Author Archives: Joe Clark

The 1940s

Posted on January 18, 2011 by Joe Clark

My friend, Mike, sent me an email featuring a PowerPoint presentation about the 1940s. Coincidentally, I spent time earlier in the day researching some of the great airplanes of the period. I came away thinking about the airplanes and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General | Tagged Air Force, airliners, airplanes, altitude, Chuck Yeager, discipline, Douglas DC-7, flying, humanitarian roles, judgment, Lockheed Constellation, Mach, military service, offensive and defensive weapons of war, open cockpit biplanes, pilots, professional pilots, Royal Air Force, The 1940s, the airline industry, the Korean conflict, The World's Greatest Generation, Tom Brokaw, United States Air Force, World War II | 5 Comments

The First Casualty

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Joe Clark

Today, 20 years ago on January 17, 1991, Operation Desert Storm began. Onboard the USS Saratoga, men prepared to go to war and they would be some of the first warriors over the beach. VFA-81, the Sunliners, was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History | Tagged airplanes, CAPT Joseph Mobley, discipline, flying, friends, judgment, LCDR Michael Scott “Spike” Speicher, military service, Navy, North Vietnam, Operation Desert Storm, pilots, prisoner of war, professional pilots, The First Casualty, the first loss of the war, the Rampagers, the Sunliners, USS Saratoga, VFA-81, VFA-83 | 6 Comments

The Aeronca Chief

Posted on January 16, 2011 by Joe Clark

She is another one of those classic airplanes. As with most airplanes coming into production after the war, the Aeronca Chief was an airplane as perfect for personal use as she was for flight training. Not as popular as some … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged adverse yaw, Aeronca 11AC, Aeronca 7AC Champ, Aeronca Chief, airplanes, Cessnas, classic airplanes, Continental A-65 engine, control sticks, cruise speed of 90 mph, flying, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, Middleton OH, not a “nasty” taildragger, pilots, Raymond Hermes, side-by-side seating, student pilots, taildraggers, the Aeronautical Aircraft Company, The Aeronca Chief, training aircraft, World War II | 7 Comments

Calling in Sick

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Joe Clark

I hate calling in sick. There is just something about it I really dislike – mostly the part about being sick. However, every now and then, you have to listen to your body and give it a rest. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Life in General, Personal | Tagged $63 billion, a lot of bucks!, a really bad cold, being sick, Calling in Sick, calling in sick to fun, dedicated employees, give it a rest, productivity, staying home, take it easy, telecommuting, workers lose 8.4 days per year | 6 Comments

Why Fly?

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Joe Clark

Why fly? There are many motivating factors compelling many to fly. Everyone has personal reasons as to why they fly. Some have verbalized those reasons, some not. Some reasons for flying include a deep and resounding desire to soar like … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Personal | Tagged airplanes, Cessnas, flying, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning to fly, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft | 6 Comments

The North American P-51D Mustang

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Joe Clark

One airplane which has always mesmerized me was the North American P-51D Mustang. Truly, the airplane and the pilots who flew her into combat were in a class of their own. When I started flying in 1971, I came across … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, History | Tagged .50 caliber Browning machine guns, Air Force, air shows, airplanes, Eighth Air Force, flying, grueling missions, incredibly higher return than Wall Street, inexperienced pilots, judgment, long range bomber escort, military service, Mustangs for sale, Packard V-1650-7, pilots, professional pilots, race pilots, taildraggers, the National Championship Air Races in Reno, The North American P-51D Mustang, torque rolls, Trade A Plane, World War II | 3 Comments

The Day of the One’s Takes its Own Place in History

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Joe Clark

Well, yesterday I made mention January 11, 2011 would create its own history and it did not disappoint. Throughout the eastern half of the nation, the weather was awful. According to various news reports, the airlines canceled as many as … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged 1-11-11, 7700 flights canceled, a unique day, airline cancellations, Atlanta's Hartsfield, awful weather, declare an emergency, Delta Airlines, hotel rooms, hurry up spring, loss of millions of dollars, Old Man Winter, state of panic, stranded passengers, The Day of the One’s Takes it Own Place in History, the Sunshine State, too cold, travel delays, treacherous driving, uncomfortable nights in airport terminals, US Airways | Comments Off

The Day of the One’s

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Joe Clark

Today is a unique day. In the purest form the date is 1-11-11. That is a lot of one’s. This year, there is only day better than this in context of dates – Veterans Day. Can you imagine that? 11-11-11! … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation History, Life in General | Tagged 1-11-11, a unique day, Amelia Earhart, Atlanta, Auburn-Oregon game, Bill Cosby, Billy Martin, Bobby Knight, Denver Broncos, Dorothy Hamill, Green Bay Packers, Howard stern, Kansas City Chiefs, Kristi Yamaguchi, Los Angeles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Yankees, Paul Simon, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco, Seinfeld, Smoking may be hazardous to your health, Space Shuttle STS–72, Superbowl IV, The Day of the One’s, the Endeavor, the first discotheque, Tim Allen, Veterans Day, Washington DC, Watergate burglars, Whisky-a-go-go | 2 Comments

Eternal Suicide by FB

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Joe Clark

One of the classes I teach is a career and interviewing class. I enjoy teaching that class because it really helps some of the students. What amazes me about some young people, however, is that some have chosen to commit … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General | Tagged a profound effect on the rest of your life, bad information, career and interviewing class, commit professional suicide by Facebook, discipline, Eternal Suicide by FB, Facebook, friends, identity thieves, incriminating information, incriminating photographs, judgment, professional pilots, professionalism, social media, the interview process | 4 Comments

Carrots and Night Flying

Posted on January 9, 2011 by Joe Clark

When I talk with my commercial pilot classes about radar, one of my favorite “extra point” test questions deals with carrots. None knew the story of British ace, John Cunningham. Cunningham was a Royal Air Force officer who went from … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General | Tagged beta-carotene, British ace John Cunningham, carrots, Carrots and Night Flying, fighter pilot, flying, military service, pilots, Royal Air Force, the British High Command, The Germans, the invention of radar, the most dangerous night fighter pilot of the RAF, World War II, “extra point” test questions | 1 Comment

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Author Archives: Joe Clark

The 1940s

The First Casualty

The Aeronca Chief

Calling in Sick

Why Fly?

The North American P-51D Mustang

The Day of the One’s Takes its Own Place in History

The Day of the One’s

Carrots and Night Flying

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