Aviation

I had flown in many airplanes, from commercial airlines to small single engines, throughout my whole life.  To be honest, I wasn’t that impressed with the experience.  I didn’t really enjoy the passenger experience.  Airplanes are not the most comfortable things in the world and I didn’t really like not being in control and not understanding what was really going on.

All of that changed the first time I was in the left seat (front pilot seat) of a Cessna 172.  I had been given an introductory flight lesson for my birthday, and as it turns out it changed my life.  From the first flight I knew “this is for me”.  Since then I have developed quite a passion for flying an aviation.

I trained for and received my Private Pilot license in July of 2008.  I performed my training and the majority of my early flying in the valley and foot hills of the Wasatch Mountains in Salt Lake City, UT.  It was a great learning experience training in Salt Lake City having to deal with high density altitude, terrain, thunderstorms, icing, etc.  After getting my ticket, I spent most of my flying time taking up family and friend on sight seeing / day trips.

After moving to San Diego in 2010, I began working on my Instrument Rating, which I received in 2011.  San Diego was a great place to pick up the instrument ticket due to the reliable “marine layer” that sits above the coast line most mornings.  The ability to learn in actual instrument conditions without a lot of turbulence or risk of icing was great.  Getting the instrument rating was challenging but rewarding.  I definitely became a much better and safer pilot along the way.

In 2012, I picked up my complex aircraft endorsement in a Cessna 182 RG.  I subsequently took the same aircraft on my longest cross country flight at the time.  The trip was between San Diego and West Yellowstone in Montana, with a stop for gas in Salt Lake City and was about 6 hours of flying one way.  Making a trip like that re-enforced my love of flying.

Currently, I am working towards my Commercial Pilot License and am thinking about picking up my tailwheel endorsement.

My primary training was conducted in a variety of Cessna 172′s which is the aircraft I used for my check ride.  The majority of my experience is in the 172 with the 182 being a close second, but I am now getting interested in flying as many aircraft as I can to get more experience and figure out what I like.

To date I have flown the following aircraft:

After the move to San Diego, I joined the Plus One Flyer’s which is one of the largest and most active flying clubs in the country.  Lisa also picked up here private pilot license in 2010 and since then we have been happily married co-pilots. When we welcomed Ethan, my son, into our lives he was destined to love airplanes as well.  We take him flying often and he si great in the plane.  Currently, Lisa and I are saving for the opportunity to own our own airplane. We aren’t sure what we want yet, which is why we are going to be flying in many different planes over the next few years!

category | author | date April 1, 2010