Oper at i on Uni f i ed Pr ot ect or
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TheSbach 300 Fl eetAi rAr m Museum Yeovi l t on Lear ni ngt oFl y
CONT E NT S I NS I DEI S S UE4
HAATS: HI GHALTI TUDE ARMY AVI ATI ON TRAI NI NG SI TE Paul Fi l mer r epor t s f r om Vai l , Col or ado,wher et he Ar my Nat i onal Guar dt eac hesr ot ar ywi ng pi l ot st he s ec r et sofoper at i ngathi ghal t i t udes andi ndi f f i c ul tt er r ai n.
SYDNEY KI NGSFORDSMI THI NTERNATI ONAL
AI RPORT
Sy dney Ai r por ti s t he bus i es ti n Aus t r al i a and t he maj ori nt er nat i onal gat eway f or v i s i t or st ot he c ount r y . PaulDunnt ak esal ookats omeoft he oper at or st obef oundatt hi si mpor t ant ai r por t .
THE 100t h ARW & OPERATI ON UNI FI ED PROTECTOR Gl ennBeas l eyheadst oRAFMi l denhal l as he j oi ns t he 100t h ARW on an ai r t oai rr ef uel l i ngmi s s i oni ns uppor t ofoper at i onsov erL i by a.
FLEET AI R MUSEUM: YEOVI LTON
ARM RNAS
ShaunSc hof i el dv i s i t st hequi t es uper b c ol l ec t i onofai r c r af tondi s pl ayatbot h t hemai nFl eetAi rAr m Mus eum and ac r os s t he r oad i n t he Res er v e Col l ec t i onhel di nCobham Hal l .
SBACH FUTURE
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When s ome of t he UK’ sl eadi ng aer obat i cpi l ot st r adei nt hei rr egul ar mount sf oranewt y pe,y ouhav et os i t upandt ak enot i c e.PaulFi ddi ant al k s t o Phi l i pp St ei nbac h, des i gner and manuf ac t ur eroft heSbac h300.
40 YEARS OF THE HOOVER The L oc k heed S3 Vi k i ng mi ghtonl y r emai nac t i v ei nt i nynumber s ,buti t ’ s anai r c r af tt hatc ont r i but edmuc hunt i l r ec ent l y . PaulDunn ex pl or es t he ai r c r af t ’ s hi s t or y and s peak st oa numberofpeopl ewi t hex per i enc eof f l y i ngt het y pe.
LEARNI NG TO FLY Gar et h St r i nger t al k st oJ on Pr i c e, bet t er k nown t o hi ss t udent s and s oc i alnet wor k i ngc ont ac t sas‘ Capt ai n J on’aboutex ac t l ywhat ’ sr equi r edand how y ou go about obt ai ni ng y our Pr i v at ePi l ot ’ sL i c ens e( PPL )i nt heUK.
PaulFi l mer ,aCol or ador esi dent ,t r avel si nt ot hemount ai nsneart hepopul arski r esor tofVai lt of i ndoutaboutt heAr myNat i onalGuar d’ st r ai ni ngcampdesi gnedt o t eachr ot ar ywi ngpi l ot st hesecr et sofoper at i ngathi ghal t i t udesandi ndi f f i cul t sur r oundi ngs.Thi si sHAATS-Hi ghAl t i t udeARNG Avi at i onTr ai ni ngSi t e.
