It is well known that Wichita is a frequent stop for the actor Harrison Ford, who has endeared himself to us as Star Wars, Han Solo, and Dr. Indiana Jones. But why Wichita? And what does this have to do with the Chisholm Trail? First, Wichita is the home to Cessna, Beechcraft, and Hawker-Learjet, and […]
Eighty Years Of Hope With Mission Aviation Fellowship
“Whatever the changes might be, I want the generations who come after us to be thankful for the work that we are striving hard to get right and to see that we were dependent on the Lord and sought His leading. ” – David Holsten, President and CEO, Mission Aviation Fellowship, US 2025 marked eighty […]
My Irish Roots Remarkable In Marriage And Unlocked Through Air Traffic Control?
céad míle fáilte! An Irish Greeting. While posted in Brussels as the FAA Air Traffic Representative, I went to a lot of meetings. These were meetings at various levels with delegates from European countries. The countries represented at a particular venue varied but there tended to be a core group of which the Irish were […]
How To Replace A Blown Tire
“Tires are the silent partners in every journey we take.” – Bobby Fischer I’ve experienced two tire blowouts in my life. The first was in my 2009 Pontiac Vibe a few years ago. I was traveling south on I-35 in Oklahoma, on cruise control at the 70 MPH speed limit, when I hit something in the road. […]
Chance Encounters, Connections and History
I believe that I am guided by chance encounters. I believe in the miracle of chance encounters. Paulo Coelho Recently, while my husband was blowing off our sidewalks, he spotted a gentleman looking over our house from the curb. This is not an uncommon occurrence, since the house, even in its current “need for a redo” […]
“Go With Aircoupe – The Plane Going Unexpected Places”
“Go With Aircoupe – The Plane That is Going Places” – Headline From Ad in 1961 Flying Magazine I own a 1961 Forney Aircoupe inherited from my father. Along with the sheer joy of taking off, leaving the two-dimensional earthbound realm, this little red and white plane abounds with stories. Recently I was contacted via […]
The Value Of Frugal Owner-Assisted Aircraft Maintenance
“Believe in your wings, and the sky is yours to conquer.” – unknown To believe in your wings, a pilot must be confident in the fitness of their aircraft. In the United States, owner-assisted aircraft maintenance is a viable means to ensure a plane is well-maintained. This alternative is included within strict boundaries to ensure […]
My Encounters With The Amazing Sexy Lear Jet
Nothing climbs like a Lear Jet. Not even military planes. We clip off about a hundred miles every ten minutes. – William Lear I love the Lear Jet! To me, the Lear is iconic Wichita. Yes, I know that Bill Lear was a latecomer to the aviation world that is Wichita, Kansas. Clyde Cessna, Walter […]
How To Overcome Biplane Scratch Build Obstacles
Problem-solving is an essential part of the aircraft engineering process. Every day presents a new challenge to overcome. – Unknown A Biplane Scratch Build project comes with built-in obstacles. It is an assumed ingredient, a required staple in the recipe, which includes: Plans/drawings from which a Biplane Scratch Build is formed, Materials consisting of steel […]