Jake was scheduled to have his first flight in the twin-engine Piper Seminole bright and early this morning, so Renee and I got up early and headed down to BG to watch. He had called us earlier (at about 5:45 AM!) to make sure we were awake and getting ready. That's a twist in roles!
photo posted by matt in Sunday, September 22, 2024
I just watched Jake take off at BG on my phone..in a Publix on the beach. Technology is amazing.
postposted by matt in Friday, July 5, 2024
Jake sent this photo after they landed at Toledo Executive. I love the shadows of him and his instructor. Jake called us shortly after this and was just beaming with excitement. He had a lot of firsts as a pilot today - first flight in a turboprop, first with retractable landing gear, first time entering Class A airspace as a pilot, and many others. My favorite might be one Jake mentioned to us on the phone afterwards. His instructor told him it was the first flight for those two with him in the left seat and Jake in the right. Awww.
photo posted by matt in Friday, June 28, 2024
Jake had an amazing day today. Yesterday, his former flight instructor texted him, knowing we were here in Florida, and asked if he'd want to copilot a Pilatus PC-12 back to Toledo with him. Jake would never turn down that opportunity (and of course we wouldn't want him to), so Renee and I drove him down to Page Field in Fort Myers. This photo shows Jake and his instructor going through their pre-flight checklist. He told us shortly after they finished pre-flight that his instructor told Jake that he would be doing all the radio work. Always the teacher! Jake was a bit nervous about that, but excited, too. A few minutes later they were wheels up to Toledo, with a quick stop in Columbus.
tags: pilot plane florida fortmyers
photo posted by matt in Friday, June 28, 2024
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.
postposted by matt in Thursday, September 7, 2023
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: bgsu flying airport pilot
photo posted by matt in Saturday, August 26, 2023
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!
photo posted by matt in Friday, June 30, 2023
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: pilot flying civilairpatrol 180th
posted by matt in Monday, April 24, 2023
Jake in his element.
tags: jake pilot stpete albertwhitted
photo posted by matt in Sunday, April 2, 2023
Plane spotting with Jake and Renee for breakfast. This is Jake's happy place, for sure.
tags: stpete albertwhitted pilot flying breakfast
photo posted by matt in Wednesday, March 29, 2023
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.
photo posted by matt in Thursday, October 6, 2022
We celebrated with dinner at Inside the Five in downtown Perrysburg. Debbie and Greg and Pat and Denny joined us, with congratulations to Jake all around. I couldn't get everyone in the photo!
tags: dinner family celebration pilot
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
Rex gave Jake some last minute advice before leaving Fremont and heading to Tiffin.
tags: pilot
photo posted 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.
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
He passed with flying colors!
Up next - preparing for his check ride!
Nice job Jake!
photo posted by matt in Monday, July 18, 2022
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.
photo posted by matt in Monday, July 18, 2022
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.
posted by matt in Thursday, April 21, 2022
Planning a cross-country flight in ground school today. I've always had a thing for maps....
photo posted by matt in Saturday, March 12, 2022
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.
photo posted by matt in Sunday, October 17, 2021
Here's Jake in final approach above the pilot controlled lighting.
photo posted by matt in Saturday, October 9, 2021
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!
photo posted by matt in Saturday, October 9, 2021
Jake's heading out for some night flying tonight.
photo posted by matt in Saturday, September 25, 2021
And he's back! Mark the long solo cross country off the list!
photo posted by matt in Saturday, September 4, 2021
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!
photo posted by matt in Saturday, September 4, 2021
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!
photo posted by matt in Saturday, July 10, 2021
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.
photo posted by matt in Saturday, April 17, 2021
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.
photo posted by matt in Saturday, April 17, 2021
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: pilot aviation tradition
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.
postposted by matt in Friday, December 25, 2020
Jake was all smiles after returning "home" to Fremont Airport after his first solo trip to another airport.
photo posted by matt in Saturday, February 20, 2021
