Author Archives: Joe Clark

Eric, Gone West

My friend, Eric, has “gone west.”  In World War I when a soldier died, his comrades placed his body on a caisson with the others who had died and the caissons passed other soldiers on the way to the rear … Continue reading

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First Flight

If you are a pilot, or if you are not but have a serious interest in history, you owe it to yourself to visit First Flight on the outer banks in North Carolina.  This is the place where the Wright … Continue reading

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A Very Important Flight

One of the great perils of flying is weather.  Particularly in the early part of the last century, weather was extremely hazardous.  When the weather went “down,” flying became dangerous.  It was dangerous because aviators were incapable of landing on instruments … Continue reading

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The Perfect Flying Season

The perfect flying season is here.  There are two times the flight weather environment becomes perfect and those times are fall and spring.  Fall more so than spring, but still, spring is good. What makes fall and spring the perfect … Continue reading

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Ed’s Hotrod

Occasionally one of my students will ask me which airplane I liked flying the best in the Navy.  The answer I always give is, “Depends.  If I was going out to deliver weapons, no question – it is the A-7.  … Continue reading

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21st Century Thievery – Part Two

If you find yourself a victim of identity theft you must become immediately proactive in correcting the problem.  This is one time you do not want procrastinate.  Start fixing the problem and start on it now. If the theft was … Continue reading

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21st Century Thievery – Part One

Thieves have been a part of life since Biblical times and there appears to be little we can do about it.  When a friend or relative becomes the victim of crime, we help them the best we can, give thanks … Continue reading

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Remember When

Remember back when traveling by the airlines was something really special?  Everyone dressed in their very best to “take a flight” somewhere.  Passengers were well mannered, the food was good, the airline employees were happy, and massive radial engines made … Continue reading

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Impressions

I remember the first time I saw the Blue Angels.  I was working the line fueling airplanes at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, so I was standing atop my fuel truck.  I watched the team arrive and fly their practice … Continue reading

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Navigation

Getting around the world is a fascinating exercise.  At first, a person’s total awareness of his or her environment is the extent of as far as they can see, usually not much further beyond their crib or bedroom at first.  … Continue reading

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