Eagl eCount yAi r por t ,l oc at ed i n Gy ps um, near Vai li n Col or ado i sk nown f or i t s unus ual appr oac h and depar t ur epr oc edur esduet o t he s ur r oundi ng t er r ai n and i s al s o home t of r equent v i s i t or si nhi ghendbus i nes s j et swhoownpr oper t yi nt he ar ea.Ai r c r af tandhel i c opt er manuf ac t ur er sc anal s oof t en be s een her e wi t h new ai r c r af t under t ak i ng hi gh al t i t udet es t i ngpr ogr ams .On t henor t hs i deoft heai r por t , howev er ,i sas mal lbutv i t al c omponentoft he Col or ado Ar my Nat i onal Guar d( CO ARNG) ; t he Hi ghAl t i t ude l ust r at i ng t he poi ntaboutt he sur r oundi ng t er r ai n,t hi s Amer i can ARNG Av i at i on Tr ai ni ng Si t e Above - Il r l i nesB757banksl ef tasi tdepar t sf r om Eagl eCount yAi r por t ’ sRunway07 c ommonl y r ef er r ed t o as Ai HAATS. Theor i gi nalpr ogr am s t ar t ed i n 1985 as an i nt er nal c omponentoft heCO ARNG wi t h t he s pec i f i c ai m of t r ai ni ng i t s own pi l ot s at hi gheral t i t udesasSAR,f l ood r el i ef and f i r ef i ght i ng mi s s i onsi nt ot hemount ai ns wer e, at t hat t i me, or i gi nat i ng at Buc k l ey AFB l oc at edt ot hes out heas tof Denv er ,r equi r i ng f l i ght t o t hewes ti nt ot hemount ai ns and at hi gher al t i t udes . Al t hough t he ar ea ar ound Denv er i s al r eady hi gh at 5280 f eet , and dens i t y al t i t udepl ay sahugepar ti n A Wyomi ngAr myNat i onalGuar d5159GSAB UH60A si t sont opofDomePeak a t 1 2 , 2 0 0 f e e t e l e v a t i o n al lav i at i onher e,onc ei nt he mount ai ns oper at i ons up t o 14, 000 f eetbec ome us edt ok nowi ngwhatmanoeuv r est hehel i c opt eri s ev enmor epr obl emat i candc r i t i c al . c apabl eofper f or mi ng,ormor ei mpor t ant l ywhati t c annotdo. Bac kt hent hehel i c opt er ss uc hast heUH1andOH6 wer es i ngl e engi ne mac hi nes wi t h poort ai l r ot or Ot heruni t s began as k i ng f oras s i s t anc ei n 1987 aut hor i t yatal t i t ude,s ot heAr myneededt oqui c k l y bef or et hei rhel i c opt er sandc r ewswer edepl oy edt o bec omes mar taboutf l y i ngi nt hemount ai ns .Power Sout h Amer i c af orOper at i on Gol den Pheas anti n managementi st her ul eher ewi t hc al c ul at i onsbei ng Mar c h1988.Dur i ngt hi st i met hef ac i l i t ywask nown madeatev er ys t ageoff l i ghts ot hes t udent sget ast heCol or adoHi ghAl t i t udeTr ai ni ngSi t e( CHATS) .
Mor eGl obalAvi at i onRes our c e mi l i t ar yt hemedar t i cl es
Sydney Ki ngsford-Sm i th I nternati onalAi rport
Handl i ngar ound35mi l l i onpas s enger seac hy ear ,Sy dneyAi r por ti st hebus i es tai r por t i nAus t r al i aandt hemaj ori nt er nat i onalgat ewayf orv i s i t or st ot hec ount r y .PaulDunn t ak esal ookats omeoft heoper at or st hatc anbef oundatt hi si mpor t antai r por t . Sy dney Ai r por t( al s ok nown as Ki ngs f or dSmi t hAi r por t )i sl oc at ed i nt hes ubur bofMas c ot .Aswel l as bei ng t he bus i es tai r por ti n Aus t r al i a,i ti s al s o one oft he ol des t ,wi t ht hef i r s tai r f i el dbei ng es t abl i s hedont hes i t easf arbac k as1919.Ai rs er v i c esex pandedi n s ubs equenty ear s and t he f i r s t pas s engert er mi nalwas bui l ti n 1940.
Aus t r al i an nat i onal c ar r i er oper at es i nt er nat i onal l onghaul s er v i c est o Eur ope,t he US and As i aal ongwi t hs hor t erf l i ght st o nei ghbour i ng c ount r i es s uc h as NewZeal and.Al t hought heAi r bus A380 oper at es an i nc r eas i ng number of i nt er c ont i nent al s er v i c es ,t heBoei ng747400s t i l l f or ms t he bac k bone of t he l onghaul f l eet .
I n addi t i on,t he Boei ng 767 and Ai r busA330ar eal s ous edona mi xofi nt er nat i onalanddomes t i c s er v i c es ,t hr oughoutAus t r al as i a andf ur t heraf i el dt oc i t i esi nAs i a. Bac k boneoft hes hor t haulf l eeti s t he ubi qui t ous Boei ng 737, oper at ed by Qant as i n bot ht he 400and800v er s i ons ,wi t ht he l as t400 v er s i ons t ol eav et he f l eetby2013.
