Photo Gallery
Cirrus (& other aircraft) Flying & Teaching: 2011 – 2015
Note: This album is best viewed on a large screen or device. Captions will cover the picture on small mobile devices.
More of the planes, the people, and the places associated with flying & teaching in Cirrus and other aircraft. These years cover my return to airline flying in late 2011 (after furlough #2). While I was flying the Airbus A-320-Series as a First Officer during these years, I was also actively and regularly flight instructing. Of couse, my primary teaching activities were in Cirrus aircraft, but I was also very active teaching in the Piper PA-46 series and various Swift aircraft during this time.
Click on any image below to see a larger version, including a descriptive caption.
Enroute to the Bahamas
While I'd flown to the Bahamas in bizjets in the 1990's & 2000's, this Mar. 2011 trip was my first time flying to the islands nation in a single-engine aircraft. Dr. Bruce Kaufman & I in his Gen.1 Cirrus SR-22. Note the flotation devices we're wearing (in addition to an emergency raft in the back seat).
Bahamas Airstrip
Just a typical island runway in the Bahamas. There are dozens such island airports scattered throughout the Bahamas. (Mar. 2011)
Goodyear Blimp
In Mar. 2011, I had a great opportunity to ride in the co-pilot seat of one of Goodyear's blimps (out of Pompano Beach, FL). A fascinating flying machine and experience.
Blimp Formation
After flying in the blimp myself, I had the opportunity to take 3 members of Goodyear's ground handling team up in a Cirrus. We were able to intercept their blimp over the Atlantic Coast and fly some slow passes and circles around it. Mar. 2011
Tangier Island
In April 2011, while teaching a variety of Cirrus clients in the greater Washington, D.C. area, we incorporated a trip to Tangier Island into a training day. Tangier is a small island & fishing village in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, VA. The airport is the lifeline to the mainland for the residents living so remotely.
Speedbrake!
Taken while teaching in a Piper Mirage in April 2011. The PA-46 series has a long wing and doesn't always slow easily. The retractable speed brakes / spoilers are useful in a variety of situations (they deploy/retract via yoke-mounted controls).
Mirage Flightdeck
My client, Tom, and myself during his initial transition training in his brand new Piper Mirage (in April 2011, immediately after picking up the aircraft from the Piper factory).
High Altitude Ferry
Ferrying a Piper Mirage across the upper Midwest, through a dark night at the aircraft's service ceiling of 25,000 feet (April 2011).
Delivery
Taken on the final leg of a delivery flight of a new Piper Mirage in April 2011. Enroute to Rapid City, SD.
The Hollywood Sign
Descending to land at the Santa Monica, CA airport from the east provides a great view of the famous Hollywood sign. Delivering a new Cirrus SR-22T (Gen. 3) in May 2011.
Santa Monica Airport (SMQ)
In May 2011, I picked up a new Cirrus SR-22T (Gen.3) at the factory in Duluth, MN. After flying it within the upper midwest a bit, I delivered it to SMQ. I then trained the owner in it and he eventually ferried it to Australia after a large ferry tank was installed in NorCal.
Terrain Awareness
Demonstrating the Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS) during a mountain training course. Flying a new Piper Mirage with a Garmin G1000 system in June 2011.
Glenwood Springs, CO (GWS)
On final approach into GWS during a mountain training course in June 2011. Piper Mirage.
Telluride Regional, CO (TEX)
Lined up for departure from Telluride, CO in June 2011. This is an "after" photo of a major runway renovation that helped to flatted the runway. Prior to this, the runway had a distinct banana shape (dipped in the middle), giving it a significant down-slope within BOTH touchdown zones. TEX is one of the highest airports in the U.S., and one of the airport tag lines has long been, "Some pilots fly at 9,070' above sea level...we land"
Wyoming Rainbow
A brillant rainbow appeared while skirting storms during a teaching course for Cirrus SR-22 owners. July 2011
Stranded!
