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Aviation Home Page
About 7 or 8 years ago I fulfilled a life ambition and became a qualified pilot.
There are several good airfields to fly from in the San Diego area. I learned to fly at Montgomery Field and flew aircraft belonging to one of the clubs there. After a couple of years I changed to a club based at Palomar Airport which is only 10 minutes from my house. Pacific Coast Flyers is that club, but alas it might not be around for much longer.
Over the years I got one of my best friends from work, Dave, interested in flying and he too got his licence. We used to fly together a lot, until I got grounded for medical reasons a couple of years ago. I haven't flown PIC (Pilot In Command) since then, but hope to get my medical back and fly again.
In 2002 and 2003, Dave and I co-owned a nice Commander 112A aircraft, which we leased back to the club to help pay operational costs.Owing an aircraft was both great fun, and expensive and frustrating at the same time.
Flight Galleries
Introductory flight in pictures
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Our little journey begins at Palomar McClellan Airport (CRQ), halfway between San Diego and Los Angeles.
Almost all my flight experience is in the Cessna C-172. I have been known to fly Piper Cherokees and
Piper Cadets, but the 172 is my workhorse. |
Every flight, and I mean every, begins with a preflight inspection. Safety is the number one
attitude for every sensible pilot. I take about ten minutes to go over the entire exterior, checking all
flight surfaces, tires, the propeller, engine, as well as the oil and fuel levels. Rule number one in
these planes is never trust the fuel guages. Here, I climb on top of each wing to stick my nose in each fuel
cap and visually check the fuel level. |
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Hey look... Here's Captain Fippy! We're coming up on Brown airport.
"Brown Tower, Cessna 73149, South Bay at four thousand five hundred, inbound with information Delta. |
On final approach at Brown Airport (SDM). Brown is a mere mile from the Mexican border and Tijuana, and is used as a customs inspection point for aircraft crossing the border. I remember some cross-winds that day, trying to push
me to the left, but it wasn't too challenging to retain centerline. With an 8000 feet runway, 150 feet wide, even
my cats couldn't miss! |
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A cool-looking Citation 5 corporate jet makes a graceful landing at Brown, and taxis in for a customs
inspection. Hey... want to trade aircraft? That is something I really want to fly. |
Finally we arrive back at Palomar after an enjoyable few hours. Palomar is a very busy airport for a single
runway and handles traffic all the way up from private aircraft like us, to corporate jets and medium-sized
turbo-props operated by Skywest Airlines and other scheduled operators. |
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Photos on this page courtesy of Mike Riccio
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