1-25

Schweizer SGS 1-26

July 22, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Schweizer Aircraft Corporation Model: 1-26 Nickname: none
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Glider
> FAA Category and Class: Glider
> Engine Description: none

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 11/5/2024
> Number of Hours Flown: 4
> Number of Times Flown: 12
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: none

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 13
> Date First Flown: 11/5/1983
> Location First Flown: Sky Sailing Airport, Fremont, CA
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Solo, Sky Sailing

Recollections: After solo’ing and getting my license in the Schweizer 2-33, I flew the single-seat 1-26, all at Skysailing gliderport in Fremont, CA (no longer there). Along with the A-10 and the Pawnee, this was the only airplane I flew by myself for the first time. It was a real confidence builder and, I believe, helped me on my way to becoming a Test Pilot.

Schweizer 1-26 (stock photo)
(c) airliners.net

Boeing Model 75 Stearman

July 20, 2026 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Stearman Model: 75. Nickname: Kaydet or Stearman
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: Single engine piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 7/19/2026
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: —

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 4
> Date First Flown: 1/25/1981
> Location First Flown: Roscoe Field, Pensacola, FL (82J)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Unknown

Recollections: The Stearman was the basic trainer for the US Army Air Corps and US Navy before and throughout WWII.

Stearman Model 75 (Stock Photo) (c) Wikipedia.org

While attending pilot training with the Navy (my first flight in a T-28 was the month before I flew the Stearman) I managed to talk my way into a Stearman ride. I remember only one thing: that the stearman I flew (which my logbook says was “76552”, no idea if that was an N# or serial number) had a lockable tailwheel. At that point, I’d never flown in a tailwheel aircraft so this didn’t mean much to me. I later learned that the Navy Stearmans had a full swivel type tailwheel with a lock (though many have since been modified to steerable). I guess my first tailwheel experience being a Navy Stearman was a predictor of future flying!

I have, unfortunately, only flown a Stearman one other time, in 1992 when my brother and I “traded rides” with a Stearman owner (he flew in John’s V-77 and I got to fly in the Stearman). My logbook shows no landings in the Stearman, so there’s a future goal!

Stearman N707X (stock photo) (c) Aerial Visuals

Globe GC-1 Swift

November 5, 2025 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

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).

Globe Swift (Stock Photo)
(c) Airliners.net

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.

Grumman American AA-5 Traveler

January 27, 2025 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

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! 🙂

Grumman AA-5 Traveler (stock photo)
(c) jetphotos.com

Piper PA-28 Cherokee

January 27, 2025 by Bob Stoney Leave a Comment

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.

Piper PA-28 in Formation
(c) Stan Kasprzyk

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.