Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Grumman American Model: AA-5 Nickname: Traveler
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: piston single

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 6/25/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 4
> Number of Times Flown: 3
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Cheetah, Tiger

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 2
> Date First Flown: 4/7/1974
> Location First Flown: Orange County, CA Airport (KSNA)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: James S. Dearth, CFI, North American Aviation Flying Club

Recollections: It’s funny….I don’t remember the sequence of flights at all but I flew this 4 seater (the bigger brother of the AA-1 Yankee/Trainer) once before I solo’d the Yankee.  Perhaps a Yankee wasn’t available this particular day. Regardless, I suspect Mr. Dearth was exposing me to different airplanes, in anticipation of a career full of different airplanes.  I flew the bigger AA-5 one more time w/Dearth after I started solo’ing the AA-1 and then flew it solo as well later that same summer.  

One could argue that the AA-1 and 5 should be counted as the SAME airplane but–considering these were the first two airplanes I solo’d and the fact that one had twice as many seats and 40+ more horsepower as the other…. I feel justified claiming two!  🙂

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Piper Model: PA-28 Nickname: Cherokee
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/4/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 18
> Number of Times Flown: 11
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: Cherokee, Warrior, Arrow, Archer

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 10
> Date First Flown: 4/18/1982
> Location First Flown: NAS Moffett Field, CA (KNUQ)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Navy Moffett Flying Club

Recollections: The PA-28 “Cherokee” (or the later Warrior, Arrow, etc) competes with the Cessna 172 Skyhawk for the 4 seat, trainer or transportation airplane.   

When stationed at NAS Moffett Field, CA flying the P-3, I got checked out in the Cherokee and flew it a few times.  Later, while with the FAA in Wichita, I rented one from a local FBO and flew it a few times.  That same year I flew an experimental PA-28 configured for “Low L/D” (it had spoilers and speedbrakes to create significant drag) at NTPS.  Most recently, I flew with Stan “Sundance” Kaspryzk on his Formation Lead checkride for the Joint Liaison Formation Committee (JLFC).  11 flights in 32 years.  Lengthy experience, if inconsistent!  For those wondering–and without much justification–I’m a Cessna guy, I guess.  That may be a function more of availability than choice.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Mooney Aircraft Model: M20 Nickname: Mooney
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 19
> Number of Times Flown: 11
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: M20, M20F, M20E, M20J

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 14
> Date First Flown: 4/23/1985
> Location First Flown: NAS Moffett Field, CA (KNUQ)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Navy Moffett Flying Club

Recollections: The Mooney is a great cross country airplane and it handles really well.  The company has struggled, shut down a few times but returned.  The Mooney’s that I’ve flown have all been the older models, with manual flaps or manual gear or both.  These manual/mechanical systems require the pilot to apply a significant amount of force to the control to raise or lower the gear and flaps and this force application often results in the “Mooney bobble”, particularly after takeoff, as the pilot’s attention is drawn away from maintaining pitch attitude to trying to raise the gear/flaps.  

The airplane is small inside and, being 6’6″ tall, it was a pretty good squeeze for me.  But it was worth it, as the plane was fast and very fuel efficient.   It also is unique for it’s “all flying tail”, where the vertical and horizontal tail  pivot together  when trimming in pitch.

I got checked out at various FBO’s over the year, most recently in 2013 in Seattle but, unfortunately, the owner took it off of lease-back soon after my checkout.  This is an airplane I would consider owning for transportation purposes.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Beechcraft. Model: T-34B. Nickname: Mentor
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 21
> Number of Times Flown: 11
> Other Aircraft Models Associated:
D-45, Model 45; T-34C (turbine powered follow-on)

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 12
> Date First Flown: 6/23/1983
> Location First Flown: NAS Moffett Field, CA (KNUQ)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Navy Moffett Flying Club

Recollections: While I hadn’t flown the T-34C (turbine) in flight school, I was excited about getting some experience in its older brother, the T-34B, powered by a 185 HP Continental recip.  This airplane was the first airplane flown by Student Naval Aviators (SNA) from about 1960 to 1975, in “primary”.  After this, SNA’s would then go to the T-28.   By the time I went to primary in 1980 you either flew the T-34C turbine-powered airplane or straight to the T-28.  As a “Trojan guy”, I was curious to explore whether the T-34B would’ve been a smarter first plane.  It certainly was easier to fly and probably a good lead-in to the Trojan but, based on my successful completion of primary in the T-28, I could see why the Navy had chosen to at least temporarily try “straight to the 28”.  

