The scary one is when the oncoming jet is 1000' above you, on the same airway, and coming at you. Now that looks scary!

(Written on 10/25/2019)(Permalink)

If I had to pick where to spend my final moments, it would be in a warbird. Lost a good friend, Jeff Ethell, in the crash of a P-38, which was, ironically painted to look like the P-38 his father achieved ace status in in N. Africa. So sad to lose one. One of my high school friend's father was top turret gunner on a B-17.

(Written on 10/04/2019)(Permalink)

Due to runway improvements landing on 9 was shorter than landing on 27. They landed in bad conditions with the left thrust reverser out of service. A little bit longer on the touchdown, wet runway, and lack of asymmetrical braking: all spelled TROUBLE.

(Written on 05/10/2019)(Permalink)

Ah the famous "tri-motor" as we controllers referred to them. Seems like I cleared a million of them to climb out of and for approach into ORD.

(Written on 01/19/2019)(Permalink)

Ditto the Meigs comments! (from a former ORD controller)

(Written on 08/08/2018)(Permalink)

Gerald Collins: I don't know which Sq. my father in law flew with during Korea.He was Maj. Ernest E. Booth. He had been an instructor pilot during WWII, finishing in Boise, ID. Flew in the Berlin Airlift (wife and young daughter moved to war torn Germany to live during that period!?!) He flew in Korea and then with SAC. Finished his career as ops. commander at Loring AFB.Thanks for your service.

(Written on 03/17/2017)(Permalink)

My late father-in-law flew the B-29 during the Korean Conflict. My wife would love to see one up close--hopefully they would sell rides when on tour.

(Written on 03/17/2017)(Permalink)

In re: cbent55's comment. The story was told of two pilots in training during WWII in a Stearman trainer. They wanted to see if they could tear the wings of in a dive recovery. After taking off seat belts they went vertical and they both of them pulled-back. When they came to (after having blacked out) the plane was doing just fine, flying straight and level over the plains of Texas. Trust your plane and it's instruments.

(Written on 02/25/2017)(Permalink)

While at CLE ARTCC we participated in a program called "Operation Raincheck" designed to acquaint private pilots with the air traffic control system. One of the instructors did a demo with a rotating stool and an upright stick. The person on the stool was to bend over (while being rotated) and then sit upright to a condition of no forward vision. Then they had to move the top of the stick in the direction they felt they were turning. After the stool had come to a complete stop they would indicate a right motion then an left motion--all while already immobile! It was a great illustration of the fluid motion in the inner ear and how spatial disorientation occurs.

(Written on 02/24/2017)(Permalink)

Read "Flight of Passage" by Rinker Buck. Now there was a record setting flight!

(Written on 07/22/2016)(Permalink)