Teaching and exploring in remote areas isn't always glamour. This was the scene in Camp Guernsey, WY after experiencing a flat tire on landing in a Cirrus SR-22. I was teaching in the Bonanza in the background the day prior and the owners were gracious enough to delivery parts, tools, and a mechanic to change the tire on-site and get us back to training. July 2011
Thunderstorm Avoidance
In Aug. 2011, I flew a Super Swift from WI to CO for display at an aviation expo. This photos shows and absolutely huge airmass thunderstorm I had to divert around while crossing Nebraska.
Swifting in Colorado
Teaching in a 1946 Super Swift in the Colorado Springs, CO area in Aug. 2011. Doing some early morning mountain flying as some thin fog still blankets the valleys.
The Business End
This particular Swift (which I've helped manage and been teaching in since 2007) is powered by a 210hp Continental IO-360. The prop is a Hartzell constant-speed unit and the spinner was retrofitted from a Mooney unit. The cowling is a custom made fiberglass unit, offering much less drag than the original metal cowling. All certified and approved modifications. Aug. 2011
Aspen, Colorado (ASE)
On final approach into Aspen, CO (elevation 7,838') while teaching a mountain flying course in a Cirrus SR-22TN. Aug. 2011
In The Valley
The Cirrus SR-22TN (Gen.3) my client and I flew into Glenwood Springs, CO rests on the small apron in the shadow of the substantial terrain that surrounds the airport. Aug. 2011
4-Bladed Prop
While attending the Cirrus Migration in Aug. 2011, I was asked to demo the newly-certified 4-bladed MT prop on a Gen.2 SR-22. The super light-weight prop has a lot of advantages, but also increases drag at low power settings. The two gentlemen with me are clients from South Dakota (left) and New Zealand (right) who joined me for the demo flight.
Test Flight
In Sept. 2012, I was asked to test fly this Cirrus SR-22 (Gen.1) after a major repair that involved installing a new horizontal stabilizer, elevators, rudder, and more. We elected to just tape the registration numbers on in case flight tests revealed anything that might require further paint work. It flew perfectly though.
The Smoky Mountains
In Sept. 2012, I began teaching a transition course to a new Cirrus owner. On the first day alone, we flew from central FL to central MI, including landings in 10 states. Several of those landings were into various Smoky Mountain airports, including this one.
Skunk Damage
In the predawn hours of an IFR day in Oct. 2012, I departed Milwaukee Int'l (MKE) in a Gen. 3 Cirrus SR-22T. Just as I began to rotate for takeoff, I saw a skunk dart across the runway and I was traveling too fast to avoid it. I hit it as I lifted off. The damage was thankfully limited to the crack in the left main wheel fairing (below the finger) and the fur at the bottom. Unfortunately, the skunk was not so lucky. ATC informed me that the poor critter was found on the runway centerline, dead. 🙁
Closing out 2012
One of my last missions of 2012 was to pick up this SR-22T from Cumberland, WI and to provide its owner with annual recurrent training.
Lake Tahoe
Climbing out of Lake Tahoe, CA airport, in a Piper Mirage. Mar. 2013
South Lake Tahoe, CA (TVL)
Looking southeast from over the waters of Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe airport is high (nearly 6,300') and is encircled by the Sierra Mountains, most rising several thousand feet above the airport elevation. Mar. 2013
New and Old
I've always enjoyed the contrast in this photo of the new (at the time) Gen.3 SR-20 with the 1930s art deco hangar behind. I was teaching in this and several other Cirrus' in Pennsylvania for a week or so in March, 2013. Photo taken at the Harrisburg, PA airport.
The Cirrus Whisperer
Myself departing Cumberland, WI (UBE) in a Gen. 1 SR-22 in Sept. 2013. UBE is home to a highly respected Cirrus maintenance shop. Regular clients refer to its owner as "The Cirrus Whisperer." As a result, I've had regular opportunities to ferry Cirrus' to/from UBE for both that shop and my clients who use it.
