Letters: From our February 2018 issue

I want to be among the throng of flying family members who will, no doubt, write “Well done!” for the article “Flying Families.” On behalf of my father, the late Carl G. Jordan, a retired American Airlines captain who soloed in August 1927 (in a Curtiss Jenny); myself, Carl B. Jordan, a retired United Airlines captain who soloed in June 1949; and my daughter, Catherine A. Jordan, a retired Southwest Airlines captain who soloed in August 1977, thank you for an awe-inspiring look at miraculous flying families.

Carl B. Jordan
AOPA 664957
Port Charlotte, Florida

I just read Julie Summers Walker’s “Flying Families,” and know I missed a great opportunity to contribute, to honor my father and my son. My dad, Edward Sarkisian, served as a great mentor for me, ultimately leading me to a career in aviation. The same influences carried over to my son.

My father worked at the Little Ferry Seaplane Base, a few miles east of Teterboro Airport, as a teenager during the 1930s. He worked on the new Cub seaplanes. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in October 1939, which ended the flying for him, at least for several decades. He served on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) as a gunner in the Pacific during World War II.

My first flight in 1974 was a $5 seaplane intro flight, out of the Little Ferry Seaplane Base. My dad flew with me in light twins during night cargo out of Teterboro Airport during the early 1980s. I ultimately flew for United Airlines. My son, Daniel, acquired his private pilot certificate in 2012 while still in high school. He continues now in naval aviation, currently training in Texas.

On September 10, 2001, I considered picking up a trip out of Newark, for the following day but decided to take the opportunity to drive Daniel to school instead. I dropped off our son at school at 8:15 a.m. on September 11; the Newark flight I almost picked up was ultimately hijacked over Pennsylvania: United Flight 93.

Edward Sarkisian
AOPA 1163933
Wyckoff, New Jersey

State pride

What a fun article from in the February issue (“What’s Your State Aircraft?”). My addition for New York and its Grumman Cats would be the Grumman Ag Cat (G–164). Several thousand were built in Elmira, New York.

Dennis Hauser
AOPA 398291
Etters, Pennsylvania

I respectfully disagree with your editors’ selection for Alabama’s state aircraft. While the Saturn V is an impressive candidate, I would submit the Army UH–1 Huey. For close to 50 years, tens of thousands of our nation’s finest honed their pilot skills flying the Huey at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Since the early 1960s, the distinctive sound of the Huey has been heard in the Alabama skies and all over our nation.

Jack A. Holmes
AOPA 7440502
Fort Rucker, Alabama

I normally agree with the thoughts expressed in AOPA Pilot, but the suggestion that the Wright Flyer be North Carolina’s state aircraft has me semi-steamed. The Wright Flyer was conceived and built in Dayton, Ohio. The only connection North Carolina had to the airplane was supplying some real estate for its flights. And yes, I too was conceived and built in Dayton, Ohio.

Dan Kiser
AOPA 6575454
Columbus, Ohio

The Waco is an OK nomination for Michigan; however, I would submit a few others. First, the Ford Tri-Motor built in Dearborn; the B–24 built by the thousands at Willow Run; and my personal favorite, the incomparable, stunningly beautiful Meyers 200, built in Tecumseh.

Besides, the Weaver Airplane Company started in Ohio. And, you know how we Michiganders feel about all things Ohio.

John Bowden
AOPA 9128570
Augusta, Michigan

If California were to have a state aircraft, it absolutely should be the Douglas DC–3 and not the Lockheed SR–71. A group of us tried many years ago to interest Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a state airplane, but we were obviously unsuccessful.

Barry Schiff
AOPA 7440502
Camarillo, California

I agree that Mr. Pitts did a lot for the aerobatic arena with his designs, but my suggestion for Florida’s state airplane would be the Piper Cherokee. Thousands have been built in our state, and I would guess that three out of five pilots who learned to fly here soloed in a PA–28 Cherokee series.

Dwayne R. Waters
AOPA 4313119
Merritt Island, Florida

Making a difference

Richard McSpadden’s article respecting the value of instruction (“Safety Spotlight: Something’s Not Quite Right”) really hit home with me. 

As a zero-flight-time cadet going through primary flight training in the Royal Canadian Air Force over 30 years ago, I had a similar experience. On the ropes before the Initial Clearhood Test, I was given two extra duals with a fresh instructor. He would decide if I would go on the checkride or pack my bags and go home.

What a difference! The new instructor was the polar opposite of the one who sent me for extra training. The new guy was calm, communicated with me very well, quickly identified and fixed the areas where I was having difficulty, and sent me on my checkride.I passed and went on to a rewarding career in military and civilian aviation. Half of my coursemates were not so lucky. Of the 36 who started, 18 graduated with RCAF wings.

I still attribute my career and good fortune in large part to Capt. Chris Hurley, who without question saved me from the fate of so many others. Thank you, Chris, wherever you are—and thank you, Richard, for reminding me why I am where I am today. 

Spike Kavalench
AOPA 9781402
Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Getting it done

It’s a shame more people are not seeing the millennial generation with as open a mind as Thomas B. Haines obviously does (“Waypoints: Kids These Days”). I’m 43, only six or seven years older than the oldest millennials, but on the outside for sure, and I see great involvement from the 20- and 30-something crowd; you just need to know where to look. Although I’m very new at it myself, take some time searching through Instagram and you’ll see a very large millennial presence in aviation. From GA pilots loving their Cessna 150s to helicopter pilots posting photos from all over the world, professional aerobatics performers, airline pilots, off-airport lovers and Alaska bush-pilots, business owners, and students all trying to scratch that itch. If you stop and look around, the millennials are getting it done in the air and having crazy fun doing it.

Jason Anderson
AOPA 4011298
O’Fallon, Illinois

Airport memories

I read with great interest “Shannon’s Rebirth.” I’m originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia. As a 16-year-old, I learned to fly at Shannon Airport. I did this also while working there as an airport lineboy. I spent many hours in the museum dusting Sidney Shannon’s airplane collection.

There was a person not mentioned in the article that I wanted to share. His name was Chalmers Dettinger, although everyone who knew him called him “Shorty.”

He worked at Shannon as a flight instructor. When I first met Shorty, I was that 16-year-old airport lineboy. He offered to teach me to fly for free. He told me that he had done the same for other lineboys and if I wanted to learn, he would help. He gave me a gift I can never repay. I now make my living as an airline captain and it’s because of him. He passed away many years ago. But when I think of Shannon Airport, I think of Shorty.

Drew Middleton
AOPA 925839
Crestwood, Kentucky