Nowaday s ,t he ai r por thast hr ee pas s enger t er mi nal s and t hr ee r unway s -07/ 25,16L/ 34R and 16R/ 34L.Thel at t ert wor unway s s ee t he mos tt r af f i cand ac t ual l y ex t endouti nt oBot anyBay .Oft he t er mi nal s ,Ter mi nalOne handl es i nt er nat i onal f l i ght s whi l e Ter mi nal s Two and Thr ee ar e homet odomes t i cs er v i c es . Oper at i ons at Sy dney ar e domi nat ed by Qant as . The
Thi s Qant as 737800 r ecei ved a speci alcol ourscheme i nr ecogni t i on of Aust r al i a' spar t i ci pat i oni nt he2011RugbyWor l dCup
Mor e ai r por tt hemed ar t i cl es f r om Gl obalAvi at i onRes our c e
THE100t hARW &
OPERATI ON UNI FI ED PROTECTOR
Bet ween Mar c h 16 and Oc t ober31 2011,t he Uni t ed St at esAi rFor c e’ s100t h Ai r Ref uel i ngWi ngf r om RAFMi l denhal li nSuf f ol k ,UK,pr ov i dedKC135t ank ers uppor tf or Oper at i on Uni f i edPr ot ect or-t henamegi v ent oaNATO oper at i onenf or c i ngUN Sec ur i t yCounc i lr es ol ut i ons1970and1973,whi c haut hor i s edt heus eofal lnec es s ar y meanst o pr ot ec tt hos ec i v i l i ansi nL i by a undert he t hr eatofat t ac kf r om Col onel Gaddaf i ’ sf or c es .Gl ennBeasl eywasgi v ent hec hanc et oj oi nt hem.
Notev eni nt hegoodol dday soft heAi rFet ehadIev erbeenatt hemai ngat e ofRAFMi l denhal lats uc hanhour .Dr i v i ngar oundt heper i met err oadoft he bas eatj us tbef or e04: 00wasas ur r ealex per i enc e,butanyt i r ednes st hat mi ghthav ebeenpr es entwasbei ngk eptatbaybyt headr enal i ngener at edas It houghtaboutt hedayahead.Aswedr ov ef ur t heront ot hebas et hehul k i ng s hapesofs ev er alKC135Rsc amei nt ov i ew andIwonder edwhi c honeof t hem woul dbemyof f i c ef ort hedaywhen,asapr i v i l egedgues toft heUni t ed St at esAi rFor c e( USAF)andt he100t hAi rRef uel i ngWi ng( ARW) ,Iwoul dj oi n t hem onl i v eoper at i onsi nt heL i by ant heat r e.
FLEETAI RARM MUSEUM
RNAS YEOVI L T ON
TheFl eetAi rAr m Museum housesEur ope’ sl ar gestcol l ect i onofnavalai r cr af t .Locat ed atRNASYeovi l t on,t hespi r i t ualhomeoft heFl eetAi rAr m,t hecol l ect i onf eat ur esmor e t han90ai r cr af tdi vi dedbet weent hecor emuseum andi t sr eser vecol l ect i on.Shaun Schof i el dpaysavi si tt ohi sl ocalf orGAM. Si nc ei t sc ons t r uc t i oni n1939,RNASYeov i l t onhas al way shel d an as s oc i at i on wi t ht heFl eetAi rAr m ( FAA) .794NASwast hef i r s tSquadr ont obef or med att hes t at i on,t r ai ni ngpi l ot sf r om ot hers quadr onsi n t he ar tofaer i algunner y .Soon af t er ,827 NAS bec amet hef i r s tf r ontl i nes quadr ont obes t at i oned t her e, i ni t i al l y f l y i ng Fai r ey Al bac or es bef or e
t r ans i t i oni ng t o Bar r ac udas-t hef i r s ts quadr on t o r ec ei v et hel at t eri ns ubs t ant i alnumber s .Pos twar , Yeov i l t onbec amet hehomeoft heRoy alNav y ’ sal l weat herf i ght er s ,nec es s i t at i ng t he l engt heni ng of t her unway sbet ween1952and1957t oc opewi t h t henew j etai r c r af t .
