Air Racing & Air Shows

Nothing like summer to get the plane engines - - both small and large - - going and the adreneline running. Add in a sunny day in the mid 80's with a decent breeze and there were no complaints!

I started off the morning as a timer for an air race based on speed. The planes were grouped by similar size horsepower for competition purposes but actually took off fastest to slowest (that way, the faster planes don't "run over" the slower planes). It was interesting to see the various ways pilots tried to get the upper hand on take-off. From staying low to the ground over the runway to build up speed and then climbing, to climbing first and then building speed, everyone has their own method.

Here are some of the planes who competed (there were 19 total):









The race concluded in plenty of time to get prime seating for the air show:

Random Friday Thoughts

I'm thinking I need to re-name this blog as it's no long just aviation-related stuff that I'm writing about. However, I've yet to come up with a good name. Any ideas???

This week, I had the chance to celebrate the very different accomplishments of a friend's two daughters.

My friend Cher (on the right in the below picture) is here with her daughter, Hope, who graduated from high school this past Tuesday. Hope was diagnosed with leukemia in December 2007 but yet was able to get through her senior year and "walk" with her class.



This is Cher's older daughter, Cortney, with her new baby, Christian, born last Saturday the 7th. This is Cher's first grandchild, so he will probably be spoiled rotten! The "onesie" he is wearing I got when I was down in Houston in April. So it's fun to see him wearing it :=)



Speaking of Houston, I head back down there for a week at the beginning of next month to spend several days studying all things HazMat. Never mind that it's in the middle of hurricane season (anyone remember Hurricane Rita that hit Houston in 2005?)...hopefully it's only hot and humid :=)

Last random thought for the day...I talked to a friend a week or so ago who was hired at Trans States before I was and is still there. He was scheduled to upgrade (i.e., promote) to captain last month and was prepared to go to class when the class was cancelled, several current captains were "demoted" to first officer and a number of flights were cancelled. I haven't heard the entire scuttlebutt but I wonder if the airline lost several contracts (flying shorter hops for US Airways, United & American). So, a year to the month after my giving this airline a shot, it sounds like - - in the long run - - everything all worked out by my not staying and I'm where I should be, doing what I'm doing.

Happy Friday the 13th!