Two things I have forgotten to mention: When Nell and I flew the boys up to Santa Barbara one of my favorite things was that Dexter loved being "on the radio" with his headset. The microphone is voice-activated, and Dexter immediately asked how he knew which person he was talking to. When informed...

Colin and I strapped in again on Thursday for an airport bounce. The aim was to really try out the Diamond DA20 as well as get some more new airports into the log book. We rented the plane from South Bay Aviation at Torrance Airport. No doubt this is the best rental place we have used. They have a...

Nell's sister Claire decided to have Thanksgiving up in Yosemite at a big lodge. We were thrilled when she said we could tag along. We had considered going to the Grand Canyon with Adam and Sharalyn, but it seemed like a lot of flying for a family that had only done one flight of less than an hour...

Just a quick word on plane preferences. I do love the challenge and surprise that comes with a completely new plane. I will always chose to fly the unfamiliar over the familiar. That said, in the realm of the familiar I have a lot of time in both the Cessna 152/172 and the Piper Archer/Warrior. I...

My brother and I are not two peas in a pod as pilots, or as people. We got into this at the same time and progressed equally smoothly, but we are quite different in temperament, and subtly different in the things we do well. Our parents think we are equally good pilots who have an agreement to...

Yesterday was a nearly perfect flight. I’m trying to get a few more hours in Two Sierra before we fly up to Fresno tomorrow. So I had a 10am flight schedule. Rudy had a cold, so he stayed home from school after picking up his homework. In the morning he worked on his math in the studio while I...

Adam was having such fun flying Mom and Alex around that I had to figure out a way to take them up. The problem was that I didn't really need to go anywhere. I don't know where Adam is getting his flying dollars, but my budget appears to be a little tighter. I did need to go up in Two Sierra to try...

I realized Sharalyn and my mom were not much worried about flying with me as I took off from the bleak and windy airport at Bullhead City. My passengers all have headsets and each headset has a mic. I can't imagine flying around in one of these little tin cans without being able to talk to...

Well, another day off and another great day of flying. Yet another reason I want to live closer to my folks. I was not sure how Mom would take to flying since she is overly concerned with her mortality in large airplanes. In big planes Mom is usually just fine as long as one of us is with her and...

This is the essay my nephew Max wrote for his application to high school. He had to write about the person he admired most and why. I was proud to be chosen and a little surprised, since I don't think of myself as very accomplished. My uncle, Colin, is one person whom I really admire, because he is...