Medically grounded former corporate pilot. (Pilatus PC-12) Soloed in '77, got my ticket in '80, had "real jobs" until '99. With the kids out of college, I sold my Harley and pursued the "life-long dream" of flying full-time and securing rest of my certificates. Last ticket(s) held were Flight Instructor, Multi and Single Engine Instrument Airplane and Commercial Pilot with the same ratings. Never pursued an ATP since I would not qualify for a 1st class medical and had no desire to fly jets for hire as PIC.

Highest pucker-factor and exotic flight was my first trip to Bermuda in the Pilatus (single-engine turboprop). Filed Elizabeth City, NC as my Alternate. (For non-pilots, that means if you cannot land at your Primary destination and lose radio communication with Air Traffic Control, you would be expected to fly direct to your filed Alternate on your flight plan. And of course, there is no radar coverage beyond 100 miles of the US coastline. While in communication with ATC, we give position reports like it was 1937!) Flew every flight in the PC-12 as a crew of one. The PC-12 is an incredible airplane!

[Incidentally, my Avatar is a picture of an incredible sunset during our arrival into St. Louis after a nearly 8hr trip back form our second Bermuda trip. The Wx was awful once we hit Raleigh to clear customs. At least we were greeted by an amazing sunset caused by a post-cold front passage line of storms that we flew west through including several course & altitude changes. (I was whipped after that trip after staring at the radar and trying to find the "least lethal passage"!)]

I underwent 8 spinal fusions while active and usually bounced back into the left seat after 6-8 weeks. Surgery #9 was topped off with a discovery of lung cancer. I lost my left upper lung lobe to surgery and had then suffered another back failure for spinal fusion #10. Needless to say, I am permanently grounded and on disability.

Building model aircraft has been great therapy. I have started a project of attempting to collect and build the "inventory" of the 1st AirCav with an emphasis on Medevac. My Dad was a decorated (bronze) field surgeon (M.D.) in New Guinea & the Philippines with the 1st Medical Squadron attached to the 1st Cav in WW-2. So this project is a tribute to him and the Troopers who have followed. Never thought I'd be building Helo's - but here I am!

Anybody who wants to talk airplanes and/or aviating - send me a note!
Kevin
28 June, 2013