Tag Archives: pilots

Brothers to the Rescue, Hermanos Al Rescate

Posted on February 24, 2011 by Joe Clark

Geographically, Cuba is a wonderful place, truly a paradise. Politically, however, it is a mess. Some of the recent news about Cuban politics includes Castro finally admitting socialism does not work and that the Cuban economic situation is broken. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged airplanes, Brothers to the Rescue, Carlos Costa, Cessna 337 Skymaster, Cessnas, Cuba, Cuban politics, Cuban refugees, Cubans risk their lives trying to escape, dreamed of flying, Fidel Castro, Florida, flying, flying career, free Cubans, Hermanos Al Roscate, humanitarian, judgment, Michael Moore's movie, paradise, pilots, professional pilots, quiet confidence, rafting to freedom, shootdown, socialism, the Cuban economic situation, the Florida Straits, volunteer pilots and observers | 3 Comments

The Perfect Storm

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Joe Clark

We are facing a situation in the aviation industry, which many may very well describe as an approaching “Perfect Storm.” For years, we have heard people in and out of the industry say there will be a pilot shortage. Current … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General | Tagged aviation industry, discipline, extreme dedication, flight instruction, flight training, flying, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, Korean era pilots, learning to fly, perseverance, pilot shortage, pilots, professional pilots, remaining ready, student pilots, the little boy crying wolf, The Perfect Storm, too late, training aircraft, Vietnam vets, World War II pilots, world’s population, young pilots, “Perfect Storm” | Comments Off

The Citabria

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Joe Clark

One of the finest airplanes produced is the Citabria, which, spelled backward, is “Airbatic.” That was one of the things this little two-place airplane specialized in—aerobatics—going upside down, turning loops, and flying Cuban Eights. Champion Aircraft originally designed the plane … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying | Tagged 7ECA Citabria, 7GCAA Citabria, 7GCBC Citabria, 7KCAB, 8KCAB Decathlon, aerobatics, airplanes, basic acrobatic trainer, Champion Aircraft, Cuban Eights, flight training, flying, inverted fuel and oil systems, learning to fly, Lycoming O-235, Lycoming O-320, Lycoming O-360, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, the Champ, The Citabria, turning loops, upside down, “Airbatic” | Comments Off

A Near Miss

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Joe Clark

My students look at me with great incredulity. “No way!” one says. “Six inches?” “Yep. At least we think it was six inches. It might have been closer.” “How could you measure a miss that close?” another asks. “Simple. We … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged A Near Miss, airplanes, Cessna 170, Cessnas, dark night, debriefing, Ercoupe, Florida, flying, flying the airplane by feel, gopher hole, inexperienced pilots, judgment, lucky, manual flaps, moving airplanes in the dark, nav lights, nosewheel, Paul Harvey, pilots, professional pilots, runway incursions, taildraggers, the airspeed indicator, the rest of the story | 3 Comments

Is the End Near? I Hope So!

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Joe Clark

Well, it is almost mid-February, which means spring is right around the corner. For me, it cannot get here fast enough. I am really tired of the cold. I am over feeling as if I am cooped up inside because … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged airplanes, Cessnas, flight training, Florida, flying, friends, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, judgment, learning to fly, open cockpit biplanes, pilots, professional pilots, student pilots, taildraggers, training aircraft | 1 Comment

Hail

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Joe Clark

One of the most dangerous weather conditions anyone can encounter beyond tornadoes and hurricanes is hail. According to the National Weather Service, hail causes $1 billion in damages to crops and property each year. Oh, the “b” was not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General | Tagged airplanes, Atlanta GA, dangerous weather conditions, DC-9, flying, flying into a hail shaft, Hail, Huntsville AL, hurricanes, inexperienced pilots, instrument flying, instrument flying without radar, judgment, learning to fly, National Weather Service, New Hope GA, pilots, professional pilots, Rome GA, Southern Airways Flight 242, tornadoes | 1 Comment

The Cessna 172 on Steroids

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Joe Clark

A Cessna 172 on steroids? No not really. Something like that would have another name. Most in the aviation business know it as a Cessna 182 Skylane. The two airplanes look very similar with tricycle landing gear, four seats, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Flying | Tagged airplanes, Cessna 172, Cessna 182, Cessna 182 Skylane, Cessnas, Continental O-470, extra shoulder space and legroom, flying, fuel flow of 11 gallons per hour, greater cabin room, headroom, judgment, learning to fly, Lycoming IO-360, pilots, professional pilots, propeller control, Skyhawk, Skylane, The Cessna 172 on Steroids, training aircraft | 1 Comment

Remember Today?

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Joe Clark

Twenty-five years ago today, I was learning to fly the A-7 Corsair. My base was NAS Cecil Field in Jacksonville, FL on this particular day in 1986 and I would finally have a chance to watch one of the Shuttles … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation History, Life in General, Personal | Tagged A Major Malfunction, Florida, Jacksonville FL, NAS Cecil Field, NATOPS manuals, of those moments in history, Pearl Harbor, pilots, racing for the heavens, student pilots, the A-7 Corsair, the day Kennedy fell in Dallas, the hangar bay, the ready room, The Shuttle Challenger, The Shuttle Columbia, The Shuttles, the Twin Towers | 3 Comments

The High Cost of Renting

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Joe Clark

In 1971, the cost of renting airplanes was expensive. The sad truth about aircraft rental today is that it still remains too expensive. Relatively speaking, it is more expensive than 35 years ago. In 1971, a Cessna 150 cost $15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Aviation History, Flight Instructing, Flying, Life in General, Personal | Tagged airlines, airplanes, Cessna 150, Cessnas, checkride, computers, discipline, final cost for earning a private pilot certificate, Flight instructors, flying, getting rich, ground instruction, how can young kids afford flight training, inexperienced pilots, judgment, learning to fly, minimum wage, navigation plotters, pilots, private pilot, professional pilots, rental and instructional fees, renting airplanes, solo students, student pilots, testing fees, textbooks, the aviation industry, The High Cost of Renting, training aircraft | 3 Comments

Range Safety

Posted on January 23, 2011 by Joe Clark

During my years as a Navy pilot, the closest anyone came to shooting me was on the small arms range—by a Navy nurse. The lesson learned that morning was again, never take anything for granted—especially safety. In the process of … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in General, Personal | Tagged discipline, judgment, Navy, Navy nurse, Navy pilot, O' Club, petty officers, pilots, range procedures, Range Safety, safety, senior chief, small arms, Smith & Wesson 38s, the fleet | 1 Comment

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Tag Archives: pilots

Brothers to the Rescue, Hermanos Al Rescate

The Perfect Storm

The Citabria

A Near Miss

Is the End Near? I Hope So!

Hail

The Cessna 172 on Steroids

Remember Today?

The High Cost of Renting

Range Safety

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