This Pilot’s Teacher

I met him once. He sat with my young daughter and me in a hangar at a dinner for fliers in June many years ago. He was the featured speaker and talked about spins, just one of his areas of expertise. He was hilarious and informative at the same time. We felt fortune to be with the man who had taught me so much. He was very humble and unassuming, but I knew the wealth of knowledge and experience of this man.

William K Kershner died this week, age 77, after battling cancer.

I was fortunate in that I found a series of books when I was learning to fly. “The Student Pilot’s Manual”, “The Advanced Pilot’s Manual”, “The Instrument Flight Manual”. “The Flight Instructor’s Manual”, and “The Basic Aerobatic Manual”. All by “Bill” Kershner. He had an engineer and test pilot background. Together, they produced a man who really knew airplanes. His books are personally illustrated, manuscripts were typed by his wife, and chocked full of useful equations. It was all in there if you took the time to read and absorb the information. I was hungry for knowledge about airplanes and devoured his books. I was basically self taught using the “Kershner” books. I often knew more than my flight instructors.

So, here I was in the presence of my idol. An aviation God. A friend to student pilots, flight instructors, and those who wanted to learn about spins. We sat and ate, communed as pilots do, and LAUGHED.

I have taken the knowledge William K. Kershner provided in his books with me though out my aviation career. I am thankful for my pedigree and how I became an aviator… how Bill Kershner has taught me.

He has left a lasting legacy in his writing. His books collectively constitute my aviator’s Bible. Airplanes will always be working to overcome gravity and drag with lift and thrust.

Thanks Mr. Kershner.

AeroDave

Please go to www.aopa.org/kershner/ to learn more about this remarkable man.

Running the Frost Bite 5, New Year’s Day

“Is my gas tank going to run empty?” I ask myself. Ideally a racer drains the tank of energy as he crosses the finish line. We all have different sizes of tanks, and different sizes of engines. A runner could be a subcompact with an efficient engine, or a gas guzzling truck. Right now I seem to be a mid-size with aspirations of being a sport touring coupe.

As I breathe, I take in oxygen. My lungs put the oxygen onto the hemoglobin in the blood. My heart pumps the blood with its oxygen to the muscles that burn the fuel. I can only go so fast before my body says, “no more… that’s it… I quit!” It is my left-brain talking… sometimes YELLING!

Finding the right pace, and keeping it, is a fine line. You want to go fast, but…

In shorter races, like today’s 5 miles, the body has adequate stores of fuel. The limitations come from the ability to deliver oxygen to the muscles. Also, the breathing rate is governed by the body’s need to get rid of the carbon dioxide, the byproduct of burning the oxygen & the fuel. You have to breathe off the carbon dioxide to make room on the hemoglobin for the oxygen. It is your aerobic system. Delivering the oxygen.

The course today is in Northern Kentucky, just south of Cincinnati. It has gentle rolling hills and loops back to its starting point. It is rarely flat. As I motor up a hill I down shift. My turnover quickens, I slow down a little, but I try I keep my level of effort the same. Despite my best intentions, I can feel the energy draining away. “How long is the hill?” my left-brain starts asking. I try to fight back with my right-brain, “It is not much farther… you are almost there!” I feel like a schizophrenic. A woman runner who I passed earlier (on a downhill) passes me (on the uphill). She has more energy in her tank, and knows better how to meter it out. She is a Porsche. I am a Taurus.

Fortunately I reach the crest of the hill before I am totally out of energy. Even though it is 40 degrees F, I can feel myself starting to overheat. I take off my hat and carry it the rest of the race. I play catch up and try to refill my energy tank on the down hills.

In longer races, I run – walk on a time interval. It is the “Galloway Method”. The walk interval allows the opportunity to refill the tank, and it works very well. In the shorter races I run continuously and faster, trying to teach my body how to run faster and testing its limits.

I make an effort to thank the policemen at the intersections along the course. “Thanks for your help!” I blurt. My body has to be willed to talk. Shorter races tend to be quiet amongst the runners… no energy left to talk. Marathons are more conversational.

Soon the end of the race is evident and I pick up the pace… draining the tank. As I cross the finish line I hit STOP on my watch and take my pulse. I am depleted, but smiling.

I crossed the finish line a full minute ahead of my hoped for prediction. A “PR!!!” or personal record, as they say in running circles. I have found some new limits, and know my body is getting stronger. I try to conceal it, but I am proud of myself. I find the Porsche and congratulate her on a great run.

