Pearl Harbor Day Flight

Kevin Clarke wrote:
We punch the approach up for GDM. Mat is astonished at how easy it is
with the GPS. I'm still working on my ticket so shooting an approach
with a safety pilot is always welcome. Mat in his easy speaking way is
giving me tips and techniques on controlling my speed through the
outbound and procedure turn back inbound. I go thru the step downs on
schedule but was still carrying too much speed with the 20+ tail winds.
Check out the plates on that one. It is quick. Hit the MDA and start the
missed but go back to KFIT.

Get back in the pattern and plunk it down on 32 (got too slow again,
grrrr.) That's when it hit me what I just had the chance to do. So
thanks Mat and to all the other vets out there.



My father is a retired Air Force officer who served from 1943 until 1968 (with a
stint in the reserves from 1946-1950). He learned how to fly in a Stearman and
did his first instrument work with the old radio range As and Ns and/or
celestial navigation. I had the honor of taking him up and introducing him to
the pleasures of the Garmin 430 and he was just blown away.

When you think he grew up when Wyatt Earp was still alive and remembers the
crossing of the Atlantic by Lindberg, the first men on the moon almost 40 years
ago, and now GPS is reality. It really blew him away when I showed him an ad
for the Garmin 496 with the weather overlay.

Flying isn't what it used to be but that's not necessarily bad. Some things
never change: the old gent can still hold heading within 5 degrees and altitude
within 20 feet sitting over on the right side of the cockpit.

Of course, he started his landing flare about 20 feet too high but I imagine it
looked about right if you think about the last airplane he had flown for the
USAF.

Just thought I'd brag on my old man for a moment. He's 83 and seeing a widow
down the street. I don't ask questions.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com