Sarah Palin a Pilot? – UPDATED

Rumor has it that John McCain’s new running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is a GA Pilot.  I’ve heard it from good sources of my own in DC, but I haven’t been able to confirmed it through the FAA dbase or other online resources.   AOPA discusses her legislative background with respect to GA here.
This is [...]

Launch of PilotMag.com

I don’t know much about it but Pilotmag.com just launched what they are calling a Magazine and Online Guide for Adventure Fliyng”.   So far I’ve so far only perused the Women in Aviation Today post which I found through fellow blogger ChopperChick.  I can’t get through the first page to really review the site [...]

The Kids Love the Malibu Mirage

Kids Miarage

Originally uploaded by jcal7flickr

One of the best things I love about my Mirage is the cabin! My kids love it. I’ve owned 3 planes: an Skylane, Bonanza, and now a Mirage. The Mirage is so far the best for kids, though the Skylane was a close second. The high wing of the Cessna meant [...]

So you want to become a pilot?

A friend recently told me that he was intrigued with the idea of becoming a pilot.  He had just taken a charter flight with his wife and kids and they had all marveled at the ease and convenience of  the small airplane (C-421) ride. The kids were happy, there was no stress around departure, plenty [...]

Teton Departure

Tetons

Originally uploaded by jcal7flickr

Departed KJAC on RW01 at about 10am. Couldn’t resist snapping this view of the Tetons on a severely clear day. We had a string of great flying weather then some August fires started up past few days in ID and MT, causing some haze and smoke in the region.

Flathead Lake off the nose

Flathead Lake off the nose

Originally uploaded by jcal7flickr

Approaching the Bigfork and Glacier Park regain in the Mirage. Headed up to GPI from JAC to pick up my brother and sister in law. Beautiful day. IFR up there is straight shot, this day at FL180. Folks at Glacier Park Jet Center are terrific.

Glacier Park off the left wing

Glacier of the left
Originally uploaded by jcal7flickr

Glacier Park off the left wing on a southbound flight back to Jackson. Flew right up to the CN border at about FL150. Crystal clear day. Luckily I was with my Sister-in-Law and Brother who know the park and area well. Maybe we’ll have them do [...]

Wonderful student pilot blogs

Mostly I write about great adventures aloft in the flight levels where the tailwinds carry bags and kids across the US at over 230kts inside a pressure vessel, but tonight I perused some student pilot blogs which brought me back to those awesomely overwhelming early days of learning the basics and intricacies of flight.  In [...]

Could PiperJet be the Dream?

I saw this great post over at PlasticPilot today that highlighted the recent PiperJet maiden flight.  PlasticPilot reminded me of the potential of the PiperJet. I must confess that I now drive a Malibu Mirage, so I’m a little more than biased.  BTW, it took me 2 years to decide on the Mirage and I [...]