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Article: The Life Of An Air Show Pilot

If you love what you do, you're not really working, but being an air show pilot is a mixture of hard work and hardly working.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Skills

Article: Kenya

I love early mornings in Tsavo. ...

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Chasing Fires

Rush, Serpentine, Robbers and Mill are names of some of the fires I've flown. Fires are usually named after a geographical landmark at the origin of the fire—a road, town, river or a creek.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Being Resourceful

If one thing serves us well in life and in aviation, it's the art of being resourceful—intelligent and creative problem solving and making the best use of time and available resources.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

When I'm signing autographs on the flight line, people like to tell me their stories about flying.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: Perception

I'm constantly asked about my unique line of work as an air show pilot, "Do you get dizzy?" or, "Do you wear those earrings when you fly?" But probably the question I'm most asked is about fear—"Aren't you afraid when you're diving toward the ground?"...

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Birds Of A Feather

We're all part bird, aren't we? We have wings, but unfortunately they're only a steely imitation of the real thing.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: When Procedures Fail

Pilots are a conscientious group. We do preflights, use checklists, and respect our physical and technical limitations.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Include, Don’t Exclude

We all love stories of how people are seduced by aviation, but it's just as interesting to know what keeps them out.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: Flying Fifi

My most memorable flying experience was on September 20th, 2011, when I got my copilot checkout in Fifi, the only flying Boeing B-29.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Safe Turnarounds

Over the years, I've made frequent mention of a controversial number: "safe turnaround altitude."

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: A Whole New Flying World

A fellow pilot once asked, "How long does it take to check out on skis?"

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Battle Over Frigid Seas

Aviation has always been a part of my life, but only recently has it become my profession. (function(){ var flashvars = {affiliateSiteId:"85996", widgetId:"495443", mediaType_mediaID:"video_1609639", width:"420",...

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: Excellence In Execution

I've dedicated my entire adult life to the art form of air-show flying.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Emergency Maneuver Training Changed My Life

While working as a waitress at the local airport restaurant, I met and married the owner of CP Aviation, Clay Phelps.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: Inspiration To Africa

During World War II, I was a ferry pilot, flying military aircraft for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA).

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Balancing Skill, Entertainment And Safety

I’m an air show pilot who’s known for making my performances look dangerous.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: I Did It!

On a cool, crisp and calm October morning, I finally took my first solo flight. It was amazing! My journey to this point started almost three years before, in early 2007. ...

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills

Article: Pilot In Command

Being a professional aerobatic and race pilot for the past several years has given me the opportunity to meet many civilian, military, helicopter, fixed-wing, professional and recreational pilots.

Also labeled: Aviation Personalities, Careers, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: The Power Of Electric Flight

What’s the next big leap in aviation? I think about this stuff all the time.

Also labeled: Careers, Columns, Features, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Really Low On Fuel

Early in September of 1977, a fellow Alaska registered guide asked me to fly some avgas to a hunting camp he operated on the west side of the Alaska Range. ...

Also labeled: Adventure Flying, Backcountry Flying, Bush Flying, Bush Pilots, Bush Planes, Careers, Columns, Emergency Situations, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Safety, Pilot Skills, Pilot Talk

Article: Takeoff Alternates

June gloom is here—a time for low ceilings and low visibility due to fog and mist. June...

Also labeled: Columns, Features, Learning Center, Pilot Talk

Article: Sharing The Passion

Aviation and flying have been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Aviation and flying have been an...

Also labeled: Air Races, Air Shows, Columns, Features, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Talk, Shows and Fly-Ins

Article: An Aviator’s Best Friend

Fifty years ago, I stood at the edge of space and jumped. This year, Felix Baumgartner of Austria plans to make a jump from the edge of space, but from a height that’s 20,000 feet higher—an altitude from which no human has ever successfully completed a...

Also labeled: Columns, Features, Journeys, People and Places, Pilot Talk, Safety, Travel, Adventure Flying

Article: The Common Thread

You may not think that “learning to fly” and “mountain flying” fit well in the same sentence, but I urge you to reconsider.

Also labeled: Backcountry Flying, Bush Planes, Columns, Features, Journeys, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Talk, Safety, Travel, Adventure Flying

Article: Speed Is Life

As a former SR-71 pilot, and a professional keynote speaker, the question I’m most often asked is “How fast would that SR-71 fly?” I can be assured of hearing that question several times at any event I attend.

Also labeled: Columns, Features, Journeys, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Talk, Safety, Travel, Fighter Jets

Article: Air Shows As GA Rallying Point

As much of the aviation industry suffered through the effects of the historic economic downturn during the last year, the air show industry experienced double-digit growth and, in some markets, record attendance.

Also labeled: Columns, Features, Journeys, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Talk, Safety, Travel

Article: My Secret

I have a secret that I’m going to let fly with the aviation community. I have a secret that I’m going to let fly with the...

Also labeled: Columns, Features, Journeys, Learning Center, People and Places, Safety, Travel

Article: Reflections On Inner & Outer Flight

Why are we so fascinated by flight? What draws us to it? What makes flight so special? Why are we so...

Also labeled: Columns, Features, Journeys, Learning Center, People and Places, Safety, Travel

Article: 2009 National CFI of the Year

Recently, a VFR pilot flying a Cessna 172 departed after dark in VMC and flew into IMC. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot reported an electrical failure to ATC, but continued into a thickening blanket of fog.

Also labeled: Features, Journeys, Learning Center, People and Places, Pilot Talk, Safety, Travel