TheSeaHar r i ermi ghtbegonebuti t ’ scer t ai nl ynotf or got t en( Kar lDr age)
Sea Venoms , Sea Vi x ens and Phant oms wer e al l bas ed at Yeov i l t on r i ght t hr ough t ot he ‘ 70s ,whenRoy alNav yf i x edwi ng oper at i ons wer e phas ed out . Dur i ng t hi s t i me, t he s t at i on bec amet heheadquar t er sofFl ag Of f i c er Fl y i ng Tr ai ni ng and t he Sc hoolofFi ght erDi r ec t i on.Wi t h t he t r ans f eroft he Phant omst o t he RAF,Yeov i l t on l os ti t sf i x ed wi ngas s et sf oraper i od,unt i lt he ar r i v aloft he Sea Har r i er s .The bas er emai ned t he home oft he ‘ Commando’ hel i c opt er s quadr ons , oper at i ng Wes s ex HU. 5,whi c hwer ei nt ur nr epl ac ed byt heSeaKi ngHC. 4.TheFl eet Requi r ement s and Ai r Di r ec t i on Uni t( FRADU)wasal s os t at i oned
atYeov i l t on bet ween 1972 and r educ edc ompar edt owhati tonc e 1995,oper at i ngMet eor sandl at er was ;t wo Hawk s ofFRADU ar e Canber r asandHunt er s . s t at i onedatYeov i l t ont of or mt he Nav al Fl y i ng St andar ds Fl i ght Today ,Yeov i l t on i ss t i l lhome t o ( Fi x edWi ng)whi l e727NASf l i es t he‘ J ungl i es ’( t heni c k namegi v en Tut or si nt heel ement ar yt r ai ni ng t o t he Commando hel i c opt er s r ol e.Thebas ei sal s ohomet ot he af t ert hei rex pl oi t si nt hej ungl es Roy alNav yHi s t or i cFl i ght ,whi c h of Bor neo and Br unei i n t he has s uf f er ed dr eadf ul l y wi t h 1960s )aswel last heL y nxf or c e s er v i c eabi l i t y i s s ues i n r ec ent s i nc et hec l os ur eofRNASPor t l and y ear s , but f i nger sc r os s ed t he i n 1999.Wi t ht he Sea Har r i er s f ut ur ei sl ook i ng a l i t t l e br i ght er hav i ng l ef ts er v i c ei n 2006,t he f ort hef l eetc ompr i s i ng t wo Sea nav al el ement of J oi nt For c e Fur i es ,t woSwor df i s hesandaSea Har r i erc onv er t edt ot heGR. 7and Hawk ,i naddi t i ont oaChi pmunk GR. 9Har r i erv ar i ant sandmov ed t hat i s us ed f or t ai l dr agger t oRAFCot t es mor e. Addi t i onal l y , t r ai ni ng.Wi t hs uc har i c hhi s t or y , FRADU had al r eady mov ed t o i t ’ shar dl ys ur pr i s i ngt hebas eal s o RNASCul dr os ei n1995,meani ng hous est heFl eetAi rAr m Mus eum f i x ed wi ng ac t i v i t y i s muc h ( FAAM) .
