Around the Pattern

Occasionally life gets in the way and time passes way faster than you imagined. As I look back at this site I see that I haven’t published anything since way back in January. Almost a year has passed and I imagine that most of the regular readers here have moved on. Oh well, publishing on sites like this are often more for the writer than the reader. Sort of a way to clear your head.

When we last left off I had just given a new friend an EAA Eagle Flight – designed to introduce adults to the world of aviation if they have expressed a sincere interest in learning what flying is all about. That friend is now finishing up his final flight requirements for his private pilot certificate. I expect him to schedule his checkride before the end of the year.

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Anyone who has any experience with the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) has heard of their Young Eagle Program. It introduces kids aged 8-17 to the world of aviation with a Stem-oriented briefing that covers the very basics of flying, the Young Eagle Program itself and flight line safety. Then they are given a an orientation flight. All this is provided at no cost to the child or his/her parents. The printed materials are provided by EAA and the flights are provided by volunteer EAA members. There are also follow-on benefits for kids who pursue their aviation education.

The response to the Young Eagle program continues to be very positive and, as expected, some parents watching the program in action have asked how they can get the same type of experience.  Enter EAA’s Eagle Flight Program.

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That was a long dry spell there… both flying and writing.

It all started with an extended annual inspection on the Swift. Just as I was about to get it all finished I made a dumb mistake that required sending my prop out to be inspected. That resulted in the need for a new hub for the prop. By the time all that was completed we had entered into the winter of 2016-17 which was one of the wettest we had experienced in decades. It was great for the skiers and filled all our reservoirs to capacity…but it made it hard to get over the Sierras and pick up the prop from the San Francisco bay area.

Well, I finally got it all back and the plane back flyable again. But by then both my medical and flight review had expired. I wrote about all that back in June.

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