Content about pilot

Jake flew from BG to Akron today, which is a couple hours of flying in a Piper! I tracked him most of the way, and even pulled up the Live ATC feed from Akron-Canton Airport when he was in the area. I think I managed to catch his calls, but it was hard to tell (there was a bit of an echo on the line).

Aviation tracking is really quite incredible these days. The amount of information available – real time information – is nothing short of incredible.

tags: flyingpilotbgsukcak

postposted by matt in Thursday, September 7, 2023

Responsive image

Jake had his first flight as an aviation student at BG today. It also happened to be his first time flying a Piper, his first time flying with his new instructor, and his first official flight as an instrument student. He doesn't know yet, but I went down to the airport to watch him fly. I've been driving him to his flying lessons since he was 14, so my role has changed. And that's going to take a little getting used to.

The airport was busy, too! He hasn't had to deal with much traffic in his training up to this point, so I think that's a good thing. There was plenty in the air yesterday, and on the ground, too. He was third in line for takeoff when he first taxied out.

I suspect he did sort of an orientation flight today to familiarize himself with the Piper, the glass cockpit (also new for him), the airport, etc. And his instructor.

He landed twice, and both looked pretty smooth!

I'm looking forward to talking to him about it...and telling him I was there. ;-)

tags: bgsuflyingairportpilot

photo posted by matt in Saturday, August 26, 2023

Responsive image

One of Jake's instructors gave him some tail wheel training time for graduation. Jake figured they'd use the tail wheel trainer they have at the airport.

Nope.

He wanted to take Jake up in his open cockpit biplane.

Red Baron style.

Open air, front and back single seats. Jake said it was a blast. He let Jake takeoff, but not land. And Jake had to be the eyes—the back drops, so the pilot can't see everything. So..."watch for trees, power lines, animals...."

Jake said it was some of the most fun he's ever had flying.

Thanks Rex!

tags: flyingpilot

photo posted by matt in Friday, June 30, 2023

What's that noise in the sky at night? (wtol.com)

People who live near the Bad Axe, Mich., area may hear and see fighter jets between 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.. The jets may be in close proximity to a Civil Air Patrol aircraft, which will be taking on the role of a potential threat in the exercise.

Jake thought about joining the Civil Air Patrol. They gave a great presentation at BGSU a few months back - "we do all sorts of cool things, like help with logistics after hurricanes, floods, etc....you get flight hours on the government’s dime.”

They didn’t mention "taking on the role of a potential threat" in F-16 training exercises.

tags: pilotflyingcivilairpatrol180th

posted by matt in Monday, April 24, 2023

Responsive image

Six years ago I snapped this picture of eleven-year-old Jake sitting in the cockpit after a vacation flight. At the time, I was clueless as to the significance of the moment, thinking it was only about getting those coveted plastic wings.

Yesterday, while driving from Tiffin to Fremont, I looked through the sunroof in my car and watched seventeen-year-old Jake fly directly over me while he made his first flight as a fully licensed pilot. He even gave me a wing-wave.

And now I fully appreciate that moment from six years ago - Jake was in awe of the Delta pilot then, and I am in awe of Jake now.

He's officially a pilot, and that's truly awesome. Congrats Jake! All of your hard work and dedication has paid off, and we're all incredibly proud of you.

tags: pilotflying

photo posted by matt in Thursday, October 6, 2022

Responsive image

Back in Fremont, Rex was quick to congratulate Jake, and was full of praise for his hard work and professionalism. Jake really looks up to Rex, for good reason, his congratulations really meant a lot.

tags: planepilotairport

photo posted by matt in Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Jake passed...with flying colors! It's official, he's a licensed pilot! He's worked so hard for this. I'm so proud of him, and excited for him, too. Nice work Jake!

tags: pilot

postposted by matt in Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Big day for Jake - check flight for his private pilot license. I dropped him off at Fremont Airport and then made the twenty minute drove down to Tiffin, arriving just as Jake landed. I'll hang out here for a few hours as he flies with the FAA pilot.

tags: pilotflying

postposted by matt in Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Jake passed his oral exam with flying colors. The FAA examiner said he did a great job, and was thoroughly prepared. Now he just has to do his check ride!

tags: pilot

postposted by matt in Saturday, September 24, 2022

Responsive image

Jake and I are down at Tiffin Airport this morning for his written pilot license exam. I'm hanging out with the two airport dogs while Jake is cranking away in the back.

tags: pilotflying

photo posted by matt in Monday, July 18, 2022

FAA revokes YouTuber's pilot license, saying he deliberately crashed his plane | Engadget (engadget.com)

It takes significant time and money to earn your pilot's certificate. And everyone I know that has done it will tell you that the FAA doesn't mess around when it comes to enforcing rules and regulating pilots. This idiot got exactly what he deserved.

tags: flyingpilot

posted by matt in Thursday, April 21, 2022

Responsive image

Some of my favorite photos I've taken over the years are of the boys doing something they love. For Jake, I think of all the photos I've taken of him flying...and these, the shots of him looking out the window, camera (app) in hand, on a commercial flight. The plane window always seems to do something amazing with the light, but his gaze out the window, which reminds me of his passion for flying, is why I love these shots so much.

