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Flight for the Human Spirit lands in Wisconsin

Sport pilot Michael Combs arrived in Reedsburg, Wis., May 6 as the Flight for the Human Spirit concludes its fourth week.

Combs, flying a Remos GX, has completed ten flight days on his months-long itinerary. Since launching April 8, he has flown from his starting point in Salina, Kan., throughout New England to the Midwest.

“I just finished reviewing my route from Chicago to Denver—wow! There will be long flight legs and high mountains,” Combs wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday. “It will be incredible to follow.”

On days when he is grounded by weather, Combs visits area points of interest, such as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and at night he plans his flights, updates his blog and podcasts, and reaches out to his followers on Facebook and other social media. He recently asked what more he could be doing to keep people engaged in his progress. Suggestions included more in-flight video and more Mission Control updates to let people know where he will be landing and approximately what time he will be there. One follower suggested that he should schedule stops at smaller, more GA-friendly airports. “Ann Arbor (Michigan) would have been a better choice than Willow Run because it’s smaller, more active, and has sport aviation training,” she said. “Smaller airports make for better connections with people.”

Combs plans to fly in or to all 50 states, stopping in 135 cities and towns across the United States. You can track his progress at http://www.aopa.org/sweeps/flight-for-the-human-spirit or the Flight for the Human Spirit website.

Jill W. Tallman
Jill W. Tallman
AOPA Technical Editor
AOPA Technical Editor Jill W. Tallman is an instrument-rated private pilot who is part-owner of a Cessna 182Q.

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