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Rogue's Gallery I - P

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Henry Kisor of Evanston, Ill., has owned N5859E, a 1959 Cessna 150, for ten
years. She's based at Westosha Airport (5K6) near Wilmot, Wis. In 1995 he
flew her from New York City to Upland, Calif., following Cal Rodgers'
pioneering 1911 transcontinental journey in the Vin Fiz, a Wright Model EX.
In 1997 Henry published a book about the adventure, "Flight of the Gin Fizz:
Midlife at 4,500 Feet."
 

Henry in his natural environment!	Henry's pristine '59 C-150...	A nice, clean panel...

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Jon's eagerly anticipated new bird is a real beauty -- check out that panel!  Jon is lives in Carmel, Indiana, and has been an active member of rec.aviation since May of 2001, when he started taking lessons at KUMP, Indianapolis, Indiana.  After finishing his Private in March of '02 he moved to KTYQ (Indianapolis Executive) for his Instrument training.  Since completing his instrument training in May of '04, he has been looking for a partner, and an airplane to buy.  His very nice Mooney is now based at TYQ, and he looks forward to traveling the country, quickly!

Jon and his lovely bride, Kellie...	Jon and his new toy!	Now THAT is a traveling machine...	...with an awesome panel!

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Jon is based at X61 in Zellwood, Florida, and has been reading the newsgroups since about 1995, occasionally posting along the way.  He loves to fly his Sea Rey amphibious flying boat with his wife, Jane, and in 2003 they flew from Orlando all the way to Oshkosh!  Jon has over 1000 water landings in 600 flight hours, which he says is the "most fun you can have with your bathing suit on!"   There are eight Sea Reys based at X61, and they call themselves "The Cat Herders" because the way they fly formation has been compared to "herding cats"!

Jon & Jane Ladd	Their beautiful Sea Rey flying boat...	Looking for water...	A beautiful shot of their Sea Rey...
Jane and their plane...	Splishing and splashing...

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From St. Charles, MO, Brian has been a regular on the aviation newsgroups since early 2002, since shortly before he started his primary flight training.   He went on to ecomplete his instrument training in February 2005.  Before buying his Archer in 2005, he was averaging 40 - 50 hours per year -- now he's flying even more!  He's never been to Oshkosh, but expects to make the trip to "Aviation Mecca" one of these years in his beautiful Archer.

Brian and his new Archer!	That's a great looking bird!	The Archer in-flight...	A comprehensive panel in the front...
...compliments beautiful upholstery in the back!	What a great looking plane!

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Based in Sandy, UT, Ric and Shari Lee are occasional contributors to RAH, and have attended several Pinckneyville fly-ins.  They currently own and fly a Diamond C1 Evolution, and have a Berkut under construction!

Ric & Shari's Diamond, taken by John Osterhout	Their Berkut is well under way...

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Ron Lee, based in Peyton, CO, visits the aviation newsgroups often.  In the "real world" he helps define future capabilities of the GPS system, including items that will help the aviation community.  He flew his RV-6A 250 hours during the first year he owned it!

Ron is into scuba diving, too.	A sharp RV6-A!

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Vlado is a long-term contributor to the aviation newsgroups, and can be found flying his gorgeous Mustang, "Moonbeam McSwine," at airshows all over the country.   ATP rated, with over 6,000 flight hours, Vlado has been flying since 1970.   He is one of the few civilian pilots certified to fly close-formation "Heritage Flights" with current Air Force and Navy aircraft.   He is also the generous fellow who so kindly donated the Mustang parts on display in our "Mustang Suite."

Vlado and his beautiful Mustang, "Moonbeam McSwine"	That 1650 cubic inch, 1500 HP Rolls-Royce Merlin "sips" avgas at 60 gph!	Comin' atcha, low!

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Marco hails from Farmingdale (KFRG) in Long Island, NY,  which is home to the third busiest airport in New York -- Republic Airport (behind LaGuardia and JFK).  He ventured into airplane ownership during his private pilot training and since amassed over 250 hours, and has earned his instrument rating.  With two beautiful young children, a great wife, and a new house that's just 1/2 mile away from his tie-down, life is good -- and Marco hopes it stays that way.  He's also providing the KFRG feed to www.LiveATC.net if you want to eavesdrop on some crazy-busy GA traffic.

Marco in the cockpit...	Marco's lovely wife, Matet, smiling "before she figured out how much all this stuff cost!"	N36616 in real life...	...and in a custom-made model!
A new interior in 2000...	...highlights a solid panel... Almost all the avionics are new since Marco bought the plane.

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Allen is based in Madison, Mississippi (MBO), and claims to envy our "obstacle-less approaches in Iowa.  He got his ticket and bought his plane in January, 2003, then started his IFR training in January 2004.   He says "other than an engine failure, vacuum pump failure, and other little oddities that come with an under-used plane, 43 Lima has been wonderful to me."   He's recently flown to Daytona Beach, which only took 4 hours with a 25 knot tailwind.   He's already got 152 hours in it!

Allen in his sharp Sundowner...	Allen and the plane	On final for Madison, MS...	That's a great looking Sundowner!

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Added 5/3/05   Scott Littfin  -- 1986 Corben Junior Ace -- N3642

Based at Chetek, WI (Y23), Scott has participated in rec.aviation.homebuilt since 1997 or so.  Other than a few years when the Air Force took him overseas, he has attended Oshkosh every year since 1975.

A fine close up view of Scott's Junior Ace...	The Junior Ace at Brodhead...	Parked at Garrett...

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Updated 3/6/05  Roger Long -- 1976 Cessna Skyhawk 172N  -- N73827

Roger is based in beautiful Portland, Maine, and is a prolific contributor to the aviation newsgroups.  He has also recently had several articles published in major aviation magazines.  He enjoys flying his club's Cessna Skyhawk all over the East Coast, and -- in "real life" -- is a marine architect.  See his work at http://home.maine.rr.com/rlma

Roger displays the sheer ecstasy of flight...	N73827 -- a 1976 Cessa Skyhawk	PWM, Roger's beautiful home base, on a 6-mile final...	2/2005 Roger's son -- on his first flight! Now THAT is a look of pure joy...

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Based in lovely Camarillo, CA (CMA), Tim is a multi-year lurker in the aviation newsgroups.   He owns beautiful N40874 with two partners, and enjoys flying all over the Southwestern U.S.  He has made the pilgrimage to Oshkosh twice, and intends to stop in at the Inn one of these years!   These pictures are absolutely beautiful!  

Tim looking happy and content enroute to Catalina!	Canyon Country near Lake Powell...	Beautiful Lake Powell, late in the day...	On final approach at Monterey Bay (MRY), CA
Santa Cruz Island -- a National Park off the coast of CA	Tim on the wing of his immaculate Cherokee 140

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Added 11/30/03

Updated 6/3/06

Dan Luke -- 1984 Cessna Cutlass 172RG -- N9387D

Dan bases his 1984 Cessna Cutlass at Mobile Downtown Airport (BFM), and resides in nearby Daphne, AL.  Dan is a long-time and prolific contributor to both the .owning and .piloting newsgroups.

New 6/2006 -- Dan's fantastic new paint job!	New 6/2006 -- The Cutlass looks good from all angles...	New 6/2006 -- Another view...	New 6/2006 -- A nice plane made even better!
Dan with his gorgeous Cutlass	A bit closer...	Must be nice to live where a covered tie-down does the job!

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Jerry owns his beautiful 1982 Piper Warrior II with two partners, Curtis and Frank.   They base their plane at Monroe, North Carolina (EQY), which is near Charlotte.

Jerry and his terrific Warrior II	Lookin' good on the ramp...	New Airtex interior...	From left to right, Curtis, Frank, and Jerry
Nice panel!	Pride of ownership makes it all worthwhile...

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Tina is based in Houston, TX, at Weiser Air Park (EYQ), and owns a 1955 Piper Tripacer.  When she's not flying or working on the Tripacer, she can usually be found either towing or flying gliders at Soaring Club of Houston (www.scoh.org). 

Tina's been hanging around rec.aviation since her first post way back in 1996. Her webpage is at www.tripacerdriver.com.

Tina's pretty '55 Tripacer	Tina half-way through her annual inspection...	An overhead view of Weiser Airpark	The soaring club's towplane

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Bryan started building in October '98 and nearly 1500 hours later, completed construction in June of '04. First flight was on Labor Day 2004 and phase I testing was completed on March 6, '05. Engine is a Stratus Subaru. Top speed is about 120 mph without the wheel pants. The test flights were conducted out of Midland Barstow airport (3BS) in Michigan.  Bryan says that water cooling really comes in handy in Michigan, and that he can fly in the coldest weather and stay warm with hot water heat in the cockpit!

