Harnessing the Thrill: Powering A Cute Experimental Sporty Biplane

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. Franklin D. Roosevelt The thrill of building an Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) biplane comes and goes.  I say “I’m building” in the same way a homebuilder throws money at a house project, while a team does the work.  Yet, I am a […]

How Air Traffic Control Calmly Celebrates Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is an emotional holiday. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they only see once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often. – Johnny Carson Celebrates Thanksgiving.  The day before Thanksgiving is one of the heaviest travel days of the year.  This is true of all modes […]

Behind The Scenes – Reflections On September 11

It was the advent of the second plane, sharking in low over the Statue of Liberty: that was the defining moment. Until then, America thought she was witnessing nothing more serious than the worst aviation disaster in history; now she had a sense of the fantastic vehemence ranged against her … For those thousands in […]

What Three Surprising Encounters In Stunning Western Kansas?

When you leave, everything you experience outside of Kansas will be measured against all you know here. And none of it will make any sense. -P.S. Baber Three surprising encounters were to unfold as I received an email from Mission Aviation Fellowship HQ.  A church in Goodland, Kansas was requesting a speaker for their missions […]

Three Ways Reflection And Review Propel Dreams Forward

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”  – Thomas Pain In order to propel dreams forward, there are times, one must stop to reflect and review.  This seems like a waste of time when in the middle of a project.  However, this counterintuitive action actually serves to […]

How To Watch The Television Premiere of Ends Of The Earth

Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough, the savage lost of the wilderness; send me from all that is called comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in your service, and to promote your kingdom — David Brainerd […]

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 […]

Who Ultimately Are The Really Poor And- How Can We Best Serve Them?

For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. Matt 26:11 Recently I was watching an episode of Poldark on Masterpiece Classic.  It is a BBC Period piece set in Cornwall England beginning in the 1780s.  In this particular episode, the lower classes in the region were starving due to […]

Come See The Amazing Truth About How Far Wichita Aviation Goes!

“I’m going to fly this thing, then I’m going to set it afire and never have another thing to do with aeroplanes!” —Clyde Cessna after an unsuccessful 1911 attempt at flight Wichita aviation has been a backdrop for most of my life. I was not aware of this fact for many years, but the reality […]