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Pete's RV-8 Web Site
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Date: 5-1-2007
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Number of Hours: 0.00
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Manual Reference:
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Brief Description: A bit of flying biography - Page 2
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A BIT OF FLYING BIOGRAPHY
Page 2
Eventually, the Boeing 707s began to arrive at Dayton and still later the 727s and Douglas commercial jets. Even an occasional French Caravelle could be seen. To this day though, nothing matches the sounds of the Wright turbo-compounds and the Pratt and Whitney radials doing their run-ups, mag checks, and cycling the props. You not only heard the rumble of the engines, you could feel the air vibrate. It was heaven and inevitable that I would develop a deep and continuing interest in aircraft and all things aviation.
The 1960s brought two years as a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol with the opportunity for orientation rides in Piper aircraft and an Air Force C-47, high school graduation and marriage to my high school sweetheart.
In the 1970s it was college, a tour in the Navy where I first soloed a Piper Cherokee at Woodbridge Airport in Virginia, the addition of three great boys to our family, and the beginning of a 34 year career in industry specializing in business information systems.
With the 1980s and an established career came the opportunity to increase my flying activities, add an instrument rating and dabble in aerobatics. For a period of time, I was permitted to fly myself on company business but unfortunately, the privilege was revoked a few years later following a management change. I believe the new management felt that if an employee was having fun it must not be work.
In 1984 I made my first trip to Oshkosh and that was the beginning of the RV experience for me. I don’t remember exactly when I first saw the RV-4 but it really caught my attention. I remember thinking if it was just a little larger with a bit more cockpit and passenger room and had a sliding bubble canopy, it just couldn’t get any better. And then, of course, along came the RV-8 and that sealed the deal for me.
Cont'd
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Third Ride (WPAFB CAP '66)
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In the Navy '71
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SLC Enroute to SFO '86
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