Flying & Private Pilot Information
Here I am (I'm the taller one :-) with Wayne Handley and his Extra 300L at Metz Airport
(his private field in Greenfield, CA).
- 9/19/03
Quick Index:
- Ground School Information and Resources:
- My data:
- Flying Clubs & Flight Training:
- FAA Written Tests:
- Aircraft N-Number Research:
- Flight Instruction and Related Information:
- Airport Homes / Property:
- On-line Aircraft Sales:
- Other Organizations:
- Current Observations:
- Bay Area:
SQL,
PAO,
NUQ,
SJC,
RHV,
HWD,
OAK,
SFO,
CCR,
LVK
- Central Valley:
RDG,
RBL,
CIC,
BAB,
SMF,
SAC,
SCK,
MOD,
MCE,
FAT
- Coastal:
STS,
APC,
SUU,
WVI,
SNS,
MRY,
SBP
- Mountains:
RNO,
TRK,
TVL
- Weather & Flight Planning:
- FAA AFD - on-line AFD pages!
- NAV Monster - great Google Maps-based flight path and planning tool
- AirNav Aviation Info
(airports)
(routing details)
- RunwayFinder.comInteractive up-to-date sectionals with WX etc.
- SkyVectors.com Sectionals:
SF,
LA,
LV, Areas:
Bay Area, Airports:
PAO,
LVK,
E45,
AUN,
SBP
- Aviation Digital Data Service
(Flight Path Tool)
- SF Bay Wind Pattern Streaklines
- NWS SF Bay Area Aviation Weather Page
- Aviation Weather Center
- NWS Internet Weather Source
- The Weather Channel Aviation Weather Graphics
- NOAA & National Weather Service,
Palo Alto,
Monterey
- Yahoo Weather
(Satellite & Radar)
Emerald Hills,
Redwood City,
Palo Alto,
Santa Cruz
- METAR/TAF Reference Guide
- NWS Graphical Main Page
- NOAA Winds & Temp Aloft Page
- Standard Briefing:
Get Everything Here (full of briefing links)
- TAFs:
TAF Decoder,
CA-OR-WA Forecasts by Airport
- Satellite Images:
NRL,
(West Coast),
(NoCA),
(NoCA HiRes),
(Bay Area),
(Bay Area HiRes),
(Sierras),
(Sierras HiRes)
GOES
(WUS - vis)
(WUS - wvc)
- Radar Images:
NorCal Doppler Radar
- DUAT by DTC
- GTE Preflight DUAT web access
- DUAT by GTE
- General Aviation Pages:
- LSA Repairman:
- N Number Research:
- Aircraft Dealers:
- Pilot Shops and the like:
- Avionics & Equipment Manufacturers:
- ANR Headset Upgrades
- Aviation Helmets - the leaders in aviation helmets, flight suits, etc.
- Aviation Survival - helmets, flight suits, etc.
- Belite - Makers of lightweight, low power instruments
- Belite ultra lightweight ASI/VSI
- Better Half VW Engine - by Leonard Milholland
- Culver Props - Custom made wood props and the Big Twin 4-stroke engine
- Dynon
- Falcon Sensitive Altimeter
- Garmin
- Great Plains Aircraft Supply - VW Based Engines for Sport Aircraft
- iFly 700 by Adventure Pilot - Low cost GPS with current charts, AFD info, etc
- MGL Avionics - various compact instruments and avionics
- MicroTim - Digital Altimeter, lightweight, low power, self contained battery
- Tiny-Tach - Low power, low cost tach with hour meter and sel=contained battery
- CalumetAir - Rotor Tachometer Kit, Seat Tanks
- XCOM Avionics - small, lightweight transceiver w/ intercom and extended receive
- Aircraft Annunciator Model AG6 - Programable annunciator in 1.25" x 1.0625" of panel space!
- Low Oil Sensor
- Inexpensive Pitot / Static tube
- Compact Radial Engines - 2-Stroke engines with high power to weight ratio
- HKS Aircraft Engines - 60-80 HP 4 stroke 2 cylinder engines
- Production Aircraft:
- Homebuilt / Experimental Aircraft:
- Companies
- Single-place Airplanes
- Two-place Airplanes
- Four-place Airplanes
- Other
- Also see Helicopter kits (below)
- Ultralights & Light Experimental / Production Aircraft:
- Helicopters:
- Helistart - Helicopter site
- Enstrom Helicopter
- Robinson Helicopter
- Robinson R22 Preflight
- Helicopter Maneuvers
- Sirius Flying LLC, Palo Alto Airport - Helicopter Training, John Pyle Chief Pilot and all around great guy/instructor
- Robinson Helicopter Training at Hayward Airport
- Sierra Air, Auburn - Helicopter Training, very atractive rates
- Air Shasta - R22 / R44 / R66, Flight Training, Mountain Operations, FBO, Etc., Attractive pricing
- Jerry Trimble Helicopters in OR and CA - Affordable training
- American Helicopters, Chandler Airport (KFCH) in Fresno - Complete Helicopter courses for reasonable prices (they also offer flight training at the
Central Sierra Helicopter Meet)
- SRT Helicopters - Full service helicopter company based in Bakersfield with special training for Mountain Flying, Long Line, Special Operations, etc.
- Piston Helicopters For Sale via Controller
- Homebuilt / Experimental / Ultralight Helicopter / Gyroplane Kits
- Airports:
- Cross-Country Adventures:
All of these flights have been with my friend, and instructor,
Scott Stauter.
While Scott is a great primary instructor his specialty is
Instrument Instruction (I got my Instrument Rating with him).
He also offers Mountain Instruction, Multi-engine, and special XC trips
such as those listed here.
- October 27-30, 1999 - California - Nevada - Utah - Colorado - Wyoming
In 4 days we covered 5 states, 12 airports, and 2240 miles;
including Leadville (9927') - the highest elevation public use general
aviation airport in the US, and Telluride (9078') - the highest elevation
airport in the US with commercial passenger service.
- November 27-30, 2001 - California - Oregon - Washington
(We had a more elaborate trip planned
but my father died while on the trip so we cut it short and headed back
home ASAP.
We were also delayed due to a blizzard and problems with some of the aircraft systems.
It was an arduous trip.)
- Other Flying Adventures:
- September 17-19, 2003 - I spent 3 days flying with acrobatic legend
- and all around great guy -
Wayne Handley
in his Extra 300L.
My initial goal was to feel more comfortable with
unusual attitudes and to increase my confidence and skills in such situations.
Much to my surprise Wayne not only helped me achive these goals but he also
taught me how to do - even enjoy! - various rolls, loops, and other acrobatic maneuvers
(something that I never would have thought possible since even roller-coasters make me sick).
I would recommend flying with Wayne not only to those who want to expand their
acrobatic repertoire but to any pilot who wants to expand their
envelope of comfort, confidence, and skill.
Here is a link to the full article about my experience:
Aerobatic Instruction with Wayne Handley.
Created and maintained by
Wes Irish,
email: wirish@coyotehillconsulting.com
