The other day, we were out doing some practice maneuvers and decided to take some videos of some of things we've been doing. The best of which was a spin we started from 6000 feet, and if you notice the altimeter on recovery, it's just a shade above 4000 feet. That's nearly 2000 feet in just a few seconds. Compare that to the tallest roller coasters at Cedar Point, the Top Thrill Dragster (420 feet), or the Millenium Force (310 feet). It was pretty insane.
My commercial training is just about complete, and will be taking my check-ride next week.
-Michael
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Going Full Circle
In an effort to try and keep people updated , I'll try my best to sum up what I've been doing the past several years.
As most people know, I went to Western Michigan University and entered their Aviation program with aspirations of becoming an airline pilot. Upon graduation in December of 2004 however, I wasn't confident in the outlook of pursuing a career in aviation. Thus, I decided to enter graduate school at U of M-Flint to get my masters in education as well as my teaching certificate. I spent a year and a half accomplishing this and in the fall of 2006 obtained a kindergarten teaching position in Grand Blanc. During my year in Grand Blanc, it became apparent to me that teaching wasn't my gig, and perhaps I had made a mistake.
Coincidentally, late this summer was time for me to take my bi-annual flight review to remain current with my pilot's certificate. Having been busy with grad school and then the start of a new career, I had flown only a handful of hours the past two years. Going back to the airport and the flight school (to get my flight review completed) it all started brought back some fond memories and allowed me to rediscover the passion for aviation I once had. After deliberating the entire summer on what I wanted to do, I ultimately chose to continue with my flight training and pursue a career in aviation.
That brings us to where I am today. I've pretty much been living at the airport the past few weeks, and in less than three weeks, am on the cusp of receiving my commercial pilot's certificate. I plan on taking my tests and check-ride sometime next week. With each passing day, I am becoming more and more sure of my decision to return to aviation. I'm having an absolute blast flying.
That pretty much sums up where I am now and where I've been. I've gone completely full circle and am back in the same building on the field of Bishop Airport I first walked into the summer I finished high school. Updates on my flying will follow with some pretty cool videos we've taken the past few weeks. Some of them are pretty insane.
-Michael
As most people know, I went to Western Michigan University and entered their Aviation program with aspirations of becoming an airline pilot. Upon graduation in December of 2004 however, I wasn't confident in the outlook of pursuing a career in aviation. Thus, I decided to enter graduate school at U of M-Flint to get my masters in education as well as my teaching certificate. I spent a year and a half accomplishing this and in the fall of 2006 obtained a kindergarten teaching position in Grand Blanc. During my year in Grand Blanc, it became apparent to me that teaching wasn't my gig, and perhaps I had made a mistake.
Coincidentally, late this summer was time for me to take my bi-annual flight review to remain current with my pilot's certificate. Having been busy with grad school and then the start of a new career, I had flown only a handful of hours the past two years. Going back to the airport and the flight school (to get my flight review completed) it all started brought back some fond memories and allowed me to rediscover the passion for aviation I once had. After deliberating the entire summer on what I wanted to do, I ultimately chose to continue with my flight training and pursue a career in aviation.
That brings us to where I am today. I've pretty much been living at the airport the past few weeks, and in less than three weeks, am on the cusp of receiving my commercial pilot's certificate. I plan on taking my tests and check-ride sometime next week. With each passing day, I am becoming more and more sure of my decision to return to aviation. I'm having an absolute blast flying.
That pretty much sums up where I am now and where I've been. I've gone completely full circle and am back in the same building on the field of Bishop Airport I first walked into the summer I finished high school. Updates on my flying will follow with some pretty cool videos we've taken the past few weeks. Some of them are pretty insane.
-Michael
Why?
Let me start by saying that this will be the last post devoted entirely to the topic of blogging. For those of you who have the distinct privilege of knowing me, it may come as a surprise that I've started a weblog. Here are a few reasons I decided to start one:
1. Documenting the times: It always seems to be a good time when you happen to stumble upon old papers from high school or college and read and relate to the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that you had long ago. I felt that it would be a good idea to, in some fashion, document the things I'm doing in my life, and how I feel about it. I felt that a blog would be a good medium to accomplish this because it would also allow me to.....
2. Keep friends and/or family updated: At times I find myself wondering about past friends, acquaintances, and connections I’ve made along the way in high school, college, grad school and beyond, and wondering if I’ll ever meet those people, or at the very least, find out whatever came of them. I felt that a blog would be a good way to keep people updated on what I’m doing as well as providing another medium in which to communicate. Also, I often find myself turned off by the police line of questioning from people about what I’m doing with my life. I have found it easier to open up and express myself when writing, or more literally, typing.
