Today we fly another one of the mainstays of the private pilot training fleet, the four-seat single engine Piper Warrior. And check it: this one’s got a glass panel! I’m David Allen, and I’m about to take you into the cockpit of Other People’s Airplanes.
We are back at Melbourne International Airport on Florida’s Space Coast. Since 1968, FIT Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Florida Institute of Technology, has called the Melbourne Airport home. With their fleet of over 50 aircraft, including one Citabria, they can train you in just about anything you want. Obviously most of the students are also enrolled in the college, but they do take walk-ins. Their fleet consist of Piper Warriors, Arrows, and Seminoles, Garmin G1000-equipped Cessnas, and the aforementioned Citabria, and the on-site maintenance facility keeps them all running at peak performance.
A great many pilots have executed their primary training in the Piper Warriors. This particular Warrior features a glass panel with an Avidyne avionics package. I have little experience flying glass, so this should be an adventure.
Our pilot today is Donald Judy, a CFI, CFII, AGI, and LSJSC with over 3500 hours of total time, and 2000 hours of dual instruction given. Don has flown everything from the Cessna 150 to the King Air cC90 and the Commander 690, but is partial to the T-34 Mentor.
Huge thanks to Donald and FIT Aviation. You can find out more about FIT Aviation and the programs they have to offer by clicking right here.
As always, thanks so much for watching. I love bring you all along for the ride. Please be sure to follow me on Twitter and like our Facebook page.
Now I’m gonna go see if I can weasel my way into that Citabria for a little hang time. Smoke on!
by David on April 15, 2012
It’s day 6 of SUN ‘n FUN 2012, the final day of this year’s ‘Spring Break For Pilots’. I’m David Allen, and I’m about to take you into the cockpit … of Other People’s Airplanes.
For today’s episode, we start at the newly built Fire Hub. A joint venture between the Recreational Aviation Foundation, AOPA, and SUN ‘n FUN, the Fire Hub gives pilots and aviation enthusiasts a place to congregate around the camp fire. It is surrounded by bricks, each of which can be bought and inscribed with a custom engraving.
The volunteers at SUN ‘n FUN Radio all pitched in to help buy a brick for Dave Shallbetter, the chairman of on-site AM radio station. The brick was done in memory of Ione Shallbetter-Stiles, Dave’s mother. She had been a volunteer at SUN ‘n FUN since the very beginning, and has since ‘flown west’. Watch as we present Dave with the brick.
Next we head on over to Hangar C to talk with my friend Mike Ladd about The Avpad, a canvas case that very conveniently turns your iPad into a kneeboard. The AvPad has a large pocket on the front, a slot for a pen and a stylus, straps for a small notepad, and an ID holder on the back.
Finally, I bring you some of the air show before wrapping up my #SnF12 coverage.
Thanks so much for watching these episodes. I love bringing you into the cockpit when I fly and along for the ride when I attend event. Thanks also to Sennheiser for providing the incredible audio gear I used during the week. Finally, thanks to Dave Shallbetter and the entire team of volunteers at SUN ‘n FUN Radio for doing an amazing job with the radio station this year.
2012 was simply incredible.
by David on April 9, 2012
It’s Day 5 at SUN ‘n FUN 2012, and today we start with a balloon launch – sorta. I’m David Allen, and I’m about to bring you into the cockpit … of Other People’s Airplanes.
Each year at the SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In & Expo, a hot air balloon launch takes place on Saturday morning of the event – weather permitting, of course. Unfortunately, the weather today did not cooperate. In only the 3rd time in 15 years, officials elected to cancel the “Hare and Hound” balloon race, but not before a bunch of the beautiful airships were fully inflated.
Next we watch some airplanes fly for a bit before talking with my friend Steve Oliver of Oliver’s Flying Circus. Steve owns a 1928 New Standard D-25. It has been fully restored to its factory quality, and Steve’s team now “hops rides” much like the barnstormers did back in the 1920s and 30s. Steve shares a couple of stories about smiling faces and special times folks have had flying in this incredible open-air biplane.
This part of the show is pretty long-winded, but the stories were so great that I really wanted to share them with you.
Finally, we talk with Rich and Cole about their father/son experience in the New Standard D-25. Pure. Freaking. Magic.
by David on April 6, 2012
Today, we head on over to the Splash-In to watch airplanes land on the beautiful waters of Lake Agnus. I’m David Allen, and I’m about to take you into the cockpit … of Other People’s Airplanes.
Each year, SUN ‘n FUN hosts a Splash-In at the annual fly-in and expo. this event always takes place on Thursday, and for the last four years, has been hosted by Fantasy Of Flight on the beautiful waters of Lake Agnus.
In this episode, I start by talking to Bob Hough, the owner and pilot of a 1943 Grumman G-44 Widgeon. This particular G-44 has been converted to a “Super Widgeon” by McKinnon Enterprises, giving it more powerful engines, a beefier hull, retractable pontoons, and a higher maximum gross weight.
Then I bring Mike Daniels on camera to talk about what we are seeing at the event.
Finally, I shut up for a bit and just let you watch airplanes fly.
While I mention at the end of the episode that I will be back for day 4, I actually took day 4 to spend with my family. Thus, the next episode will be for day 5 of the event.
Thanks for watching!
by David on March 30, 2012
It’s Day Two of SUN ‘n FUN 2012. I’m David Allen, and I’m about to take you into the cockpit … of Other People’s Airplanes.
Today I just take you out near the show line and talk a little bit about what’s happening at SUN ‘n FUN Radio. I really do spend a lot of time there helping to get the content prepared for the audience.
I also talk a lot about volunteering at SUN ‘n FUN, and how that can enrich your over experience. If you have never volunteered at an event like this, you really should consider it. It is one of the most amazing ways to get plugged in.
by David on March 29, 2012
You’ve waited all year, and it’s finally here! It’s Spring Break for Pilots! We’re here for day One of the SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In 2012. I’m David Allen, and I’m about to bring you into the cockpit … of Other People’s Airplanes.
David will be volunteering at SUN ‘n FUN Radio for the fourth year in a row. When he is not tending to tasks at the radio station, David is going to bring short episodes from the grounds at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport.
Today, David made his way over to Paradise City, home of the ultralights and the LSAs. Then David made his way back to the radio station for a short wrap-up.
