|
 |
|
|
|
• I am a CFI in South Florida, flying off and on now for almost 40 years. I'll be 53 this summer myself. I came back to flying five years ago and can't get enough. You'll have a blast doing the training and catching up on lost time. Best of luck to you in all your training. I'm sure you will do very well !
- Dave Fogarty
• We send our best wishes for your flying endeavor. There are few things that match the thrill of piloting an airplane. GO Max!
Happy New Year,
- Dave & Irene Major
• Congratulations! You will soon learn the truth to the phrase, “There is a lot of money in aviation; most of mine is there.” I think your endeavor will do a lot to promote general aviation. Good luck with it and Happy New Year,
- Gary Chambers
• Good luck Max - looking forward to following your "flog" into the new year.
- Tony Tallarico
• Happy New Year and good luck with your new adventure. I`m quite sure you`ll be just fine.
Have you ever seen the clip of James Cameron accepting his Acadamy Award for "Titanic"? He claims at that moment he is "The King of the World"! That is exactly how you will feel on the day you solo.
Regards,
- Paul Clergy
• What a great way to start the new year!!...I wish you the best, AND have a blast!
-Roger
• Great move, Max! I'll be watching the FLOG with interest. I was 59 when I took my first lesson and am 73 now, happily flying 150+ hours a year in my Columbia/Corvalis. Keep the blue side up!
- Terry Wheaton
• Happy New Year and good luck with your seeking your own wings...finally. I have enjoyed your essays for a long time now, and will be watching and reading of your FLOG with great enthusiasm. What an adventure! I took flying lessons while attending A&P school in Montana back in the '70s but unfortunately did not continue on to solo when the school term was completed.
I think your time in the air as a photographer will add a lot to your learning experience as well. GOOD LUCK!!!
- Don Smith
• Excellent! Love the new flog, can't wait to hear the stories. I particularly enjoy the line of wisdom from one of your admirers "keep the blue side up". Have fun!
- Amy Messenger
• Congratulations, Max. Sounds like you will be in good hands. Try not to fly and take pictures at the same time.
- Jack Pauley
• Glad to hear that you are going to do your own flying. There are a lot of photographers that fly in airplanes. There are a lot of pilots that take pictures from airplanes. It looks like you want to be both of these. Best of luck in that endevour.
- Dick Phillips (fellow aviation photographer)
• Ive never met you but I feel that I have through your pix. Im living proof that a monkey can learn to fly and make it all the way to seniorhood..
You will do well..
Just dont forget how to make those beautiful stories and record your experiences through the lens..
- Larry K. Daudt
• Congratulations, Max!!
I earned my wings in 1987 at age 41. It is still the greatest, most satisfying accomplishment of my life. I flew till the money ran out and amassed some 200 hours. The most terrifying moment of my training was the moment was when the instructor said "You're ready" and stepped out of the airplane! When I returned to Kissimmee Airport after my successful check ride, my wife pinned my Dad's wings to my shirt. Wings he had earned in 1943 at Randolph Army Air Field. Good luck, Max, and above all have fun.
- Frank Lewis
• From my own experience, you will never, never regret learning to captain your own (rented) flying ship!
Sic 'em Tiger
- Dick
• Max will soon be in the air! Look out! :-) :-)
-Dick Leighninger
• Learn to fly, great idea!
"Life is simple. Eat, sleep, fly." -unknown
Have fun!
- Craig Rodberg
• Good luck with all this Max.
I have several model friends who are also full scale pilots. I am too much of a social flyer to be alone up in a plane. I do better with 6 of us standing side by side on the hill up over a river in Screaming 30 MPH winds flying our slope sailplanes ! !!!
- Kevan Kavaney
• We've begun building our bomb shelter in preparation! ;) Good luck with it,
we will enjoy following your progress!
- Mike Whaley
• Well good for you Max
I can tell you as a pilot , for me one that never even ever had any idea I would ever fly as pilot in command of an aircraft myself , I joined the Civil Air Patrol and be came the Commander of a Flying Squadron in Ohio with over 40 members many of which were pilots and flying many SAR Missions. I thought after flying , with so many pilots and being their Commander I should know more about flying a aircraft and took my ground school through Ohio University and loved the ground school and once finished with the course study thought I would take the written test to see how well I would do and did very well on the written test and only missed questions and those were questions you would know if you were in flight training (flying a aircraft which I was not doing at the time } I guess I went in reverse to most that learn to fly , but that is how the love of aviation went for me and I went on to get my flying ticket and have never looked back . One is never to old to learn , the question is how much does one want to become a pilot.
I just can not get enough of flying and touching the face of god . The one thing my instructor always told me as a pilot was this as a pilot you will all ways be learning . And my instructor said remember not every one can say they are a pilot .
Best Of Luck
- George Osman
• What a wonderful New Year's resolution!
I'm looking forward to reading about your progress and your thoughts as you grow behind the stick, especially conquering fear of failure and self esteem. I too love to take pictures, and have taken two "Introductory" lessons, but didn't like all the noise, movement and radio chatter all at the same time, to say nothing of the stalls and vertigo.
Anyway...Have fun...I know you will.
Ray Andrejewski
• Great news! Your love of aviation will help you through. I completed my license at age 47. I find that my skills are improved when I talk to myself while flying the maneuvers. Maybe audio should be included in your FLOG.
- Brian Thompson
• Way to go Man-congrats! If you are like most of us, some days will be better than others, and some will be really frustrating! Hang in there, because it's worth it. I flew for a living for over 40 years, and as I often told my son, I never felt like I had to 'work' for a living. I was incredibly lucky. You'll do a great job and it will add a whole new dimension to your life, and to your work. Best Regards,
- Mark Erickson, MN Wing, CAF
• Congrats on the decision. When I started my training, I was a couple of years younger - I was 48. Because of too many variables to mention, I didn't finish training and passing my check ride until 3 1/2 years later. Stretching out training ensured three things: multiple instructors (4 of them in 3 towns over the 3 1/2 years), lots of hours beyond the required 40 (not necessarily a bad thing) and LOTS of extra money spent. All that aside, you at least have MANY hours in many different types of aircraft and you'll have knowledge of the "funny sensation" that one feels in unusual attitude flying. Keep us updated, OK?
- Tom Griffith
• Max, I'm wishing you the very best in your pursuit of your pilot license. You will join the ranks of a lot of Haynes. For one my Dad, Warren G. Haynes, he had a commercial license and his instructor was the fellow that started PSA. I thought you would like to know. May your wing tips stay firm, your rutter and flaps lose. The very best to you.
Marty Haynes
(no relation, that we know of)
• Always thought you were a pilot! At least you sound like one in all your Wonderful photo descriptions. At 53, you know, it's never too late to learn; so, hear this -- "All the time you spend in the air subtracts from the time you are on earth!" So ---- as Cecil R "Sinnie" Sinclair would say:"Tailwinds and Happy Landings!"
- Renald "Rennie" Goyette
EAA-0072927
AOPA-139474
Silver Wings-7018
• Learning to fly – a GREAT choice!
My flying career started as a passenger in many friends’ airplanes in Alaska. After several trips from the bar to the ‘182 and subsequent flights through the ‘pass’ to see other friends, I got the clear notion that if these idiots can fly, I sure as hell could. After returning to the twin Cities in ’65, I drove by an airport (turned out to be Anoka County), watched the airplanes take off and land for a while, drove into the first FBO I came to (turned out to be the University of Minn. Flight Facility) and took my first hour of dual. That decision along with very good timing and good fortune led to a 35 year flying career with NWA and a wonderful affiliation with the CAF which included a stint as B-25 Co-Pilot. It’s been a great ride and it all started with a love of airplanes and that decision to join the idiots.
Yours is a GREAT Choice, Max, you’ll love it!
- Brad Pass
• I'm delighted and blown away by the overwhelming demonstration of support shown by your fans on just the first day! There is no doubt in my mind that you are on the right track. You are definitely in your own element with the FLOG, telling your story in your own words. Thanks for sharing your experiences (both good and challenging) with us. Best of luck.
- Tim Barzen
• Max, Don,t let age bother you. I started at the age of 30, by 32 had all rating including CFI, Am now 76 and still instructing. Enjoy your pics very much.
