Thanksgiving

Flying has been a source of joy in a year otherwise marked by professional upheaval and disappointment. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to learn to fly and experience so much in one year. Never have I met so many wonderful people (you know who you are). The quality of humanity in this aviation community continues to amaze me.

Here are a few things that I was fortunate enough to do this year:

• Earned my Private Pilot certificate (ASEL)
• Flew my first airplane passenger as a private pilot
• Went upside down and spun an aircraft
• Joined a soaring club, learned to fly gliders, and added my glider rating. I've sure got a lot to learn, but soaring has gotten into my blood. 
• Flew in mountainous terrain and in high density altitude conditions in Colorado. The instructor also taught me a whole lot about the art of flying and life in general.

and in the last three days:

• Took my first passenger up in the ASK-21 who had never been in a glider before.
• Flew a Cessna 182 Skylane (incredible airplane)
• Got my first 0.6 hrs of actual IMC 
• Shot my first ILS approach (with lots of help), breaking out of the clag at about 800ft.