3. Fun: I have discovered that I find enjoyment in writing things that I know (or think) people are going to read. Most recently, and possibly exclusively, this came within message boards for online classes or fantasy sports leagues I play with close friends. I’ve spent way too long posting (what I find to be) witty smack talks and retorts that I think people will get a kick out of. Not only will this keep me entertained, I hope that anyone who happens to come across my weblog, either accidentally or purposefully, will find it interesting and somewhat entertaining.
4. Becoming involved: One of the things I kinda wish I would have done was to become more involved in college. Not so much during my years at Western, but during my time at U of M-Flint. At the time, I was bummed that I wasn’t at Western anymore and sort of had a negative attitude toward being back home and at U of M-Flint, and didn’t involve myself in anything. Realizing you don’t have to be in college to involve yourself in something, I ultimately decided to start into something new, and figured a blog might be a good stepping stone into something bigger (possibly….maybe…..who knows, it’s a start!).
So there you have it, a few of the main reasons I decided to start a weblog. Hopefully, here in the near future, I can start delving into the meat and potatoes and start writing about what’s going on in my world. Also, I’ll probably be changing the layout and theme of the blog often in the early stages. If anyone has any suggestions, comments, ideas or anything, let me know!
-Michael
1. Documenting the times: It always seems to be a good time when you happen to stumble upon old papers from high school or college and read and relate to the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that you had long ago. I felt that it would be a good idea to, in some fashion, document the things I'm doing in my life, and how I feel about it. I felt that a blog would be a good medium to accomplish this because it would also allow me to.....
2. Keep friends and/or family updated: At times I find myself wondering about past friends, acquaintances, and connections I’ve made along the way in high school, college, grad school and beyond, and wondering if I’ll ever meet those people, or at the very least, find out whatever came of them. I felt that a blog would be a good way to keep people updated on what I’m doing as well as providing another medium in which to communicate. Also, I often find myself turned off by the police line of questioning from people about what I’m doing with my life. I have found it easier to open up and express myself when writing, or more literally, typing.
3. Fun: I have discovered that I find enjoyment in writing things that I know (or think) people are going to read. Most recently, and possibly exclusively, this came within message boards for online classes or fantasy sports leagues I play with close friends. I’ve spent way too long posting (what I find to be) witty smack talks and retorts that I think people will get a kick out of. Not only will this keep me entertained, I hope that anyone who happens to come across my weblog, either accidentally or purposefully, will find it interesting and somewhat entertaining.
4. Becoming involved: One of the things I kinda wish I would have done was to become more involved in college. Not so much during my years at Western, but during my time at U of M-Flint. At the time, I was bummed that I wasn’t at Western anymore and sort of had a negative attitude toward being back home and at U of M-Flint, and didn’t involve myself in anything. Realizing you don’t have to be in college to involve yourself in something, I ultimately decided to start into something new, and figured a blog might be a good stepping stone into something bigger (possibly….maybe…..who knows, it’s a start!).
So there you have it, a few of the main reasons I decided to start a weblog. Hopefully, here in the near future, I can start delving into the meat and potatoes and start writing about what’s going on in my world. Also, I’ll probably be changing the layout and theme of the blog often in the early stages. If anyone has any suggestions, comments, ideas or anything, let me know!
-Michael
First Post!
Well, here I am! After procrastinating for a long time about starting a blog, I finally decided to put my plan into action. My main road block to starting a blog was really not being sure about many things pertaining to the blog. What should it look like? What will I write about? Will people think I'm goofy for doing it? Eventually, I figured out that the only way I'm going to find out the answers to these questions is by diving in and starting one and letting it take shape as it will (and realizing I don't care about the answer to the last question!).
As far as style and topic, I think I'll begin by just writing as it comes to me. I believe the topic will be myself, for starters. I have a few ideas about things I'd like to write about, but I believe they'd require a blog of it's own, and I'll hold off on those ideas until I have a better feel for how to better keep, maintain, and design a blog.
Well, I'll keep the first post short and sweet and chalk it up to experience. I finally have my first blog post under my belt!
-Michael
As far as style and topic, I think I'll begin by just writing as it comes to me. I believe the topic will be myself, for starters. I have a few ideas about things I'd like to write about, but I believe they'd require a blog of it's own, and I'll hold off on those ideas until I have a better feel for how to better keep, maintain, and design a blog.
Well, I'll keep the first post short and sweet and chalk it up to experience. I finally have my first blog post under my belt!
-Michael
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