- Marlin D. Norman
CFI SMEL I, CGI ADV & INST. |
|
|
|
• Have a great and successful time as a student pilot. Looks like you are in very good hands and will receive excellent training. I was an Air Force IP for 5 years and always enjoyed "kicking the kid out" on his first solo. I admit there was a pucker factor since they were in a multi million dollar jet and I was still responsible for it even though I was on the ground. I have two kiddos and can't wait to teach them how to fly. Have a ball and I will follow along on your new site. Always enjoy receiving your photo essays.
- Phil Bachman
• Max, hope to see you airborne successfully!
Best and have a great 2010
- Ricardo Reis
• Great to hear you're going to learn how to fly. Look forward to watching and hearing all about it.
Happy New Year,
- Kurt Koukkari
• Best of luck in your new venture. You will do well, I know. You have right attitude, and aptitude, I'm sure, for a good pilot.
- Bill Kraham
• Bravo! To fly is not too late. You are probably better prepared than most by maturity and professional associations to really find joy and triumph in your undoubted success in becoming a pilot. I've mixed Air Force with a little general aviation. I've told every student who soloed they are a very special person, one of a minuscule number worldwide to fly an airplane alone and bring it back to earth safely.
Actually, flying is easy. One squadron mascot was a chimp. Very bright. We'd let him hold the controls, then little by little he got so good he'd make touch and go's. Little rusty on the radio. Anyway, I heard much later that he'd become Wing Commander! (No, I can't claim for myself that TRUE story!)
Your 2010 holds great promise. Happy New Year!
- Hugh Perry Col USAF (Ret)
• Max, great to hear that you are beginning flight lessons! I hope to start my quest this year as well, although I won't have as sophisticated equipment as you. I will be following closely. Good luck and blue skies.
- Darryn Davis.
• Congratulations on a wonderful way to start off a new year and a new decade. Your decision to finally learn how to fly some of the aircraft that you so wonderfully picture and describe is a wise one and one that you will never regret. Even if you never get beyond the realm of a private license, you will learn the joy of aviation which cannot be duplicated.
I learned to fly at an early age, getting my primary instruction in the trainer of the day, a J-3 Cub, and from a patient, intelligent instructor who hailed from Eagle River, Wisconsin. His wisdom stays with me to this day even though my days of flying are now relegated to being a passenger.
The greatest day of your flying career will be the day that you finally solo. I can promise you that, without a doubt, it will be an experience you will remember for your entire lifetime. I still vividly recall the day when, after a series of T & L practice my instructor told me to pull off to the side of the dirt strip runway at the old Harlem Airport west of Chicago. He got out of the plane, instructed me to take off, make a circuit of the field, land again. He told me to watch for his signal as to whether I should continue or not. And his final words were, “Don’t forget to pick me up.”
So off I went. A decent take-off followed by a left turn at 200 feet, then climb to 400 feet and turn downwind. At that point the excitement of the moment got to me. There I was, all alone in this flimsy little Cub. The world was mine. I began to sing at the top of my lungs, “Off we go into the wild blue yonder…” It’s a good thing no one was there to hear me. I made a pretty decent landing, looked over to where my instructor was standing and saw him motion me to go again. I made three solo T & L’s before I was signaled to pick up my instructor and my very first solo flight now became a wonderful memory.
Your training will be so much more thorough and complex than mine was, but on that day of your first solo you will never forget it, and you will become part of the exclusive fraternity who can call themselves AN AVIATOR! Good luck Max and God Bless…
- Perry Cohen
• Wonderful decision! You will always remember the day that you solo the first time, when you realize that you got that airplane up here, but it is up to you to get it back down without bending it! You will remember that moment forever!
- Roger Burton
• Congratulations on your decision to learn to fly. Your choice of Dr Schmidt as AME is excellent. He really knows his way around the system. I have a 3rd class medical that took quite a while to get as I had had bypass surgery 3 years ago, but Dr Schmidt knew just what tests I needed done to get the certificate. If you have something serious like that in your medical history, be patient as it will probably take quite a while for the certificate to be approved, or at least it did in my case.
Good Luck and Happy New Year,
- Bob Koelbl
• Good luck there Max. Even my doctor took the flying bug to heart and has earned his wings. He must be in his forties. A good friend flies as does a couple of cousins. My uncle flew boarder patrol during WWII but he didn't fly afterwards. It has always been fun riding with them. Flying is fun but, I'm not sure about the landing part. That's what worries me. ha-ha.
