Always Learning

Like most of you, I pursued aviation with a passion when I first became hooked. In my case, I was just finishing college. I earned my private pilot certificate, bought a worn-out Cessna 150, and reveled in aircraft ownership and the freedom of flight. When I needed something faster for business trips, I sold the 150, earned an instrument rating, and began renting a Cessna 182. A few years later, I decided to build an experimental airplane, which I sold just before my son was born. With increased time commitments for family and work I didn’t fly as much, and eventually not at all.

I still looked skyward every time an airplane flew overhead, and I never failed to renew my medical certificate, but somehow I lost my zeal for flying.

Until a moment in time rekindled the spark. My 7-year-old son and I were sitting under the wing of an airplane at EAA AirVenture enjoying the airshow. We were among a sea of antique and vintage airplanes—mostly the tailwheel variety—along the Vintage flight line near show center. Airplane owners and their friends and families were camping next to their airplanes in the grassy parking area. Cool airplanes, friendly people, the world’s largest airshow, and the ability to camp overnight with your airplane. It was magical. I yearned for that experience. We understand your yearnings may differ, so Senior Content Producer Ian Twombly offers many reasons to get back into the air in “Rekindle the Spark,” p. 30.

Cool airplanes, friendly people, the world’s largest airshow, and the ability to camp overnight with your airplane. It was magical.Now firmly hooked again, I thought, “if I need a flight review anyway, I might as well do it in a tailwheel airplane.” Learning to fly tailwheel after a decade on the ground was intimidating but thoroughly enjoyable. I craved the challenge and enjoyed the camaraderie with my instructor. I was quickly becoming a better pilot and eagerly bought a simple, two-place tailwheel airplane (for the cost of a used car) before I had completed my tailwheel endorsement.

My flight instructor and I flew commercially to Boston to retrieve my new aerial ride. The two-day ferry back to Chicago significantly increased my proficiency, and my confidence, after being away from aviation so long. By the time we landed in Chicago, I had secured my flight review, my tailwheel endorsement, and a renewed passion for flight.

It turns out that flying into AirVenture with my son and camping under the wing of our airplane for a week—while spectacular—was not my aviation dream after all. It was a terrific short-term goal that reignited my lifelong aviation journey.

My son will soon be off to Purdue University to study airline management and operations, and my flying needs are likely to change once more. What is my next adventure? Seaplanes? Gliders? Rotorcraft? I’m not yet sure, but general aviation has many avenues to pursue to keep us in the sky and always learning.