Over the past several months I’ve been shopping for around for a Cessna 182, checking several of them out on the web and in person. In February I was close to closing on a restored 1975 182T in Chicago that had just completed its annual. However when I had a prebuy done on the plane several days prior to the delivery date, I had to back out when the mechanic told me that he didn’t feel that the plane was flight worthy.

After this experience I obtained the services of Dave Evans who is a CFI based from Buckeye Flight Experience who assisted me in evaluating several Cessna’s that were on the market.

He located a clean 2005 182T that was being sold by Barron Thomas, one of the largest private aircraft brokers in the US.

This 182T had the Garmin 1000 glass panel, air conditioning (a nice perk when flying around Arizona in the summer) and had just over 1000 hours.
Last week we closed and I took delivery.

The following is a short video that was taken with Barron Thomas as a testimonial to both Barron and David for having the patience and fitting me into an aircraft that I feel will serve me for many years to come. Thanks Barron and Dave….

Now all I need to do is figure what radar detector to install

Being a retired police officer who chased after bad guys in high speed pursuits, being involved in countless drag out fights and yes even being shot at once, it takes allot to get my “fear factor” going but today I found myself at full tilt!

During my six year stint as a narcotics officer, I was assigned six months to the “Air Smuggling Interdiction Squad.” It was here that my interests in general aviation started when I had the opportunity to fly around the southwest with officers from US Customs and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Here I learned from other squad members who were pilots the basics of avionics and the fun of flying. It was then that I made a promise to myself that someday I would learn to fly. Today that someday arrived!

A few months ago I started doing some research on the Internet on Arizona flying schools and spoke to other private pilots, all recommending the “Buckeye Flight Experience” training school in Buckeye Arizona as the “best of breed”.

On Monday, I drove down to the school and met with owner/instructor Greg Porter. Greg gave me the basic information about his school and assured me that even an “old geyser” like me could learn new skills. He provided a DVD ground school program that I was to use at home and scheduled my first flying class for today. 

Last night I stayed up and reviewed the first DVD several times, trying to learn and understand the basic parts of an aircraft and basic flying skills. After acing the exam, I felt ready to take on today’s challenge.

However when I met with Greg at the airport, I never expected him to say that I was ready to take off and land the plane myself. But he assured me that he would be at the controls alongside and that I would see that the plane would fly itself (ya right I said to myself).

After Greg walked me though my first pre-inspection on his Cessna 172 he suggested methods for me to get my six foot six, 300 pound body behind the control wheel. After squeezing in and getting buckled in, Greg joined me along side explaining all the buttons, switches and gauges. Another pre-flight checklist was completed and Greg told me to get ready start the aircraft. I pulled the throttle forward, yelled “clear” and then turned the key while adjusting the mixture control and a few seconds later the engine was at full throttle while both my feet were pressing on the brakes at full force. Greg assured me that everything was ok, to check my gauges and to get ready to taxi.

We began to taxi and I do admit found it very awkward in steering the aircraft with my feet and found myself grabbing the steering wheel several times, finding it useless. Greg directed me to the entrance of the main runway, where we stopped and performed final flight checklist.

Greg explained that once on the main runway that I would push the throttle in all the way and once up to speed, pull back on the control wheel to take off, that’s all there was to it.

With my heart in my throat, he said “lets go” and I steered the plane onto the runway, pushed throttle in and found ourselves speeding down the main runway. The plane first went to the left, I steered with my feet to the right, then to the left and back, all while pulling with all my might on the control wheel.

Seconds later Greg said “relax we’re off the ground” and I looked through the left door window seeing the runway was hundreds of feet below. Greg said to continue my climb and a few moments later said to bank right. I started banking right by overturning slightly and Greg related to level off after entering the bank to allow the plane to follow.
Greg then related that I was to continue my climb till we reached 4000 feet. Here I would level off and pull back on my throttle to 2200 RPM.

At 4000 feet I leveled off, adjusted throttle and we were cruising at 100 knots. Greg then had me do several 90 degree turns and two 180 degree turns, while leveling off the aircraft after each turn. Greg must had noticed that on several turns, that my eyes were about to bug out of my head and assured me that I was doing just fine.

