The Value of an Airport

Airports are special places but when they are converted into trailer parks, shopping centers and cookie cutter track houses, the average person never thinks about the loss. But for pilots and for anyone interested in aviation, there are fewer and fewer destinations and homes for aircraft. This is tragic - it diminishes opportunity for aviation to flourish. 

I started thinking about this when I ran across a website, http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/index.htm, that looks at the history and images of airports now buried beneath houses and stores, and lost in time. The goal of the website is to help keep these airports alive by understanding their stories. It's also a worthy goal to remind people once an airport is lost to development, it never comes back - so if you care about aviation and the freedom to fly, you'll care about the preservation and even the development of - small airports. 

I encourage you to click on the link http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/index.htm and read a few of their stories, you'll be richer for the time spent!

Onward & Upward, 

Rob Bremmer

The Galloping Ghost and Jimmy Leeward - R.I.P.

September 2010 -
I took this photo of the Galloping Ghost at Reno Air Races, last year. It was a world class event, un-marred by tragedy, and a weekend of phenomenal precision flying, fast and low.

September 16, 2011 -
Today, sadly, the Galloping Ghost crashed. The pilot, Jimmy Leeward,  and some attendees were killed. A beautiful plane, a spectacular event championing American spirit, flight, and the quest for speed, beauty and perfection - and today - a fluke - a tragedy, with at least 7 lives lost.

Peace and prayers to those involved, those injured or killed, and their families.

This will be on YouTube, and some will arise and try to shut down the races. Civilization is, however, on the side of going forward. Paying tribute to those hurt and died, honoring the rescuers, supporting those grieving, and then, learning from any mistakes made, and going forward - stronger, better. The pilot would have wanted it this way and so would anyone else who knows, understands, and loves aviation.

Condolences to those involved.

Onwards & Upwards,

Rob Bremmer

Impressive piloting

I don't often submit video to my blog that I didn't create but this was so impressive I had to do it! This helicopter rescue pilot gives new meaning to the concept of 'ground reference maneuver.'

Onwards & Upwards!

Rob Bremmer

Learning to fly from a WWII Ace

I can honestly say I learned to fly from an 'Ace' Flight Instructor. After earning my Private and Instrument License at Santa Paula airport in Ventura County,  I moved to San Diego to study Aeronautical Engineering at San Diego State University. It wasn't long before I 'supplemented' my official University studies by starting on my Commercial, Flight Instructor and Multi-Engine ratings at Gillespie Air at Gillespie Field in El Cajon, just east of San Diego My advanced instructor was an 'old guy' named Mac, who was surprisingly soft spoken and calm, and very hard of hearing, but he knew a LOT about flying and had a lot of wisdom that I and the other students soaked up each time we flew with him. Everyone just called him 'Mac.' 


One day someone said "You know, you are learning from a World War II ace!" I had not known, and looking at Mac it was hard to imagine him as a fierce fighting pilot. I pictured all fighter pilots as fierce. Mac reminded me more of a retired librarian with an extra occasional glint in his eye. Mac never got mad if we made mistake, he would just say something like "You better study some more if you want to be ready." 


One time, I was preparing to fly to retrieve a light school customer on the other side of the Julian mountains at Borrego Springs, in the desert.  A storm looked like it was brewing on the horizon. I was torn between flying and to - the weather was one of those conditions where you coudl go, but you'd better expect to be bounced around a bit. While I was preflighting the twin Duchess, Mac walked out , and looked at me then at the clouds then back at me and said "You can fly it if you want but I wouldn't go." that's all he said. I looked at the clouds again darkening over the mountains, and without another thought pushed the Duchess back onto the line and tied her down. Mac had that type of gentle effect - you listened closely to what he said, and he only needed to say it once. 


Years later the internet arrived, and one day I looked up his name on the internet and was amazed at the information I learned about my old instructor. He's now passed away but those eyes and that smile you see in the photo of the combat ace are the same as I would see when he was in his seventies and  we were lifting out of the pattern into a bright blue San Diego sky, and the props would be a little out of synch and Mac would just nudge me and roll an eye to the prop levers "prop" would be all he'd say. Now looking back at his signature 'McWhorter" line in my yellowed first log book, I smile at the skill and gentle strength exhibited by this man.


You can read more about Mac's exploits here: http://www.acepilots.com/usn_mcwhorter.html


Onwards and Upwards!


Rob Bremmer