Afterward our group of runners meets at a nearby Starbucks. It is a good start for the year. One race is in the books!

AeroDave

New Year’s Resolutions

Here they are:

New Year’s Resolutions for 2007

Stay Healthy, no injuries, no accidents
Achieve 155 – 160 weight range, & stay there
Run a 4 hour Marathon
Do 3 Olympic Distance Triathlons
Train swimming, biking, & running a minimum of once a week in each discipline
Do a century bicycle ride

Acquire basic Kite-boarding skills
35 hrs Powered Paraglider Flight Time
20 hrs Hot Air Balloon Flight Time
5 hrs Helicopter Dual Received
Foot Launch / Cliff Hang Glider Endorsement
Renew Flight Instructor License

Paint Exterior of House
Vacation in Hawaii
Sing at Carnegie Hall

These are all measurable & doable. We will see how I did on these goals this time next year.

AeroDave

The Newbie Rides with the PELOTON

Around each turn was new experience. “Am I going too fast?” “Am I going too slow?” “Can I make that turn at this speed?” “Should I ride with him, or just stay out of the way?” “Shift? Or Hold On?” My thoughts were all new, but I was in the moment. I had few answers except to be a little conservative and try not to embarrass my sponsor.

My cell phone rang with an invitation to go for a bike ride. I had just run four & a half miles and that was to be it for the day. But the weather was great and not to be wasted. It was the end of December and forecast to go into the mid 50’s! We’d meet at 12:30.

When I showed up, the grape vine had produced a group of eight. These were biking veterans. Some have ridden coast to coast across the US. One had ridden Paris-Brest-Paris. One had put 35,000 miles on one bike. My bike odometer said 300 miles. I was definitely the newbie.

Before we started I confessed my lack of experience to the group. “Please watch out for me”, I said. They did and I felt accepted. Their experience as riders meant they could ride shoulder-to-shoulder, or wheel-to-wheel. Their awareness of their surroundings was constant. I rode with blinders. “Ride a straight line.” “Don’t swerve”, I told myself. They were true “Rodies” and knew how to handle their bikes. I, on the other hand, had little experience and had a tri-bike. A tri-bike has a different geometry, aerobars, and twitchy steering. My sponsor came along side and said, “Make sure you stay hydrated.” “Yeah, right!” I thought. As I watched them steer with one hand and take a swig from their water bottles with the other, I didn’t dare let go! I had read… “what ever you do, STAY OUT OF THE AEROBARS when riding with rodies.” I did.

But take care of me they did. Pointing to road hazards; loose gravel, potholes, & sticks. “Car Back!” “Car Up!” “Slowing!” I heard them calling to the peloton. OK… It wasn’t really a peloton, a swarm of a hundred or more riders racing in the Tour de France, but it SEEMED like a peloton to me. Riding close, changing positions, & drafting. I tried to stay at the back, out of the way where I wouldn’t make the others nervous, but to keep up. My running had given me the legs and aerobic engine. Thankfully, I could keep up. The bike handling needs work though. Just going out and spending time on the bike should help. Every once in a while I’d find myself in the middle. It was like a business jet flying in formation with the Blue Angels. I was OK when they flew straight and level, but don’t you guys do any of that fancy stuff!

We rode fast. We rode slowly. The pace constantly changed. The terrain was sometimes hilly, sometimes flat. We rode 40 miles in all. Toward the end the pace picked up, like horses going to the barn.

When I got off the bike I had a drunken swagger. Boy! Were my legs tired! They capped off the ride with a trip to the coffee shop. My second for the day… but what the heck. “This is why we do the ride”, one said. I had a white chocolate raspberry scone and a white chocolate hot chocolate. I had earned the calories. The scone tasted like heaven.

Thank you for taking me along. It was a terrific new experience for me. I don’t think I embarrassed my sponsor or myself. Maybe I’ll even get invited back. Even if I do have… a Tri-bike.

AeroDave

An Easy Four Miles

It is Saturday. Group Run Day.

We get up. Fuel (eat)… and are out of the house by 7:15. Meet at 7:45, run at 8:00.

My wife just started running and is in a group doing a 13 minute / mile pace. This may seem slow, but this is great for someone who has never run. I am proud of her. She is training to FINISH a half marathon this spring.

