Destinations
For an adventure off the beaten path, try a cruise on the Texoma Belle Riverboat, a replica of a Mississippi paddle wheel riverboat. Lake Texoma is known as a great vacation destination that offers beaches, boat rental, a fishing dock, fishing guides, a gift shop/boutique, petting farm, playground. You'll also find golfing,

hiking, sailing, outlet mall shopping, two national wildlife refuges, and the best striped bass fishing in the world!

For a day trip, a meal and 1 1/2 hour cruise around the lake is the just the thing for some relaxation and serenity. You can eat on the riverboat if you wish. Fly in to F31 Lake Texoma State Park and park your aircraft at the tie down ramp and follow the directions on the phone. They'll send a van to take you to the boat.

After 16 Years Pilot Earns Instrument Rating
In 1983, on his 17th birthday, Jay Morris proudly earned his Private Pilot certificate in a Cessna 152. He still remembers the tail number. At the time he aspired to be an airline captain, and though he kept flying during college, his career turned toward engineering instead and around 1990 he stopped flying altogether. He developed a line of orthopedic implant devices and his own company.

Eventually Jay and his wife Tracy bought a house right by Hooks Airport and the sights and sounds of aircraft triggered a renewed longing in him to get back in the air. Demonstrating her unwavering support, Tracy gave him a gift certificate towards flight training for Christmas 2006. One flight was all it took to get him hooked all over again.

Jay enrolled in the Instrument Course and as his training continued so did his proficiency. When he was nearing his final lesson, he bought a nearly new Cessna 182 with a G-1000 glass cockpit and decided he wanted to take his check ride in his own airplane. American Flyers instructor, Skip Warren taught Jay all about the glass cockpit from the ground on up and Jay went on to pass his check ride with flying colors. He claims his mock oral and check ride were at least as challenging as the real deal.

During the following 4-5 months Jay put 100 hours on his aircraft for business travel. He says, "I beat the airlines every time. [From home to destination] my 182 can beat a 737 any day. It's cost effective and efficient."

Determined Young Man Plans for a Big Future
In December of 2006 we interviewed Jason Smith, who had earned his Private Pilot certificate at age 17. He had very definite plans of how his future career as a pilot would pan out. A little over a year later, Jason is right on schedule to achieve his goals.

Jason still plans to finish his instructor training by his high school graduation in May. He wants to teach part time while he attends community college working towards a business degree. After two years he'll transfer to a four year college to finish up. If all goes as planned he'd like to fly for Continental Express while still in college and get hired by a large airline to fly the 737 when he graduates college.

Nothing has gotten Jason off track so far and it looks like his future is a sure thing. Oh, and Kristin Clark is still his sweetheart!

Did You Know…
In 1870, the United States was attempting to recover from the most devastating war in the history of the country. The Civil War remained fresh in the minds of the U.S. citizens, especially in the ruins of the Confederacy, where reconstruction was drawing to a close. Ulysses S. Grant was President and most of the country's population was concentrated in the northeast from Chicago to New York.

During the 1870's, American Indians were still creating havoc in parts of the country and cowboys wore guns in the wild west. The country was beginning to expand to the west and it was becoming more united in the east.

Following the Civil War, the Army began a process of systematic reduction as the budget was slashed from about $80 million in 1869 to $57 million in 1870 to $40 million in 1871. During this time, the size of the Army was reduced to discharging "indifferent soldiers," and raising the qualifying standards for recruits.

It was in this environment that a Joint Resolution was unceremoniously passed on February 2, 1870, and signed by President Grant on February 9th, authorizing "the Secretary of War to take observations at military stations and to warn of storms on the Great Lakes and on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts." With this modest beginning, an agency was born under the Signal Service which would become one of the more popular and well known federal agencies. Later names of this agency would be "Weather Bureau" and "National Weather Service."

Source: www.weather.gov

Laugh Out Loud
When I grow up I want to be a pilot because it's a fun job and easy to do. That's why there are so many pilots flying around these days.

Pilots don't need much school. They just have to learn to read numbers so they can read their instruments.

I guess they should be able to read a road map, too. Pilots should be brave so they won't get scared if it's foggy and they can't see.

Pilots have to have good eyes to see through the clouds, and they can't be afraid of thunder or lightning because they are much closer to them than we are.

The salary pilots make is another thing I like. They make more money than they know what to do with. This is because most people think that flying a plane is dangerous, except pilots don't because they know how easy it is.

I hope I don't get airsick because I get carsick and if I get airsick, I couldn't be a pilot and then I would have to go to work.

- Purported to have been written by a fifth grade student at Jefferson School, Beaufort, SC. It was first published in the South Carolina Aviation News.

Source: www.skygod.com

Real World Flight Training
by David Menconi, National Chief Flight Instructor

Learning to accomplish a specific task involves a number of elements. We first have acquire the knowledge that will be needed in order to accomplish the task. Next, we have to develop the stick and rudder skills so we can accurately control the airplane. Normally this requires an Instructor to teach and explain the knowledge elements, demonstrate the physical skills necessary to accomplish the task, and then practice, practice, and practice the task under the guidance of the Instructor. The Instructor will then evaluate and critique the performance so we can learn about what we did right and what we did wrong.

Does this kind of training prepare you to operate your airplane in the real world? In the real world we need to be able to access risk, make decisions, determine options and deal with a variety of factors in order to apply this knowledge and skill safely. Take for instant the short field landing. In the real world you need to have the knowledge and skill to determine if a short field landing can safely be completed when the runway surface is covered with some ice and/or snow, when the wind is strong and gusty, or when there are obstacles on the approach end. Is the runway that seemed plenty long, now not long enough?

Incorporating realistic scenarios in your flight training will prepare you well for the decisions you will need to make when flying in the real world.

How to Keep Your Windows Clean
By Rick Freidinger, Director of Maintenance

Volumes could be written about the importance of and proper procedure for keeping your aircraft clean. The one area that I feel is most critical when it comes to cleanliness is the windows and most specifically the windshield. Most general aviation aircraft windshields are made of an acrylic material commonly referred to as Plexiglas. What we call it is not as important as how we care for it is. Two things to consider when cleaning your windows are the "solution" and "rags" that you use. Never use household window cleaners that contain ammonia on your aircraft windows. Over a period of time ammonia will cause your windshield to discolor or "fog" over. There are numerous commercial aircraft cleaners and I highly recommend using one of these product. If you do not have a cleaner made specifically for aircraft windows use plain water, never wipe a dry window with a dry cloth. The best "rag" to use when cleaning your windshield is a soft cotton cloth that has been checked to assure there are no metal or hard objects stuck in it. While there are several man-made wipes that can be used on aircraft windows avoid using paper products. Paper products can cause minor scratching that over a period of time will accumulate and affect visibility. The last thing to keep in mind when cleaning your windshield is to wipe it with vertical strokes, never wipe in a circular motion. The reason for this is that if you do cause any minor scratches a vertical scratch will not affect visibility nearly as much as circular scratches will.

Ask the Pilot Professor
By Dr. Michael Bliss

Q: Have you ever dreamed about being an astronaut and flying in space?

A: Is there any pilot who hasn't? NASA has recently announced they are recruiting their next class of astronauts for 2009. If this has been a dream of yours why not give it a shot. Here are the requirements. You must meet NASA's physical standards and possess at least a bachelor's degree in engineering, math, or science with at least three years of experience in one of these fields. In addition, teachers are encouraged to apply. Candidates who are selected for the program must undergo two years of training and evaluation at Johnson Space Center in Houston. At the conclusion of the program NASA decides who gets to fly on the shuttle. A number of people will be selected, why not you?

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