President's Perspective

Facing a new flying challenge

So often I meet new or student pilots who are so enthusiastic about aviation and yet so apologetic: "I have only 50 hours so far," or "I only fly a Cessna 150." My quick retort is that all of us who are higher-time aviators at one time only had 50 hours-and for many of us at that point, all we proudly flew was a 150! As one builds time, whether a student, flight instructor, or even AOPA president, the slogan on this magazine applies to us all. "A good pilot is always learning."

No matter what our total time, most of us got into and stayed with aviation because of the challenge and the unbelievable reward of accomplishment that accompanies each flight. We are unique, considering that there are only 630,000 of us among the 209 million Americans age 18 or older. So many pilots tell me it's the "license to learn" that keeps them active, whether recreationally or for business. With more than 7,000 hours-gained only by flying GA airplanes in those two categories-I still learn from every flight, and I continue to seek further accomplishments in aviation. Only the time required to work for AOPA members in this busy job prevents me from upgrading my certificate to a CFI or ATP, something I look forward to doing in the distant future.

However, this year's AOPA Centennial of Flight Sweepstakes afforded me a unique opportunity to put new entries in my old logbook. As you should be aware, at the end of 2003, any current member will be eligible for a drawing that will award the winner a beautiful, fully restored 1940s-era Waco UPF-7. The challenge of flying this World War II trainer, worth $250,000, is that unlike the Cessna 150-or most of today's modern GA airplanes-the UPF-7 has no nosewheel.

First, the opportunity. The restoration would be completed by April, allowing the aircraft to be displayed at some of the popular spring and summer airshows, as well as AOPA Expo in October. The plane would be hangared adjacent to AOPA headquarters for several months. Someone would have to exercise that 275-horsepower Jacobs radial engine every couple of weeks. Who better than me?

Next, the challenge. Pure and simple, it truly is a taildragger-and not just any tailwheel airplane, but an open-cockpit biplane weighing almost 4,000 pounds. And, believe it or not, my logbooks contained no entries flying a "conventional gear" airplane. Consequently, I had no tailwheel endorsement allowing me to fly the Waco. The challenge was no different than that first solo or that first solo cross-country. So, I took a week's vacation in August 2002 to earn my endorsement and get model-specific training in a Waco. The day-by-day experience was detailed in an article I wrote for this magazine's sister publication, AOPA Pilot. Needless to say, I was challenged. I wasn't new to flying, but I was learning to fly again! Here I was, a student pilot with more than 7,000 hours in an awesome airplane with a whole new control feel and regime that were new to me. When the week ended I had an immense appreciation for those who initially learned to fly in a Waco; for anyone who flies a conventional-gear airplane; and for the sensitivity to every detail about the wind and its effect on an aircraft whose center of gravity is behind the main wheels, not in front.

Finally, the payoff. It came this spring, when NC29352 was ferried to AOPA's home base in Frederick, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. It had been several months since I had flown a Waco, so as any student pilot would do, I coaxed Roy Redman from Rare Aircraft, my instructor, to fly with me again. Like riding a bike, I hadn't lost the feel.

After getting current I set down some rules for flying the Waco, very much like any new pilot might be cautioned to do. I will not fly with more than five to seven knots of crosswind when landing on hard-surface runways. I must be fully rested and in good mental spirits before taming the taildragger (in other words, I have to clear Chicago's Mayor Daley and Meigs Field from my mind). And I will not fly it cross-country; a professional Waco UPF-7 pilot will handle ferry flights.

Some very lucky AOPA member will win this airplane. But for the moment, with wind in my face, that big radial engine up front, and the experience of having met another aviation challenge in my long love affair with airplanes, I fully realize "a good pilot is always learning."