Category Archives: Just Words

Maybe a little too much writing, right?

The Virtual World in the Sky

Posted on December 30, 2006 by Colin Summers

Most of what thrills me about being up in a plane is visual. There’s a perspective, which I often have in my mind when I am on the ground, that I finally get to see in reality when I fly. … Continue reading →

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You Sleep While I Fly

Posted on December 20, 2006 by Colin Summers

When I was small, younger than five, my family went to my grandparents’ house for dinner every Sunday evening. In the autumn and winter months, even though it was an early evening meal, we drove home in the dark.

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Traffic Cop

Posted on December 19, 2006 by Colin Summers

The proper way to manage risks is to look at the larger risks and eliminate those first. Eventually, you get far enough down the list that you get to negligible risks. That is not the way typical Americans handle risks. … Continue reading →

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Ticket to Learn

Posted on December 12, 2006 by Colin Summers

Yesterday I was in the family room while the boys were finishing up their reading before lights out. I had my laptop open and a soft voice was droning along. I struggled to remain focused. Nell walked by and said, … Continue reading →

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A Dream

Posted on December 12, 2006 by Colin Summers

The night I returned from Las Vegas I had a dream about flying. I woke up from it sad (it was like that). It took me a while to fall back to sleep and while lying there I remembered the … Continue reading →

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The Art of Flying

Posted on December 12, 2006 by Colin Summers

It was time for another visit to the Castle site, so I scheduled another milk run for Thursday. My friend Art was available, and since he is training for his IFR it was a good opportunity to spend some time … Continue reading →

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Out of the Killing Zone

Posted on November 28, 2006 by Colin Summers

I’ve been watching my logbook total hours for the past couple weeks, just waiting for this to happen. I finally passed the three hundred fifty hour mark. That’s critical. There’s a book called “The Killing Zone” which is an examination … Continue reading →

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Over to you, Otto

Posted on November 21, 2006 by Colin Summers

That’s my lap as I fly from Oxnard (OXR) back to Santa Monica (SMO). I took off through a thin layer of clouds. On my right knee is my miniZ kneeboard (from ZuluWorks), where I have copied my clearance and … Continue reading →

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A Look from the Outside

Posted on October 29, 2006 by Colin Summers

If you click on that it should get larger. That’s me in the plane at Paso Robles, about to fire up the engine to go out for my instrument check ride. The designated examiner is sitting next to me. My … Continue reading →

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Cleared for the Clouds

Posted on October 25, 2006 by Colin Summers

I wasn’t sure if it was worth paying my CFII to accompany me up to the check ride. I went back and forth about it. The check ride was schedule for Tuesday, October 24 at 11am. It was going to … Continue reading →

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