Author Archives: Joe Clark

Piper’s Comanche

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Joe Clark

One of the best single engine aircraft on the used airplane market today is the Piper PA-24 Comanche. Piper delivered the airplane with a variety of Lycoming engines ranging in power from 180 hp on the low end, to 400 hp … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General | Tagged a solid instrument platform, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, bona fide four-place airplane, Comanche, flight training, flying, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning to fly, Max Conrad, pilots, Piper PA-24 Comanche, Piper's Comanche, professional pilots, standard "T" instrument panel, the non-stop speed record from Casablanca to Los Angeles, “oil-canning” in the aft fuselage | Comments Off

The World’s First Flight Attendant

Posted on May 15, 2011 by Joe Clark

In 1930, Ellen Church was a newly licensed pilot who wanted to fly. She went to Boeing Air Transport, the predecessor to United Airlines, and applied, even though she knew her chances of flying as a pilot were not good. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, History | Tagged Army Nurse Corps the Air Medal, Boeing Air Transport, Cresco IA, Ellen Church, Ellen Church Field, Ford Tri-motor, Iowa, passengers fearful of flying, reassuring frightened passengers, scared and airsick passengers, Steve Stimpson of BAT, stewards, the fledgling airline industry, the very first flight attendant in the world, The World’s First Flight Attendant, United Airlines, World War II | 4 Comments

The Wonder of Weather Technology

Posted on May 14, 2011 by Joe Clark

We knew the weather was coming today, and now it is here. Earlier today, Ardis was talking with her father and asked if we should spend the money to water the lawn. He told her yes, so now the lawn … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged a great instrument platform, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, another night of dodging thunderstorms, building experience, Cessna 210, Cessnas, computer screen, discipline, Florida, flying, flying only on my terms, flying Part 135, heavy rain, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning experiences, learning to fly, Level 3 storms, Level 4 storms, memories, pilots, professional pilots, radar map, Tampa, The Wonder of Weather Technology, trying to stay VFR, weather, written tests, “paying my dues” | 2 Comments

The Mighty Mississippi

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Joe Clark

The first levee has failed in Louisiana. The Mississippi River continues to rise and now officials throughout the area are concerned other levees will not hold unless they take pressure off the entire system. How are they going to do … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life in General | Tagged Baton Rouge, Cajuns, fishing camps, friends, Governor Bobby Jindal, judgment, levee failure, losing everything, Louisiana, New Orleans, small businesses, small farms, the Army Corps of Engineers, The Mighty Mississippi, the Mississippi River, the Morganza Spillway, “the water is coming” | Comments Off

The Big Hole in the Ground

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Joe Clark

Today is the first day of class and as with all first days of class, some things can be unpredictable. Like what I may use to illustrate my lessons and where my mind might go in the process. Today, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged a dangerous place to fly, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, Cessna 170B, Cessnas, discipline, first day of class, flying, friends, Grand Canyon National Park airport, inexperienced pilots, judgment, military service, mountains, Navy, pilots, professional pilots, special air traffic rules, taildraggers, The Big Hole in the Ground, the Grand Canyon | 2 Comments

Cruising

Posted on May 11, 2011 by Joe Clark

We have the ability today to stay in contact immediately with anyone around the globe. Facebook is a case in point. As I was thinking of a topic for tonight’s blog, I stopped in on Facebook to check in and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged A-7E Corsair, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, at sea, Cruising, discipline, Facebook, flying, flying around the boat, friends, helicopter pilots, judgment, landing signal officer (LSO), memories, military service, Navy, nighttime operations, Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, pilots, professional pilots, rescue swimmers, sailors, tactical jet aviators, the deck was pitching and rolling, the guy who bought the beer at the last port of call, “ball call”, “getting aboard”, “Roger ball!”, “We’re going to the ship!” | 4 Comments

Headwinds and Tailwinds

Posted on May 10, 2011 by Joe Clark

We were at the Thomasville fly-in and the weather had been okay, not great, but just okay. There was a high overcast and it was cool for October. And it was windy. As we were getting ready for the return … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged airplanes, airspeed, Cessna 170B, discipline, Florida, flying, friends, Headwinds, judgment, memories, pilots, professional pilots, taildraggers, tailwinds | 1 Comment

Sealord and the Atlantic

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Joe Clark

It is the day after Mother’s Day and for her treat, I take Ardis to dinner at the Reef Restaurant on the beach. As is always the case, whenever I look out to sea, my mind wanders back a couple … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged 2 v 1 Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM), ACM was much more subjective, airplanes, airspeed, altitude, bombs are better, discipline, disliked rushing or hurrying, dropping bombs, flight training, Florida, flying, I gave him the thumbs up, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning to fly, learning to fly Corsairs, memories, military service, my mind wanders back a couple of decades, NAS Cecil, NAS Cecil Field, Navy, out of the chocks, pilots, professional pilots, sailors, Sealord and the Atlantic, student pilots, the disembodied voice inside my helmet, the final knock-it-off of the day, the O-Club, training aircraft, “a hung ordinance approach”, “Sealord” | 1 Comment

The Hardest Job Ever

Posted on May 8, 2011 by Joe Clark

It is late night, Ardis is driving. Today is Mother’s Day. I hope all you moms out there had a joyous day. I am convinced, from the personal experience of being a pain in my mother’s butt, that being a … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged a pain in my mother’s butt, discipline, growing up the South, keep us out of trouble, Mother’s Day, personal experience, sacrifice, take my own belt to my bottom, The Hardest Job Ever, the hardest job in the world, traditional Southern qualities, we were rich because of her, young people, “Dr.”, “Give me your belt.”, “Miss”, “Mr.”, “Mrs.”, “No sir”, “Yes ma’am” | Comments Off

Pilot-Engineer Wars

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Joe Clark

There is a thought that engineers created performance charts just to drive pilots crazy. And, as if that were not enough, they had to include “notes,” “cautions,” and “warnings.” The pilots need to heed all those, too, just to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged "cautions", "notes", "warnings", airplanes, airspeed, altitude, becoming familiar with the charts and graphs, becoming very familiar with the airplane, Cessnas, engine failures, flight training, flying, grass runways, hidden in plain sight, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning to fly, performance charts, Pilot-Engineer Wars, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft | 6 Comments

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Author Archives: Joe Clark

Piper’s Comanche

The World’s First Flight Attendant

The Wonder of Weather Technology

The Mighty Mississippi

The Big Hole in the Ground

Cruising

Headwinds and Tailwinds

Sealord and the Atlantic

The Hardest Job Ever

Pilot-Engineer Wars

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