Flying

In the beginning of 2003 I decided to follow through on my childhood - and Top Gun fueled - dream and learn to fly.

I joined Amelia Reid flight school at Reid-Hillview Airport in East San Jose.

I trained in an American Champion Citabria 7ECA, a beautiful two-seater trainer that's even certified for aerobatics. On November 4, 2003 I earned my Private Pilot, Single Engine, Land Certificate.

As of this writing (10/28/2007) I have approximately 210 hours.

Shortly thereafter, Polina got her wings as well.

We fly mostly in the area, taking short 1-2 hour trips. Our goal isn’t to go somewhere, it’s just to get off the ground and “slip the surly bonds”.

Over San Francisco at 2000 feet

Golden Gate Bridge, SF Downtown, and SFO Airport

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up, the long, delirious burning blue

I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, nor even eagle flew.

And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space...

...put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

We haven’t been flying very much in 2007, with the new baby.

But we’ll get back in the sky soon.

Polina got into aerobatics in a big way. She now has her own parachute and everything

We owned a small sportplane for a couple of years. Our RV-4 was a fun two-seat, low-wing, bubble-canopied speedster.

Our house (in the middle)