Photo Gallery
Part Four: 2005 – 2010
More of the planes, the people, and the places associated with flying & teaching in Cirrus aircraft.
Click on any image below to see a larger version, including a descriptive caption.
PR Shoot
In May 2006, Dr. Kaufman and I posed for publicity photos for our upcoming “Romp Around Wisconsin” record-setting charity flight. Photo credit: David Watson, CHW.
Blue Kids One
Along the last portion of our flight to land at 104 airports in Wisconsin in one day. Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), the 87th landing of the day, is home to one of our support pilots, Wynn “Casey” Jones. (See our FOR THE KIDS page and gallery for all the details and extensive photos of this record setting flight.)
Formation with Super Swift
I’m flying the Swift in formation with the photo-ship (a Cirrus SR-22) somewhere over central TN. Both planes are owned by Dr. Bruce Kaufman and we’re enroute to the Swift National Fly-In, May 2008.
M6 Ramp
A small portion of the hundreds of Cirri that “returned to the nest” for the 6th Annual Cirrus Owners & Pilots Assoc. “Migration” to the Cirrus factory in Duluth, MN (aka: M6). I am standing on the wing of the Cirrus I flew in and looking East (July 12, 2008).
Holy Flatness
After departing M6, I flew west from Duluth, MN (DLH) to Gwinner, ND (GWR) to pick up my wife and kids. The terrific visibility that day allowed an amazing view of the extreme flatness of the Red River Valley area (along the border area of MN/ND). This Valley is one of the most fertile in the country and is famous for producing sugar beets, red potatoes, and edible beans (among other crops). I’m flying at 2500’ MSL (roughly 1300’ above the terrain).
Monument Valley Airport
Rock Door Mesa and Goulding’s Lodge as seen from the ramp of Monument Valley Airport (UT25), a private airport in the heart of Monument Valley (which straddles the AZ/UT boarder). Taken just after sunrise, after flying in the evening before and overnighting at the lodge (May 2009).
Sunrise over Monument Pass
Taken immediately after the previous picture, but looking east into the rising sun and towards many of the more famous Monuments.
South Monument Valley Slot
The south end of Monument Valley, which is in AZ, is dominated by an area of spectacular slot (very narrow) canyons.
Padre Bay
This is only a small portion of the massive Lake Powell. This area is near the SW end of the lake, as it approaches Page, AZ and the Grand Canyon’s NE rim.
Bar 10 Airport
The Cirrus (which my client and I flew in) sits at the north end of the Bar 10 Ranch’s runway. This airport is on the NW rim of the Grand Canyon and is truly a unique experience for a variety of reasons. The runway is short, rough, only partially paved and sloped. But, the experience was delightful nonetheless.
Ercoupe in Formation
Ted Stransky in his 1946 Ercoupe 415-E, south of Henderson, KY. I am flying the Cirrus for the purpose of aerial photos of the Ercoupe for a magazine article. Note the full-flaps-extended on the Cirrus to maintain pace with the much slower Ercoupe.
Airship Hangar
Ferrying an SR-22 from New Jersey to Gary, IN. The stop at Akron, OH in low IFR conditions offered a nice view of the historic (and massive) Goodyear Blimp hangar. (Sept. 2006)
Going Missed Approach
Taken at the tail end of an authorized low approach at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, SD. At the time, a B-1 Lancer bomber base. (Mar. 2010)
Black Hills Training, March 2010
At the Custer State Park Airport, where my two clients and I met up with my wife and two kids for a picnic lunch. The clients made up half of the Rapid Flyers owner group, whom I provided training to for nearly 20 years.