Quite a few years ago I went through my logbooks and figured I'd flown at least 40 different models of aircraft. Here's a few of them. To say that I love flying, and have the highest regard for the people engaged in aviation, is to understate the matter by half.
1946 - Racoon Ford, Va. As a student pilot, flew 80-miles SW of Alexandria and landed on our farm, so my father for the first time could see me fly a plane. He'd taken a few lessons in the early 1930s, but the cost became too great.
1946 - Grinnell, Ia. Proud new private pilot for
one week, with first passenger, who took photo.
1948 - Univ. of Virginia. Flying an open cockpit aircraft is more fun than a barrel of snakes. My first was at Grinnell in a Myers with a 135-hp Warner-Scarab 3-cyl. engine. Never heard of one since.
1950 - Sheridan, Wy. Larry & Chuck Jones,
in Rudolph the Red Nosed C-140, on the way back to Virginia from working all summer as gandy dancers on the Alaska RR. Practical and
fun airplane.
1954 - Wash., D.C. Aeronca L-16. Civil Air Patrol simulated mission to fly blood supplies into the District after a nuclear attack. Strip was 1200' inside 10-ft. dikes. Is where RFK Stadium was built. D.C. Armory in distance.
1954 - Frederick, Md. Converted military Stinson Reliant. Little Sunday hop from
Arthur Godfrey Int'l cow pasture at Leesburg,
Va. He was hanging out there, so chatted
with him. Love those round engines! This
one ran only on Kangaroo gas!
1963 - Phoenix, Az. Flying club Mooney.
Put over 100 hours in it. Terrific cross-
country aircraft.
1963 - Monument Valley, UT. Sightseeing in an Aztec. Lovely gal,
solid and safe airplane.
1963 - Showlow, Az. I would chauffeur a
friend, who had the use of this C-195, from Phoenix. A pilot's airplane.
1966 - Van Nuys Airport, Ca. Danny Kaye and Johnny
Bodtke, pilot for Kirk Kerkorian, at Pacific Lear Jet Sales Co.,
for which I worked. Danny was a partner with Allen Paulson
in the company.
1966 - Wichita, Ks. Fuel stop on a trip from NYC to LA with Joe Foss, WW II ace of aces and AFL Commissioner. His NY meeting likely concerned AFL-NFL merger. Photo courtesy Lear Jet PR department.
1966 - El Centro, Ca. Cessna Skyknight (C-310, turbo-charged). Sam Yorty, LA Mayor running for Governor, on a political trip.
April 22, 1945. Leesburg, Va., airport. A great thrill. Sandy Vandenberg soloed there a week earlier. I couldn't because I turned 16 on the 15th, a Sunday, and the CAA office wasn't open so I could get the student license form. This certificate, my admiration for all in aviation, and my law degree are the roots of my work -- and my belief that the phrase, "rule of law," bandied around so much during the recent election, really means something.