(or Fly Back to The Koop)I grew up with aviation on the brain. My father flew GA aircraft, soloed and didn't get much further on his pilot's license. He has been into models since he was a kid and he still is (a kid and into models). He helped me build my first glider and other models. My grandfather was a pilot, an aircraft mechanic, and later an engineer. It must be something in our blood!
I soloed on July 15, 1991 and received my private pilot certificate on a cold and windy day on the 17th of December 1991. My instructor (and now good friend), Dave Piper, managed the Knox County Airport and now he flys jets for Exective Jet in Columbus, Ohio. Since I've become a licensed pilot, I have logged time in: a hot air balloon, glider, hang glider, T34-Mentor, Bonanza, Warrior, Cherokee, Comanche, Tri-pacer, C-172, C-152, C-150.
My father and I went to Oshkosh for the first time in 1995 and returned again in 1996. I don't know why we hadn't gone sooner. It's a great experience for everyone!
I got the chance to fly down to Lakeland, Florida Sun & Fun '96 with my friend Brian. We where cramped in a Cessna 150 for three and a half hour stretches at a time. We left at 6:00am and took our good old time with a head wind. Arrival: 9:00pm. We enjoyed the fly-in and got fried in the sun (wear lots of sun-block). The next day we went to the Fantasy of Flight Museum and met the owner Kermit Weeks himself (He posed for a picture in front of his Wildcat for me). He really is as nice and down to earth as people say.
This year I flew down to Sun & Fun '97 with Brian and Lee. We went down a little faster with Lee's Piper Cherokee.
Click on the image above to visit my employer.
I collect images of Nose Art . If you happen to have some please Email them to me or tell me where I can find them on the net.
Friends: (Yes, I do have a few)
Paul Fincato -CNE Wiz, if you are into programming or electronics you need to check out his home page.
Rob "Wally" Wilson -Everything you wanted to know (or didn't want to know) about Buick Grand Nationals.
Mike
Harper -Home page for Longaberger
Baskets (still under construction, to be completed 2010?)