The Commando Hel i copt erFor ce’ s‘ J ungl i e’Sea Ki ngs st i l lcal lRNAS Yeovi l t onhome( Kar lDr age)
The RoyalNavy Hi st or i c Fl i ght ( RNHF) l i ves on t he sout hsi deoft heai r f i el d( Kar lDr age)
SBACH
TO THE FUTURE
( Kar lDr age)
PaulFi ddi an,as el f c onf es s edl ov erofal lt hi ngsaer obat i c ,ex pl or est hedev el opmentoft he l at es tbi gnamepl ay ert ohav eemer gedont hes c eneandt al k st ot heai r c r af t ’ sdes i gner Phi l i ppSt ei nbachi nt hepr oc es s . The2011UKai r s how s eas onf ul l yi nt r oduc edt oUK s pec t at or sanewaer obat i cai r c r af t ,wi t hs omeoft hi s c ount r y ’ sbes tunl i mi t edaer obat i c spi l ot sati t shel m. Al t hough s een pr ev i ous l y at t he 2009 Wor l d Aer obat i c sChampi ons hi psanddemons t r at edbyi t s des i gneratot her ,s mal l erUKev ent s ,t heSbac h300 hass i nc ebeens el ec t edast hemountofc hoi c eby t hec r eam oft heBr i t i s haer obat i cf r at er ni t yandhas , as a r es ul t ,bec ome a muc h mor ef ami l i ars i ght ar oundt hec i r c ui t .I nt hehandsofbot hUKAer obat i c Champi onGer al dCooperandt heMat ador sduoof PaulBonhomme and St ev eJ ones ,t he t y pe has beenr es pons i bl ef ors omet r ul ys t agger i ngdi s pl ay s , f ul lofr api d pac e and i nc r edi bl e agi l i t y .Qui t et he bapt i s m off i r ef oranai r c r af tt hati s ,r eal l y ,s t i l lv er y nov elandf r om whi c hev enmor ec anpr obabl ybe St eve J ones & PaulBonhomme, di spl ayi ng as The ex pec t edi nt hef ut ur e. Mat ador satDunsf ol dWi ngs& Wheel s( Kar lDr age)
Mor eGl obalAvi at i onRes our c e ar t i cl eson compet i t i on f l yi ng
TheSbac h300wast hev i s i onofGer manengi neerandpi l ot Phi l i pp St ei nbac h who, s t i l lnow aged under 40, has ac c umul at edwel lov er4, 000hour si nt heai r .Phi l i pp’ sf l y i ng c ar eerbegani nt hel at e1980swhenhebegant of l yand r epai rgl i der s ,al lt he whi l e gai ni ng ai r c r af tengi neer i ng ex per t i s e.Fol l owi nga15mont hper i odofc i v i ls er v i c e,he wasr ec r ui t edbyai r c r af tdes i gnerWal t erEx t r a–t heman r es pons i bl ef or del i v er i ng a s uc c es s i on of out s t andi ng Ger manaer obat i cai r c r af tt ot hegl obal s t age. Ex t r a’ sf i r s tdes i gn,t heEA230,hadmadei t sf i r s tf l i ghti n 1983and,al ongwi t ht heol derCz ec hbui l tZl i n50andt he ongoi ng s er i es ofFr enc h CAP model s ,hel ped mov ed c ompet i t i onaer obat i c sf i r ml yi nt ot hegr i poft hemonopl ane des i gn.I nt heWes t er nWor l d,atl eas t ,bi pl aneshadbeen heav i l y ut i l i s ed s i nc e t he f i r s t Wor l d Aer obat i c Champi ons hi psi n1960.Fr om St ampesandJ ungmei s t er st o Pi t t sSpec i al s ,t hey ’ dgr adual l ypr opel l edt heaer obat i car t f r om c ompar at i v el ygent l e,bas i cf i gur est owi l d,mul t i r ol l i ng gy r at i ons ,f l i c k s and t umbl es .They ’ d al s o domi nat ed t he ai r s how c i r c ui t ,popul ar i s ed byt he l i k esoft he Rot hmans Aer obat i c Team and i t s of f s pr i ng and a c l ut c h ofs ol o per f or mer s ,i nc l udi ngBr i anLec omber ,Ri c har dGoodeand Phi l i pMees on.
Ger al dCooperput sGI I RIt hr oughi t spacesatDunsf ol dWi ngs& Wheel s2011i nspect acul arf ashi on( Kar lDr age)
J a n u a r y2012ma r k st h e40t ha n n i v e r s a r yo ft h ef i r s tf l i g h to ft h eL o c k h e e dS3V i k i n g . Or i g i n a l l yc o n c e i v e da sac a r r i e r b o r n ea n t i s u b ma r i n ewa r f a r e( A SW)a i r c r a f t ,i nl a t e r y e a r si ta s s u me ds e v e r a lo t h e rs p e c i a l i s e dr o l e sa n dh a das u r p r i s i n g l yl o n gs e r v i c e c a r e e r ; e v e nt o d a yt h eV i k i n gr e ma i n si ns e r v i c e , a l b e i t i nv e r ys ma l l n u mb e r s .P a u l Du n n f i n d so u t mo r e . TheVi k i ngwasdev el opedasar es ul tofami d1960s USNav yr equi r ementf orar epl ac ementf ort heagi ng Gr umman S2 Tr ac k er .The r equi r ementbec ame k nown as VSX ( r ef er r i ng t o Heav i er t hanAi r , Ant i Submar i ne, Ex per i ment al ) and t eams f r om L oc k heed and Conv ai r / Gr umman bot h dev el oped pr opos al s .
L oc k heed l ac k ed r ec entex per i enc e ofpr oduc i ng c ar r i erbas edai r c r af t ,s obr oughtL TVonboar d.L TV ended up dev el opi ng muc h oft he c ar r i ers pec i f i c equi pment ,i nc l udi ngt hel andi nggearandwi ngand t ai lf ol di ng mec hani s ms .I ndeed,t he r es ul t i ng S3 s har edi t smai nl andi nggearwi t ht heF8Cr us ader and i t snos e gearwi t ht he A7 Cor s ai r ,bot hL TV pr oduc t s .
Thi sVS31 ‘ Topcat s’Vi ki ng r ecover st ot he USS Geor ge Washi ngt on i nt he Ar abi an Gul f ,havi ng t aken par ti n mi ssi onsi nsuppor toft heUSMC dur i ngt heaer i albombar dmentofFal l uj a,I r aq,agai nsti nsur gentf i ght er shol ed upi nt het own( Kevi nWi l l s)
I n1969,t heL oc k heeddes i gnwass el ec t edast he c ompet i t i on wi nner and ei ght pr ot ot y pes wer e or der ed,wi t ht he des i gnat i on YS3A.The f i r s tof t hes emadei t smai denf l i ghton21J anuar y1972and t heai r c r af tent er ed s er v i c ei n 1974,wi t ht hef i r s t s quadr onbei ngAi rAnt i s ubmar i neSquadr onFORTY ONE ( VS41) ‘ Shamr oc k s ’at NAS Nor t hI s l and, Cal i f or ni a.
under s t andabl yex c i t edt obeoneoft hef i r s tt oget hi shandsoni t .Her emember st heai r c r af tf ondl y . “ Youk now how new aut omobi l eshav et hats mel l ? I t ’ st hes amewi t hnew ai r pl anes ! ”
Spendi ngt i meatL oc k heedi nt heear l y1970swas f as c i nat i ngf orany onewi t hani nt er es ti nav i at i on, andMEFwaspar t i c ul ar l yex c i t edt omeetl egendar y Thr eegr oupsofNav ypi l ot swer es el ec t edt oat t end t es tpi l otTonyL eVi er .I not herway s ,t hec ompanyat t r ai ni ng wi t hL oc k heed at Bur bank ,i n or der t o t he t i me was s omet hi ng of a t hr owbac k , wi t h es t abl i s hac adr eofi ns t r uc t or sf orVS41.I n1973, engi neer si n pl eat ed s hi r t s ,bow t i es and poc k et Mi c haelEdwar dFi s her( k nownasMEF)wasay oung pr ot ec t or sal lwor k i ng on a br and new,hi gh t ec h S2pi l otwhowass el ec t edt obeoneoft hef i r s tei ght ai r c r af tf ort heNav y . US Nav y pi l ot st of l yt he new ai r c r af tand was
L EARNI NG T OF L Y. . . . . .
Get t i ng ai r bor ne and ear ni ng yourown pi l ot ' sl i cence mi ghtnotact ual l y be as di f f i cul tasyou t hi nk.Gar et h St r i ngervi si t ed hi sl ocalf l yi ng cl ub t ot al kt o an i nst r uct orandf i ndoutmor e. I magePaulDopson
“ Lear ni ngt of l yi sal i f echangi ngexper i ence. ” Sos ay sJ onPr i c e,av et er an( I ’ ms ur ehewon’ tmi nd mes ay i ngt hat ! )ofs ome20, 000hour sasanai r l i ne pi l ot ,ex ec ut i v ej etpi l otandf l y i ngi ns t r uc t or .Now c onc ent r at i ngonhel pi ngs t udent spas st hei rgr ound ex ams ,J on i s a man who has av i at i on r unni ng t hr oughhi sv ei nsandi twast ohi mt hatIt ur nedt o t ak eal ookatt hepr oc es sofl ear ni ngt of l yher ei n t heUK. So i t was t hat I f ound my s el f ar r i v i ng at Wol v er hampt onHal f pennyGr eenAi r por tonav er y c ol dDec emberaf t er noon,os t ens i bl yt omeetJ onf or ac hatbutal s ot oat t endahumanf ac t or ss emi narhe wasc onduc t i ngandaChr i s t maspar t ybei nghos t ed byt heWes t beac hFl i ghtAc ademy ,ac ompar at i v el y new t r ai ni ngoper at i onandf l y i ngc l ubatt heai r f i el d r unbyTi m Br annonandJ abberMi r .