Greg then explained that we would then practice a decent and that I would notice that the plane’s engine would sound louder as it would be over speeding. Once it did I should slow the engine’s speed down by pulling out the throttle.

We began our decent to 3500 feet while I was adjusting the throttle while attempting to keep the plane fling straight with one hand in a crosswind.
At 3500 feet Greg said to climb back to 4000 feet by increasing the throttle and increasing back pressure.

Greg then said those words that I was dreading to hear, “Ok, you’re ready to land” and pointed in the direction of the airport.

Ten minutes later the runway was in view and Greg told me to start my decent, aiming for the “17” at the beginning of the runway. A few miles before the runway I saw I-10 intersecting my path and prayed that I wouldn’t come down early into the side of a semi.

Greg assured me and said that he would also have his hands on the control (Whew!!)

Reducing power we came above the runway and Greg said “watch, this plane will land itself” and in seconds we were on the ground with my feet pressing on the brakes and attempting to steer.

Again I found myself clutching the wheel to steer while Greg jokingly said “next time I’ll bring rope to tie your hands up.”

We taxied to the tie down area, shut down the aircraft and squeezed my large frame through the door.

I did it, and began fulfillment of a dream that I started years ago, learning how to fly a plane!

Thanks to Greg and the Buckeye Flight Experience, I’ll be back next week for flight #2!

This past weekend the Choirboys chapter that I belong to, held their annual motorcycle run, called C.U.F.F.S. This yearly event benefits families of fallen police officers, firefighters and corrections officers that are killed or injured in the line of duty.

The run started off at Chester’s Harley Davidson of Mesa who was also the major sponsor of the ride. Next stop was breakfast at Saguaro Lake.

At the end of the run, 226 bikes with over 300 riders and passengers were greeted by several motorcycle vendors in the parking lot of Six Shooters Sports Bar on Rural Road in Tempe.

Over $13,000 was raised by the club and a good time was had by all!

A hats off to all the members, sponsors and riders that came out to this event to make it the success it was….

One of my passions is riding my Harley and exploring new destinations.

This past weekend, the Prescott Arizona region of the Choirboys law enforcement motorcycle club held a run to Rocky Point Mexico.

Back in 1985 during my assignment as an undercover officer to the Special Investigations unit, was the first time I was in Rocky Point. That rainy Easter weekend was spent in a Cantina just off the beach, in what was then a sleepy little town.

We crossed into Mexico at the Lukeville/Sonoyta crossing and took Hwy 8. Several miles past Sonoyta I began getting a weak Ka reading on my Escort 8500 X50. About a mile ahead, as we turned around a bend we came behind a Mexican Federal Police patrol car and two officers.

We stayed a safe distance behind and within a few miles we noticed the patrol car pulling into the right shoulder, preparing to make a u-turn. We then spotted the officers pray, a white BMW that had California plates that was heading in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed 

After the white BMW blew by us, the officer activated the lights and siren and took off after the car.

About ten miles later, we then came across what has had to be one of the most stupidest drivers I encountered in a very long time. A pick up was towing a single axle trailer that was loaded ten feet high with bails of hay. The tires on the trailer axle seemed ready to burst because of the weight and the driver had a very difficult time controlling the vehicle at speeds over 15 m.p.h.

At this point on the highway it is a no passing zone, and there are numerous dips and turns that prevent you from seeing far ahead. Also the traffic heading towards the boarder was very heavy, so we decided to stay well enough behind to avoid any bails of hay that were getting ready to fall from the trailer.

Traffic quickly started building up behind us with most of the drivers having less patience then us and who were also becoming very stupid.

Normally we would pull over into the shoulder and wait out all these idiots, but the shoulder was all soft sand and we would easily get stuck.

We had a choice, either get run over from one of the cars or trucks behind us, as they attempted to pass, or try pass the hay truck in the no passing zone. Finally we saw an opening and shot passed, and saw one of the bails of hay come tumbling from the stack in our rear view mirror.

About 45 minutes later, we finally made the 65 mile stretch from Arizona into Rocky Point and arrived at our hotel, right on the beach.

I was amazed at the amount of new construction that was going on along the beaches! Huge luxury condos were being built along the beaches and real estate offices were almost on every corner.

We spent a great weekend with my club members and I will be making another trip out to Rocky Point soon, as the weather, riding  and beaches were fantastic!