Happy New Year and Landings,
- John Stewart
• I learned to fly in “self defense” after my husband and his friends all headed for the airport.
As the mother of 4 I had never been alone…so I set my goal of my private license by age 38.
After the private I continued on to commercial, instrument, multi engine and flight instructor with
Instruments. I have enjoyed teaching many men and women to fly both tricycle and taildragger
Aircraft. Enjoy the journey in aviation and you will “always be learning”.Good luck!
- Jean Pickering , Com. Single engine, land, & sea, multi engine land, Flight instructor, with
Instruments.
• So glad to read that you are going to join the flock. it will be a very rewarding journey that will give you wonderful memories forever.
Keep your gas on!
SEL IFR COM
Blue Skies
- Eric and Stanley Dog
• You're gonna love it. I learned to fly in my late 50's and received my Private Pilot license at the age of 57 1/2. I bought a plane in 1990 and flew it for 16 years and enjoyed every single second. I was still an active pilot at the age of 70 when I sold the plane, un-retired and went back to teaching full time.
Don't let the age thing concern you. Just remember what Satchel Paige said. "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?"
Keep up the good work; it's your essays that keep us always wanting more. Kindest regards,
- Buck Robbins
• I started lessons at age 48. It was not easy, but I did it. I now fly a ancair IV, which my son and I built and completed in '96. If I could do it, you can do it. Just remember to pull back on the yoke to find the 'sweet spot' when you are landing--for some reason, this seemed to be a mystery for me at the time..
Best wishes,
- David Jones, age 70 now, Pecatonca, IL
• Congratulations on your new challenge! Blue skies fly safe! Happy 2010 that will be for sure with your pilot´s licence!
- Cap. Leonardo Correa Luna
A 320 Shenzhen Airlines
China
• I think the FLOG is ultra cool and am looking forward to following. Maybe someday you'll take me for a plane ride? I think all your experience in the right seat and around airports and planes will give you a big boost. I miss flying...it was just to much $ for me to do as a hobby. An ultralight with pontoons would be cool on your lake (if the neighbors don't mind the noise).
I think I'm almost excited about this as you are!
- Dean Lindberg
• Way to go Max. Be prepared to sit in the largest cockpit you ever experienced.
That is when (Kinda Unexpectedly in my case), the instructor climbs out and gives you a few last minute instructions and you take off and look over to your right and suddenly feel like you are in a large auditorium...ALONE! Smoothest landing you will ever make and it will be the most fantastic memory of your flying career, although each flight is precious. Damn, I miss my 182, N8882T.
- Ernie Webb
CAF #13848, Midland, TX
• Good for you! I was math-challenged all through "new" math, algebra and geometry in high school. When I was contemplating returning to college in 1986, at the age of 38, I purposely took a college-level algebra class to see if I could handle the pressure of doing something I a.) never could see the purpose of (a number is a number, for crying out loud) and b.) knew myself to be really, REALLY challenged in that area. I aced it because I wanted it so badly. You'll do the same with the math part of this next adventure for two reasons. 1.) You really, REALLY want to learn to fly and 2.) You need to do so because you don't want to fall out of the sky - a pretty dang good purpose! Happy contrails to you in 2010!
- Robyn Feld
• Max, this is awesome! You'll be great, and I'm sure Grampa will be looking over your shoulder, helping you when you need it.
Love,
- Susan Haynes
• Started flying in 1963....still at it in a '47 Stinson I bought in 1964......at age 81......YOU CAN DO IT.....
- Charlie S
Osprey,Fl.
• It was quite a shock to see my mug in your article on learning to fly. Thanks for the kind words. I was not aware that you where not a pilot; at least not a rated one. I think you will have no trouble getting your tickets. Some people are born to it. Just relax and enjoy it. Even the struggles are part of the experience. The best lessons are the hardest learned. Remember; if they installed a banana dispenser you could get get a monkey to drive a plane on its most basic level. A pilot flies with his head and god given sense of self preservation. Take-off is optional but landing is mandatory. In the words of General Urshler "DON'T DO NUTHIN DUMB".
Good luck. (luck never hurts and I'd rather be lucky than good any day; its more consistent.)
- John Sinclair. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
