Love of Flying Starts Early
By Joe La Valle

Even though Curtis Griswold, 24, was on his way to take his commercial pilot checkride, he had no trouble thinking back to how it all began. “I’ve been infatuated with flying since I was a little kid”. By the time he was 14 years old, he knew for sure he was going to fly.

His interest began as a small child when he was regaled with tales by his grandfathers. Both granddads served in World War II as bomber pilots; it was these stories that helped lay a foundation for Curtis, allowing his interest to turn into love, and eventually a life-long goal.

Curtis attended the North Georgia Military College, where he was a Corp Cadet Captain. Upon graduation in 2007, he was ready to embark on an aviation career. After completing his private and instrument courses, his sights were set on earning his commercial license. As Curtis succinctly put it, “I want to get paid to fly one day.” His ultimate goal is to be a corporate pilot, hopefully at the controls of a VLJ, saying, that’s just the trend these days. Curtis would also consider a career in the airlines, or as a flight instructor. But no matter which option he chooses, he just wants to fly.

His most memorable flight came on a recent weekend as Curtis flew three friends to Plains, GA for a wedding. This was his first time in IMC after earning his instrument rating. Curtis said, “It was just a good time to be out of the hot-seat and enjoy flying.

New Pilot Has Big Plans
By Joe La Valle

After recently passing his private pilot check ride, Bob Palcher, 48, is already making plans. He is currently preparing for instrument ground school, and is hoping to sign up for the instrument flight course soon. Bob appreciated long ago the freedom, responsibility and mobility that aviation could provide.

Bob realized that “flying is a lot of fun, but is also a greatresource for business”. Bob has spent 20 years criss-crossing the country as an auto-parts consultant, and knows that efficient use of time is good for business. On the day of this interview, Bob was returning from the Cirrus dealer, a proud owner of a Cirrus SR-22 GTS complete with air-conditioning and an onboard oxygen system.

The things Bob most looks forward to is being able to take vacations down to the Bahamas. His most memorable trip so far has been a trip to an island off of Panama City. Located in a dense jungle, the airstrip was a short canoe ride to a deep-sea fishing port; a short while later marlin and sailfish were putting up a fight. Bob is not only seeking adventure, but a chance to share the thrill of flight with his grandchildren (when they are old enough). Granddaughter Colby is 14 months old, and his grandson Elliot is on the way. Very soon, these two will have a proud grandfather to share the skies with.

July Destinations
By Joe La Valle

Located on the Kissimmee River near Florida’s Orlando airport, you can experience the life of a cowboy at the River Ranch Resort. Easily accessible from 2RR in Polk County, River Ranch Resort allows visitors to enjoy the many natural wonders Florida has to offer. Starting out the day in the Western-style ranch accommodations, the bar and grill offers a familystylemenu that includes Sunday brunch and evening buffets. If eating out isn’t your thing, eat in; most rooms come with kitchens and screened-in porches for relaxed meal times. After you have satisfied your appetite for food, satisfy your craving for excitement by experiencing the many activities offered by River Ranch Resort. Nearby Wales Lake allows for boat and canoe rentals, fishing and a chance to see the local wildlife. The resort also features skeet and trap shooting, an old-style saloon, stables, horseback riding and a Saturday rodeo. For the less adventurous, more leisurely activities are offered: an outdoor pool and hot tub; tennis and basketball courts; and an arcade and a golf course. No matter what your tastes are, the River Ranch Resort is sure to have something for you. Be sure to stop by and saddle up!

How Can You Forecast Tomorrow Morning's Low Temperature?
In our "Horizons" video series about weather, airline pilot and meteorologist Gordon Barnes gives us a tip on forecasting tomorrow's low temperature. He says the dew point on today's 1:00 PM METAR will be tomorrow morning's low temperature.

I tested Gordon's theory for accuracy. The June 4th, 1:00 PM METAR stated a dew point of 48.0 degrees F. The lowest temperature on June 5th was recorded on the 6:00 am METAR as 48.0 degrees F. It works! Now you can use this little known tip for your next early morning flight.

The Benefit of Practical Flight Instruction
By David Menconi, Chief Flight Instructor

You have been waiting all week for an opportunity to get with an instructor and receive some badly needed flight instruction. You may have even taken some time off from work or delayed or rescheduled a meeting in order to complete this flight training session. When you arrive at the airport you find out that there is an obstacle. Be it a thunderstorm, icing, low ceilings, low visibility, or an equipment malfunction, there always seems to be an obstacle present that can be used to prevent you from accomplishing your mission. An instructor that understands the benefits of practical flight instruction will take advantage of such situations in order to train a student in decision-making and risk management. Reviewing all available options and determining the risk associated with each will often allow the flight session to be conducted safely. Developing the student's knowledge and skill to safely exercise the privileges of their pilot certificate comes from gaining experience in dealing with the practical realities that pilots deal with on a daily basis. If an instructor only trains in a sterile environment, they are not preparing the student for the practical, real life, situations that they will face when they encounter an obstacle after they are certified. Instead of disappointing a student by canceling the flight training session, the student will learn and understand how to apply their knowledge to maintain a safe operation. Isn't that what it's all about?

This Month in Aviation History
by Joe La Valle

CThe Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress has become an enduring symbol of the aerial conflict in World War II; however, it almost never left the drawing board. During the mid 1930’s, the U.S. Army Air Corps was looking for a multi-engine heavy bomber. Three companies designed and built entrants: Boeing, Douglas and Martin. Originally known as the Boeing Model 299, it first flew on July 17th, 1935; this was the first flight of a mass-produced four-engine bomber. During competition flights, the 299 lost to the Douglas DB-1. However, on October 30th, 1935, the Army Air Corps gave it a second try, and it won the competition with the Army ordering thirteen aircraft, now designated as the YB-17. With production accelerated at the onset of the war, Boeing eventually produced 12,700 of the venerable aircraft by 1945. After the war, B-17s served as airliners, reconnaissance aircraft, and aerial firefighters. Only 15 are still flying, with the remaining few relegated to museums and memories.

Ask the Pilot Professor
By Dr. Michael Bliss

Q: If you depart on a cross country and encounter weather conditions that delay your return trip two days, does the flight still count as one cross country?

A: Yes, it still counts as one cross country. The regulations do not require a cross country flight to be completed within any certain time frame, nor does it make sense that a pilot should be penalized when acting prudently concerning weather.

Please send your questions to dr_bliss@af.tv

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