Today is a recovery run of only 4 miles. My group is supposed to run a 10:30 pace with a 4 to 1 minute run walk interval. Take it easy. But, being a short run it turned out that we did 5 to 1 intervals and a 9:43 pace. We also ran 4.65 statute miles. Some in the group continue for 8 or 10 miles, as “four is not worth getting out of bed for”. We are all in pretty good shape.

Everyone has a “GARMIN”. Some are a year or two old. Some runners have brand new ones they received as presents for Christmas. These small devices are GPS satellite receivers worn on your wrist. They generate very accurate position information and can tell you how far and how fast you are running. They receive atomic clock time from the satellites. 100% accurate time. You can enter your weight and they will tell you how many calories you burned. Some even have integral heart rate monitors. I give a first time user a quick course and do a few set ups of the internal computer.

We’re off. The fun of a group run is the conversation. We all come from different walks of life. I believe those that choose to do a marathon are interesting people. Today we have an Anesthesiologist, a company President, a cardiovascular disease Researcher, a musician Conductor professor, a Computer professional, and me… a Pilot. There is a lot to talk about as we compare notes on Christmas, aches and pains, and the year ahead. We always run at a conversational pace, not too fast. The time goes quickly and soon we are done.

Apres run, we meet at Starbucks. More conversation. Some of us have been running together for several seasons. We have experienced “the Thrill of Victory & the Agony of Defeat” together. As we each go our separate ways… “See you next week!”

AeroDave

A late December Paraglider Flight

Sunset at 5:24. I had to hurry up! Left the house at 3:00, arrived at the Waynesville airport at 4:00. I ask permission to fly, they always say yes. I fly as a guest at a grass field made for airplanes. I always donate to the airport’s scholarship fund as a way to say thank you. Lay-out the glider, fuel the motor. Warm up the 2-cycle engine, fuss with adjustments. MAKE SURE everything is hooked up correctly! Check, Re-check.

The wind is calm. The skies are blue. I can’t waste this weather. It is 4:40 PM. Lean forward. Push. Pull. The wing rises and comes to life behind me. Add a little gas. Trot. One last check. Everything looks and feels good. More gas… a little brake pressure. Run! Go! Go! Go!… Fly!

Sometimes it is called “running into the sky”. The moment is busy but magical. There is a lot going on. You have to feel and sense what the wing is doing. You have a 50 pound motor on your back plus another 9 pounds of gas. Add a helmet and long johns. Oh… and a 4 foot diameter propeller turning fast. Try not to trip!

Climbing to about a thousand feet I cruise south to a friend’s house. No one home. Then over to the gliderport where I am a member. It is all quiet too. No flight operations here. I have the gliderport to myself and skim the length of the runway. The caretakers are a young couple who just had their first baby. I notice their red pick-up pull in the driveway and I motor over. Not too low, not too close. I power back and yell down, “CONGRATULATIONS!”, and receive a wave and a smile back. With hearing protection on… if anything was said in reply, I didn’t hear it.

I look at my watch. It is time… Climbing to about 1500′ AGL (above ground level) I head back to where I started. It is colder up here and I can feel my muscles tighten as they try to generate a shiver. I have a 20 mph wind right in my face. Brrr! It is warmer lower and I start an easy descent.

There is a Stearman in the pattern shooting takeoffs and landing. It is majestic with its 220 horsepower. I am a gnat. I wait doing some 360’s and figure 8’s until it is clear.

Gliding down I fly a small pattern and gauge my touchdown spot. Kill the engine, flair! I’m standing and smiling. The wing collapes into a heap of inert fabric. It is 5:20. Four minutes to spare. One takeoff … One landing.

Pulling out the cell phone… time to call home. “Just wanted you to know I’m down… Great Flight!”

AeroDave

A beautiful Friday.

Friday is a rest day. No swimming, biking, or running. It is sunny today in Cincinnati, with a high temperature close to 60 degrees F. Will clean the gutters before winter eventually hits. Cardboard & paper to the recyclers.

Maybe fly the powered paraglider this evening. Good days are hard to come by this time of year.

AeroDave

Jet-Man

I have always dreamed of flight. This is proof that dreams come true. This is the coolest!!! Check it out. And, YES, this is real.
Jet-Man
We will hear and see more of this Swiss flyer in the future. Bravo!

AeroDave