra gas for the boat motors and no problem getting off the water. It was a treat!

Need some cross country time

Well, I'm in need (and want) to get some good cross country time in.

I was thinking about flying from Oklahoma to Louisiana or maybe some place east of here and doing a long triangle. I was thinking of a 3 to 4 day trip. Gain about 25 to 40 hours, gain some good CC knowledge, work with ATC, and just get away.

Any suggestions?
Feel free to leave a note and some suggestions. Where to stop, places to see, where to eat, etc.

Taildragger?

Buddy of mine has a Cessna 140 taildragger (1950) and talked me into some ground operations with his plane. "Taildragger?" So, after some thought I decided to give it a try at a non toweresd airport and taxied around for an hour. I learned how to taxi with my feet upwind, downwind, and crosswind. On my first back taxi on 17, I gained the nerve to increase my speed and before I knew it, the plane was fish tailing and I ended up doing a ground loop. Scared me, but at least the main wheels never left the ground.



After my blood pressure regained its normal rating, I taxied over the grass strip and practiced there. Gained speed, slowed down, did sharp turns, stopping, etc to build my confidene up.

After an hour in the 1950 Cessna 140 taildragger, I thought it was a good first lessen. What did I gain from this? I learned to use my feet (rudder) better with the yoke better in a 10 mph breeze.

When I returned to the hanger, my buddy asked if I got the tail up off the ground. "No way! Not yet." After another hour or so, by myself, I think I can but I wouldn't take off without an instructor. Taildragger instructors are hard to come by these days, it seems that all pilots just want to do tricycle planes. But, trust me! Learning how to taxi, fly, and land a taildragger will only make you a better pilot.

The Flying Okie

Welcome! Cherokee two eight whiskey ten miles out inbound for 35. Anyone in the pattern?

First post of my blog. I've been a pilot since 99' and rated for private VFR fixed wing and rotorcraft. Received my fixed wing private ticket in a Cessna 172 and my rotocraft (helicopter) in a Bell 47.

Learned how to fly out of Riverside Airport in Tulsa/Jenks, Oklahoma. 10th Busiest Airport (in number of airplanes) in the United States http://www.jraa.org/ see it for yourself. (pic)

From ground school to check ride, I did it all at Robertson Aviation. Highly recommended school.

In 2000, I traveled to Maui, commercial airlines, and made some touch and goes at Maui International which was cool. Had some big planes in the sky with me and made me feel like I was one of the big boys up there. Beautiful scenery and great weather that day, a day I'll never forget.

Note: If you ever have the desire to learn how to fly airplanes JUST DO IT. Pick up the phone book, look for an aviation school and sign up. Just make the call.