2023 Aviation Highlights
In my previous post, I revealed that after decades of wanting to learn to fly airplanes I was legally able to do so when time, the weather, and my wallet allowed. That was 35 weeks ago, and between now and then quite a few things have happened in my life including, but not limited to, changing jobs and becoming a father. As one might imagine, these milestones have often been at odds with flight.
Thanks to a supportive wife, and my son genuinely appearing to love airplanes, I have managed to log another 20 flights as Pilot in Command. The highlights of my year in aviation are probably the following:
- Earning my private pilot certificate (ASEL).
- Later really learning to fly an airplane by getting my tailwheel endorsement from the wonderful Joy Bowden down at Texas Taildraggers, Inc. in her outstanding Super Decathlon.
- Taking my father on a flight through the VFR corridor under Houston's Bravo airspace and around the San Jacinto monument in a Cessna 172.
- Taking my wife, and infant son, on a lunch run flight down to Lake Jackson
with a group of local aviators, twice
- Once, as both my son's first flight ever and my wife's first general aviation flight. I flew right seat in a Cessna 182 and left the PIC duties to a more seasoned pilot, and
- A second flight in a Cessna 172 as PIC that included a scenic route back from KLBX to KDWH overflying KELA and the Brazos River.
- Training to fly in the iconic Piper J3 Cub
Over the course of the next four and a half years or so, I will continue to fly in pursuit of a commercial certificate with the intention of being able to legally teach others to take to the sky.