Aviation journey

I have a growing love of aviation and I want to document my journey and share it. As a child, the ice rink where I learned to play hockey was under the final approach of Reid-Hillview airport (KRHV). In the 80’s it was hopping place. There were always planes overhead when I walked in. Also, to visit my grandparents, we drove by Moffett airfield. It was always so cool to see the massive airship hangers (now decommissioned), and NASA wind tunnels.

Through scouting and school, I was able to attend numerous STEM events at the NASA Ames center. I’ve always gravitated toward science and these events were so memorable. We would attend air shows and watch the Blue Angels whenever they were in town.

Fast forward to after college. I had a degree and didn’t know what I was doing. The lab I worked at was under the downwind leg of the universities airport and it just so happened one of my roommates was a flight instructor. I decided I was going to get my pilots license. I started out in a Cessna 152 and soloed on April 8, 2006 at University airport then 0O5 (now KEDU). Like many student pilots, life got in the way. I was accepted into grad school and flying was put on hold.

Really fast forward and I’m done with grad school and post grad training. I’m married and have a kiddo. I had one more year of training and it was two hours away from home. My wife stayed and worked while I was away living a semi bachelor year. My work demands had significantly reduced and I had free time I hadn’t had since before grad school. My wife suggested I finish my pilots license and I’m sure I was in the car driving to the airport before we even got off the phone. I joined the Michigan Flyers in Ann Arbor MI and took my check ride on June 27, 2019.

Now I’m back in Kalamazoo MI where I’m onto the next phase of my aviation dream, flying a machine I built. That machine will be a Van’s Aircraft RV-10.