Thanksgiving

What a time of year! Holiday parties, family in from out of town, and all the rest, put flying on the back burner, as it should be. I am thankful for so much, too much to even start listing here, but let me tell you about a recent flight I took. I had to fly down to Rogers, AR. to pick up a Remos, and on this trip, my son Justin was my ride. Justin is 20 now, an air traffic controller for the Missouri Air National Guard, and a pretty good stick in the airplane as well. On this flight we got to share the pre-dawn takeoff, and the sun rising above the cloud tops. We had time to just enjoy each others company, but the instructor in me scrutinized his technique. I resisted the temptation to offer advise or point out differences in our technique, (or at least I think I did) after all he was the PIC on this flight. The dad in me was just too proud. Proud of the man he has become, and the future he has in front of him. We flew in a rather loose formation back home, Justin in the lead, keeping his dad clear of MOA's and restricted airspace. We didn't have any long or profound conversations, we didn't need to. We shared a flight; I'm sure it meant more to me than to Justin, but one of these days, when he is flying with his son or daughter, he might remember, and smile. When I reflect on the future of aviation, it's usually from the perspective of declining pilot numbers, light sport aircraft sales, or the state of the air traffic control profession. Well the good news is, when I look at Justin, and his generation, I know the future of general aviation is in good hands, and for that I'm thankful also.

I want to wish all of you a very special Thanksgiving and holiday season. God has blessed me and my family so much, but we all have needs. Take time to tell your family how much you love them, and what you're thankful for. Please remember the hurting, the lonely, and less fortunate. I'm hoping you'll skip an hour or two in the air, and truly enjoy this season.