I flew the T-34B at three Navy Flying Clubs.  First NAS Moffett Field, CA (where I was in an operational P-3 squadron), then NAS Patuxent River, MD (TPS), and finally at the Monterey, CA airport (where I was in Postgraduate School).  At each location, I witnessed the retirement of the T-34B from flying club use and/or the total closing of the club.  It was a sad thing to watch…essentially the base commanders saw only risk and bad press and perhaps didn’t have enough civilian grass-roots flying experience to understand the huge value of flight training for Navy personnel.

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Grumman American. Model: AA-1A Nickname: Yankee
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: single piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/6/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 23
> Number of Times Flown: 18
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: AA-5 Traveller (4 seater)

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 1. (my first airplane!)
> Date First Flown: 2/3/1974
> Location First Flown: Orange County, CA Airport (later John Wayne) KSNA
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: James S. Dearth, CFI, North American Aviation Flying Club

Recollections: This airplane, the first one in which I flew as Pilot-in-command (i.e. my first solo) was chosen as my first airplane in consultation with my instructor, James S. Dearth.  Please see also my description and appreciation for Mr. Dearth in the “About Me” section of this website.

I recall choosing the AA-1, over the Cessna 150 (both were available at the North American Flying Club at the John Wayne/Santa Ana airport) because Mr. Dearth advised that it was “harder to fly than the 150 and, therefore, you’ll become a better pilot.”   

In 1974 (when I started my flight training and solo’d), there was no Wikipedia or internet.  If there HAD been, I might’ve done some research and picked differently.  Wikipedia points out:

The original American Aviation AA-1 Yankee developed a poor reputation for safety in its first years of production (1969–71). The aircraft was designed purely to fill the role of a personal transportation and touring aircraft and not a trainer, but many of the early production models were purchased by flying schools. The appeal of the AA-1 to schools was obvious – compared to the competition, the AA-1 was faster, cost less to purchase and maintain and, most importantly, had more student-appeal with its sliding canopy and fighter-like looks.

Many of the early school accidents were related to spin-training. Once the AA-1 entered a fully developed spin and exceeded three turns, it was usually not recoverable. The AA-1 had been spin-tested as part of its certification, but in 1973 the FAA issued Airworthiness Directive 73-13-07 ordering the aircraft placarded against spins.

The remaining accidents were generally attributed to the AA-1’s short endurance (3.3 hours), inability to use short grass strips and high approach speeds (85–90 mph). These were all different from the other school aircraft in use in that era and took some adaptation by instructors and students alike.

Despite this current Wiki take on the airplane (which was developed from a homebuilt, the BD-1, famous Jim Bede’s first design, although no kits were ever produced), I’m glad I chose the AA-1 and remember feeling proud I could handle this “harder airplane”.  

Here’s some stats on my training:

–First training flight: February 3, 1974

   –Flew aproximately every week

   –On April 29, after 14 flights, 16.8 flight hours and 54 landings, Mr. Dearth tells me: “You’re doing great, next weekend I’m going to do a couple of landings with you, then get out and you’re going to solo.”

   –the next lesson came around (Thursday May 2, 1974).  I had thought ALL week about my solo and, man, was I nervous!  I flew May 2 with Mr. Dearth and, well, I was awful, especially landings.  Mr. Dearth: “Well, I over-estimated your skills, you’re really NOT ready to solo.  In fact, I believe it will be about 5 more lessons, at least, before you’re ready.  Let’s get started on those lessons this Sunday.”

   –so, I showed up Sunday May 5, 1974 and started the next lesson.  After one or two trips around the landing pattern, Mr. Dearth says: “Pull off over there by that taxiway sign.”  I do as requested, he gets out and says “Go give me 3 good ones, by yourself.”  Huh?  Huh!  And I did.  I remember the plane climbing what felt like an F-4 in afterburner.  I did 4 more good patterns and proved to myself that–in many cases–I was my own worst enemy..the nervousness had hurt my performance the week before.  Mind over matter lesson #1 in my aviation career!  I was 16 years old.

I did my last solo flight that June, didn’t have enough hours for a license, and moved with my family all the way across the country to Washington, DC.  The next time I solo’d was in the T-28 while attached to Training Squadron 6 at Whiting Field.  Why did I spend the last two years of high school and 4 years in college without flying?  To be honest, I don’t remember.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, but the circumstances weren’t right (or I didn’t make them right).  But, I never lost the passion, the goal.  A goal I’d had since I could remember…to become a pilot.

Writing this got me wondering “where is the airplane I first solo’d?”  I found a 2022 accident description, and a couple of photos.  And the owner appears to live in New Mexico.  Next time I’m down that way, I’ll go see if I can find her.  Till then, the status my “first girlfriend” will remain a mystery.