di s mi s st hei deawi t houtnec es s ar i l yex pl or i ngi t .Too ex pens i v e per hapsort oo di f f i c ul t ? Too ac ademi c may be?Iwashopi ngt hatt hi sv i s i twoul dl ays ome oft hos et heor i est or es t–andIwas n’ tdi s appoi nt ed. “ Any onec anl ear nt of l y , ”J onc ont i nues ,“ i tr eal l y i s n’ tes pec i al l y di f f i c ul tand t he c ompar i s on wi t h l ear ni ng t o dr i v ei s pr obabl ya f ai rone t os ome ex t ent . “ Ther ear eex ams( mor eofwhi c hbel ow)andy oudo need s ome r udi ment ar yk nowl edge ofmat hsand s uc hl i k ebutnoones houl dbeaf r ai doft hat .I ’ v egot 20, 000hour sofex per i enc eandnotas i ngl eOL ev el t omyname.I fIc andoi t ,any onec andoi t ! ” “ No–i fIc andoi t ,any onec andoi t ! ”s mi l esRy an Wi l s on,oneoft hes c hool ’ sc ur r ents t udent s .
Aqui c kwor donRy an,whoJ onhasas k edt oj oi nus Sowhat ’ st hepoi ntofal lt hi s ?Wel l ,we’ v epr obabl y f orac hat .He’ s18and,l i k emanypeopl e,gott he beenal i t t l er emi s swheni tc omest oc ov er i ngGA i dea t hat f l y i ng mi ght be f or hi m whi l e on a ( Gener alAv i at i on)ov ert hepas tt woandahal fy ear s hol i day bound ai r l i ner– mor es pec i f i c al l y when i t and Iwant ed t of i nd outex ac t l ywhati tt ak est o was“ t ank i ngdownt her unway ” ,whi c hi sat ec hni c al l ear nt of l y ,whoc andoi tandwhati sex pec t edof t er m appar ent l y ! t hem.My f eel i ng was t hatper haps s ome peopl e
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At r i all es s onatHal f pennyGr eens eal edt hedealand henowhashi shear ts etonbec omi nganai r l i nepi l ot hi ms el f ,wor k i ngdoubl e,andev ent r i pl e,s hi f t sata l oc al s uper mar k ett opayf orhi sf l y i ng,wi t hal i t t l ebi t ofhel pf r om hi spar ent s . He hast o budgetv er yc ar ef ul l y buthe’ sgothi s t ar get ,andhe’ sgoi ngf ori t . “ I t ’ snotal way seas yf i nanc i al l y ,andIdohav et o mak es ur et hatI ’ v egott hemoneys et as i de,butI t r yandf l yev er yweek ,andt hes eday si ti sal lIwant t odo. The sun al waysshi nesabove t he cl ouds! Looki ng out
“ Il ov ei tupt her e.I ’ v er eal l ybeenbi t t enbyt hebug, overt hewi ngofaPA28( ThomasPi t t s) andIwoul dn’ ts ayt hatI ’ m anes pec i al l yi nt el l ec t ual per s on!Youneedt ok now abi tofbas i cnumer ac y andev ens omephy s i c sbutnoones houl dbewor r i ed aboutt hat . Ex ams !Thebaneofmanyandawor dwhi c hbr i ngs bac k hor r i bl e memor i esofs i t t i ng i n as c hoolhal l “ I t ’ sal li nt hebook sand,asl ongasy ouc ank nuc k l e f ac edwi t habl ankques t i ons heetandanempt yhead downabi twi t ht hes t udy i ngf ort heex ams ,t henI s t ubbor nl yr ef us i ngt or ev ealal lt hos ef ac t sy ouhad woul dr eal l ys ayt hatany onec andoi t . ” beens t udy i ngs ohar dt or emember . Thecockpi tofaCessna172N ( Kar lDr age)