Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Slingsby Sailplanes Model: T.61 or T.Mk2. Nickname: Falke or Venture
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single engine piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 0.8
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 42
> Date First Flown: 5/8/1988
> Location First Flown: United Kingdom, small grass field near Boscome Down
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: A glider club, I did not record the instructor’s name 🙁

Recollections:
I was in England for a DT-II (at Boscombe Down) and had a day off.  What to do?  Why, go to the local airfield and try to talk my way into a flight!  I managed to fly this motor glider with one of the club instructors on two separate flights.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Globe Model: GC-1. Nickname: Swift
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single Engine Piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 11
> Date First Flown: 5/17/1982
> Location First Flown: San Carlos, CA Airport (KSQL)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Bobby Macek

Recollections: Two of my squadron mates in VP-9 (my P-3 squadron) each owned Swifts.  I was always amazed that they could actually own their planes and, in retrospect, should’ve learned more about airplane ownership at the time.   They took me flying once (we did a formation flight) and I got some stick time, though I didn’t land it (I wasn’t a taildragger pilot at that point).

Both of them went to Delta Airlines soon after our tours ended at VP-9.  I might’ve followed them into the airline world, had I not been accepted to attend Test Pilot School.  As they say, the rest is history.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Stinson. Model: 108-3. Nickname: Voyager
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:m 108-1, 108-2

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 67
> Date First Flown: 3/3/1990
> Location First Flown: Wilton, CA private airstrip
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Brother John’s friend

Recollections:
I flew a P-3 across country on a Nav Eval, had a several day break, and visited my brother John at his airstrip in Central California.  While there, I flew the 108-3 with a friend of his, and then an Aeronca Chief.  

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: SIAI-Marchetti. Model: SF.260. Nickname: Warrior
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Leonardo now owns the design

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 82
> Date First Flown: 9/30/1995
> Location First Flown: Santa Monica, CA Airport (KSMO)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Air Combat USA (I believe)

Recollections:
On this date, I flew the SF260, the DC-3 and the PT-22.  I believe the SF260 was from “Air Combat USA”, a company which does rides with people marketed somewhat like “top gun”. I believe the flight consisted of the standard “qual eval”, exploring the airplane’s handling qualities, grabbing some performance points, etc. Like many QE’s, I’m sure the safety pilot was wondering “why do these guys do this?”…

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Ryan Aeronautical Company Model: PT-22 (ST3KR?) Nickname: Recruit
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane SE Land
> Engine Description: Single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 1
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 81
> Date First Flown: 9/30/1995
> Location First Flown: Santa Monica, CA Airport (KSMO)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Unknown

Recollections: I flew this airplane from Santa Monica airport the same day as flying the DC-3 with “Jan”.  I did not record who I flew the PT-22 with.  

It would be 28 years later before I flew a similar design, the PT-23, as part of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF).