A Mammoth-Sized Adventure

Let me admit that Vegas has disappointed me when it comes to skiing and fly-fishing. I admit with Paul Parsons that I am a spoiled Western Coloradoan - having grow up within one hour of Telluride - one of the best resorts our country has to offer. So when people invite me to ski a local, one-run resort...or go 3 hours to a rinky-dink Utah resort (Brianhead), my spoiled, Colorado upbringing emerges. In fact, I've steered clear of both of these slopes. The closest resort that can hold a candle to Telluride is Mammoth in Eastern CA. It's about a 4.5 hour drive from Vegas...but the flight time, of course, is much shorter. I'm blessed to know a couple guys who are not only great friends, but are very active skiers and flying club members. Yesterday, I was invited to fly with my friends, "Chili" (Jim) and Jeremy, to Mammoth Mountain for a day of fun-in-the-snow.
This is, hands-down, the way to do skiing! We took off from Vegas by 0630 and were on the slopes shortly after the mountain opened. Mammoth is a great mountain with some buena vistas. Yesterday was SO BEAUTIFUL!...and because it was so warm, I actually took my fleece off underneath my shell. Here we are at the top of the mountain, ready for the third run of the day.

I'm convicted that I have not lived up to the name of this blog with any of my posts yet, so in the interest of time, after a terrific day of skiing, we took a taxi back to the airport and launched off to the SE to arrive back in Vegas by 5:30 yesterday evening - enough time to read a couple books to my girls and help get them ready for bed. It was an awesome day - not one I plan on doing very often as aviation gas and airplane rental fees get very costly (California lift tickets ain't cheap either). On our way home, I was content to leave my interest for flying behind and collapse in the back seat of the Cherokee Six airplane to rest my weary back and legs.

I didn't think 31 was supposed to feel this old! Regardless, I can't wait for my next Mammoth-sized day adventure!

How Time "Flies" By...

I don't know why I've recently become reminiscent of my Air Force aviation history, but I think it's because it was a stage of my life that I've now left behind. Being a pilot was a childhood dream of mine that God allowed me to realize. Looking back on all those blessings gives me a certain satisfaction - but at the same time I'm glad to be where I am now.

This was the first trainer that I started out flying in pilot training - Enid, OK...(beautiful wheat-fields): the T-37 Tweet. I had a great time doing acrobatics in this amazing airplane. You sat side-by-side with your instructor.

My next wild ride was the T-38 "Talon." This thing moved fast! My first (and last) experience in supersonic flight. These types of airplanes, and the personalities it attracted, were a little too "fast-paced" for my liking.

The Lord in His sovereignty sent me to something a little more my pace - the B-52 "Buff." Let me just say right off that this is a Manly-Man's airplane. Just imagine 8 jet engines all at your command in one single arm movement. I wouldn't call it a "rush," but it was definitely a recognition that you were flying something that, at the push of a button, could dramatically change world history. I was sitting in the cockpit of one of these at Barksdale AFB, LA on the morning of Sept 11th, 2001. My interest was piqued when I heard the call over Barksdale's Tower frequency that, "Air Force 1, request to land, Runway 15," and saw the huge, blue and white Presidential shuttle land right next to us. President Bush gave a press conference there shortly after the morning attacks on the World Trade Center - what an amazing happenstance!

The B-52 had its own weariness (as does everything else); and God, once again, in His intimate knowledge of who He created me to be, ordained that I fly the world's most successful and well-known Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - the MQ-1 "Predator."


What an adventure this has been! Not only does it carry it's own arsenal of 2 Hellfire missiles, but you can fly it from half-way around the world! It scares me to think about the inventions our country is testing without the public's knowledge. I have to say that I love this $4 million experiment. $3.5M is wrapped up in the cameras alone! - all contained in the little "ball" hanging below the nose of the airplane. The rest of the structure really doesn't cost that much - it only boasts a snowmobile size engine and fairly flimsy landing gear. But it sure has made a huge impact on the way the military views the future of aviation!

So here I am in Vegas, teaching pilots how to fly this bite-size piece of aviation history. It's neat to reflect on where God has taken me (us), and what He's got in store for our future. I'm not sure the teaching gig can be a long-term thing for me, though - I can't stand hearing myself talk for hours on end - or even minutes for that matter!

Let's Blog!

Ahhhh, my first blog...I guess I've finally made it into the 21st century, huh?! When I inform my friends that I still don't own my own personal cell phone (Becky carries one but I just don't see the need for a second "line"), I receive astonished gasps and ridicule. I sort-of take pride in this. I feel like an outlaw in the modern world - pleased with the fact that I can't be contacted 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week. As selfish as it may sound, I enjoy time to myself every so often. I know that any parent feels the same way on a regular basis!

As a quick update to those who haven't heard of my latest career move, I recently got out of the military and started my life as a "real-boy" again - as a civilian! I'll tell you that it's a wonderful sense of freedom that I haven't had for over a decade. I'm working as a government contractor doing the same job I had been doing in the Air Force - instructing new Predator pilots...exploring the joys and disappointments of the unmanned aircraft world. I was really missing being in the wild, blue expanse myself, so I opted to join a local flying club here in Vegas about a year ago. My greatest flying joy to date has been with the club when I flew a single-engine Cessna from Vegas to Montrose with a stop for gas in Page, AZ. On the climbout Eastbound from Page, I had an opportunity to take a few aerial shots of Lake Powell - isn't the emerald green water incredible!
Ty, it makes me really miss our summer trips to Powell! Can you say "future DHD get-together?" Anyway, I climbed to 11,500 as I made my way over the amazing rock formations of NE Arizona/New Mexico, turned north to pass over Nucla, and finally eeked my way over Uncompahgre Plateau before I found myself descending in a spiral over my parents' house in Montrose. Watch out below!!



You have to understand that flying an assortment of Air Force aircraft has been fun, but as the pilot driving the taxpayers' money around, the government has a way of taking quite a bit of the fun out of the whole experience. It's all about accomplishing the checklist and getting bombs/missiles on target - not on enjoying the manifest beauty of God all around. Flying by yourself in a light aircraft has a whole different flavor to it - it's only you and the big, blue sky...and the decisions you make are your own. With the engine noise and the incredible vistas all around, it makes me marvel at God's goodness, His beauty, and the blessings He has poured out upon me in my lifetime - blessings I don't deserve. Needless to say, I landed safely in Montrose where I had an awesome time with family, and I got to celebrate my niece's 1st birthday in Grand Junction. Hands down...the most rewarding mission I've ever flown.