Post Maintenance Test Flight
Flight testing a Super Swift after installation of an Angle of Attack system. This 1946 aircraft is chocked full or modern avionics and technology today. Sept. 2013
Dogs as Students
In Sept. 2013, I was asked by good friend and client, Bruce, to fly his Cirrus while he sat in back with his young dog to teach him to not fear the airplane and become a comfortable passenger. The dog (Sarge) was my first, but not my last canine flight student.
Nonstop to FL
A dawn departure in Jan. 2014, where I began by flying down the western shore of the icy Lake Michigan and landed 5 hours later in St. Augustine, FL.
Cedar Key, FL
Situated northeast of the Tampa metro area, Cedar Key is a fun island airport for utilizing real-world short-field techniques. Taken in Jan. 2014 while teaching a recurrent training course.
A Snowy Flight Review
Breaking out of the clouds after an instrument approach through a snow squall in Sheboygan, WI. My client earned his Instrument Proficiency Check (IPC) that day!
Experimental Equipment
In Aug. 2014, I was hired to ferry an Experimental Cirrus SR-22 to Oshkosh, WI for the annual airshow there. The aircraft was equipped with an Electric Pulse Ice Protection System (EPIPS), that used electronic pulses (versus heat, anti-icing fluid, or pneumatic boots) to prevent ice from adhering to the wing. Although the system has since been certified, its yet to really catch on in the industry.
Welcome to Oshkosh
I flew into Oshkosh 2014, as instructor and safety pilot, in this Super Swift with its owner. After exiting the runway, we received the ATC comment every Oshkosh arrival desires to hear: "Nice job Swift, welcome to Oshkosh!"
Stay Vigilant (my reminder)
In Aug. 2014 after the Oshkosh airshow, I was asked to ferry a Swift back to its home airport. After engine start, the control check seemed odd to me. I couldn't get the stick as far aft as I felt would be normal. I decided to not depart and have a mechanic take a look instead. This annunciator light housing was found wedged behind the base of the control stick, under the floorboards. It likely fell into the belly of the cockpit during a major panel upgrade, years prior, and bounced around there until the day it got stuck in that bad position. When something doesn't seem right...trust your instincts.
A Sleeper Cirrus
A truly unique SR-22. A long time client bought this Centennial Edition SR-22 in late 2003 (one of 100 built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Bros. first powered flights). These were late model Gen.1 airframes and the first Cirrus' to not be all-white. This airframe was later highly modified to incorporate an engine turbo-normalizer system, including changing the firewall and cowling to Gen.2 units (a huge job) and a 3-bladed composite prop. The avionics were also upgraded to the Avidyne R9 FMS system. Photo from a day of recurrent training in Sept. 2014.
Golden Gate & the City by the Bay.
One of many teaching missions I've flown out of the San Francisco Bay area (where I was based in my airline job for a decade). This mission was in a Gen. 5, SR-22T in Oct. 2014. We are heading south, down the Pacific Coast, passing the Golden Gate Bridge, on our way back into the San Carlos airport.
The Capitol Building
On approach into the Madison, WI airport (MSN) on a cloudy day in Nov. 2014, in a Cirrus SR-22. One small break in the clouds was aligned perfectly to bathe the State Capitol Building in sunlight.
Capt. Seckler, Airline Transport Pilot
Throughout the summer and fall of 2014, I trained a long time Cirrus client, in pursuit of his ATP Certificate. In Dec. 2014, he passed his checkride on the first try, at age 70! Keep training, keep learning...never too old.
Onex First Flight
In May 2015, I began a year-long writing project with Sonex Aircraft. One component of that project was flying their single-seat Onex (pronounced "one ex"). The tiny 600 lb. airplane with only 80hp and 19-feet of wing was a joy to fly.
Duluth at Sunrise.
Taking a morning stroll along the Lake Superior shore in Duluth, MN. Duluth is home of Cirrus Aircraft and I was there for the Cirrus Training Partners Symposium in Oct. 2015. I first started visiting Duluth in 2001 when I was hired as a Cirrus factory instructor and delivery pilot. It's a beautiful upper Midwest town, harsh climate notwithstanding.