I bet I've taken dozens of these over the years, and it never gets old. This one is special to me, though, because it's one of the first I've been able to capture in probably two years as COVID has kept us grounded (it's nearly the first — this is from our return flight and I did take a few on our outgoing flight).

And I suspect the mask Jake's wearing will remind me of that in the future.

I love the window seat, but, for me, it's the second best view on a plane.

This is the first.

tags: flyingpilotprouddad

photo posted by matt in Sunday, October 17, 2021

Responsive image

I've watched Jake land countless times, and it never gets old for me. But watching him land tonight was really something. I headed over the the runway once I knew he was on the final leg of his flight. I sat there, in the darkness, waiting. Then, suddenly, the runway lit up all at once as the Pilot Controlled Lighting turned on. I couldn't see the plane yet, but knew he was close. Then I noticed his lights off in the distance and he was on the ground not long after. Seeing those lights come on as I sat there alone was truly amazing!

tags: flyingpilotairport

photo posted by matt in Saturday, October 9, 2021

Responsive image

Heading out to take Jake to the airport for his long range solo cross country flight. He planned it last night - Fremont, to Lima, to Mansfield, and back to Fremont. He's beyond ready for this!

tags: flyingpilot

photo posted by matt in Saturday, September 4, 2021

Responsive image

Jake found a 1964 Bonanza S35 for sale online tonight, and worked up some cost of ownership numbers on the back of a paper plate. This was our discussion at the pool today. The plane, if you didn't notice, has beautiful paint.

tags: poolplanepilot

photo posted by matt in Monday, July 26, 2021

Responsive image

Jake's flight instructor is taking it up a notch–he asked Jake to prepare the plan for his cross country flight today. Off to Mansfield in a few hours!

tags: pilotflying

photo posted by matt in Saturday, July 10, 2021

Responsive image

Tyler had Jake make several maneuvers while wearing the goggles, teaching him how to scan the instruments and to rely on them for feedback as the maneuver was underway. It's an odd feeling, I'm sure, and seems like it would be hard to get used to. Jake seemed pretty comfortable with it, though.

tags: pilotflying

photo posted by matt in Saturday, April 17, 2021

Responsive image

I finally went flying with Jake today. I'm not sure, really, why it took me so long and now I'm wishing I would have done it sooner. But, no matter. Today I flew with Jake for the first time.

Just flying in a small plane was, of course, an incredible experience. But, more so, seeing Jake pilot like a boss was nothing short of amazing. He was professional, practiced, and steady as she goes. And, to both of our surprise, his instructor Tyler had him put on the instrument goggles to start his instrument training. We flew for about an hour, and I think Jake was under the goggles for ~45 minutes of that.

Incredible experience, and now I can't wait to do it again.

tags: flyingpilot

photo posted by matt in Saturday, April 17, 2021

First solo flight - Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)

Wikipedia has a good description of the tradition of cutting a pilot's shit tail after completing his first solo:

"In American aviation lore, the traditional removal of a new pilot's shirt tail is a sign of the instructor's new confidence in their student after successful completion of the first solo flight. In the days of tandem trainers, the student sat in the front seat, with the instructor behind. As there were often no radios in these early days of aviation, the instructor would tug on the student pilot's shirttail to get his attention, and then yell in his ear. A successful first solo flight is an indication that the student can fly without the instructor ("instructor-less" flight). Hence, there is no longer a need for the shirt tail, and it is cut off by the (often) proud instructor, and sometimes displayed as a trophy."

tags: pilotaviationtradition

posted by matt in Saturday, January 23, 2021

Today was one of my proudest moments as a dad.

Jake was born on Christmas day, sixteen years ago, which means today is the first day he can legally fly a plane solo. The weather wasn't great this morning, so Renee and I thought he'd miss the chance to do it on his birthday. But the clouds eventually cleared (a bit!) and the wonderful people at Fremont Airport took time out of their Christmas morning to open things up just for Jake. So we headed over to the airport, along with Grandma and Grandpa, and eventually watched as Jake taxied away for the first time with an empty right seat...and took off on his own.

Wow.

It was such an incredible feeling to watch him as he took off. To see him achieve a goal that he has worked so hard for was incredible.

And, surprisingly, we weren't that nervous. Jake asked Renee and I about this later in the afternoon. I didn't really think about it until then, but once I did it was clear - we weren't nervous because we know how hard he had worked for this. How well trained he was. How prepared he was. Sure, we were a little nervous. But our pride far outweighed the nerves.

Somehow, on his birthday, he gave us a gift.

What a great day.

tags: pilotflyingsolo

postposted by matt in Friday, December 25, 2020

Responsive image

As tradition mandates, Jake's flight instructor, Tyler, cut his shirttails after the solo flight, symbolizing Jake's readiness to fly without someone pulling on his shirt to give instructions!

tags: pilotflyingsolo

photo posted by matt in Friday, December 25, 2020