A sweet looking aircraft!	That looks good...	...from all angles!	And a nice panel, too!

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Lee is based in Mount Aukum, California, and says "I have actually been a rec.aviation denizen and occasional contributor since 1992, mostly into rec.aviation.homebuilt. I have owned a couple of airplanes over the years, but my true joy is in renting and experiencing different aircraft types.  I have many in my logbook, and many of those experiences can be viewed at my personal home page http://www.well.com/user/leemcgee."

Lee with a PA-12 in 2005...	Lee with the '69 Bellanca Super Viking he owned from '99 to 2001

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Based in Virginia, long-time aviation enthusiasts and prolific newsgroup posters Ron & Margy have recently completed a complete stem-to-stern renovation of their gorgeous Navion.   Their CFI/A&P mechanic, Bobbi Boucher, is pictured, along with several terrific shots of their "new" bird.  

Margy with their "new" toy!	Margy posing with the Navion's immaculate tail-feathers	Bobbi Boucher with the newly re-done Navion	A close-up view of the new prop/engine combination...
A nose-on view with Bobbi...	A beautful 3/4s view -- what a great looking plane!

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Jim is a long-time contributor to the newsgroups, and owns two of the coolest planes imaginable!  Based in Waukesha, WI, Jim has decked his Baron out with new paint, the TKS weeping wing for known icing, radar, a stormscope, a Garmin 530, and the Garmin GTX 330 transponder that provides graphic traffic data.  He's working on the interior now, with a new leather interior in the works.   The Extra, on the other hand, is his fun plane.  It is rated to +/- 10 Gs, and is equipped with a Garmin 430 and the GTX 330 transponder, along with an STEC autopilot for cross-country flights.  Jim is a flight surgeon, and has about 50 hours in the back of an F-16!  

"Jim's favorite view is green over blue!"	A mini-airliner, the Beech Baron

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Located in Massachusetts, Bob is a prolific poster who has been on Usenet "since before the rec.aviation split" -- which is the Usenet equivalent of "before the dawn of time."   He's been flying since '87, earned his IR in '90, and bought his plane in '94.   Bob has spent a lot of time and money fixing up N56713 -- as he puts it, he doesn't know how much the overhaul cost because he "stopped keeping track of costs after the parts reached $23.5K."   This included the overhaul, the 160 HP STC, oil cooler, prop overhaul and re-pitch, engine mount overhaul, new alternator, new starter, new fuel and oil lines, windshield, copper cables, digital tach, digital OAT, rams-horn yokes, brakes, baffling, battery, etc.  (A&P labor is NOT included in that $23.5 total!)  Here are some photos from the ordeal...

That is an ugly...	...soon-to-be-gone old engine...	With a matching, ugly heater control box...	Crating up the old engine...
The old engine -- gone!	Now that's a "firewall-forward" job...	Hanging the new engine...	The new engine is hung...
A closer view...	The new prop...	The refurbed heater box...	Ahhh...the first flight!

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Mike is shown with his beautiful Archer at Marana Northwest Regional Airport in Tucson, AZ.   He and his partner currently base 405 at Tucson International (KTUS) until they can find hanger space at Marana.

Mike and his 1974 Archer...

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Denny is a long-time contributor to the aviation newsgroups.  He and his wife Char are based in Michigan, and enjoy flying all over the country in their big 'ol twin, Fat Albert!  Here's the story, in Denny's own words:  "He was purchased new and used by an airline to haul passengers, then sold in 1963 to an FBO/training school in Saginaw, MI, where he hauled freight and cadavers, and trained muli-engine students, until 1999.  In a moment of insanity I purchased the fat boy to keep from winding up tied down, outside to rot..."

For everyone who has always wondered what Denny's "Fat Albert" looks like, here he is!:

Denny and his wonderful '57 Piper Apache!

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Here is the terrific RV-4 built by Bob & Lucille Olds, of Charleston, Arkansas.   Bob says "Lucille helped with riveting and almost all the other work of building.  She also loves to fly in the RV-4 -- even some aerobatics. Yes, she has two sisters -- both happily married.  Sorry, guys!"   This is their second RV, having built their first one in 1983.   They fly from their 1100 foot grass strip on their farm in western Arkansas -- their hangar is just 150 feet from their house!  As Bob says, "It's tough living in the country!"

Lucille shows off her "RV grin" on her first flight in the new bird!	Their RV has a 150 hp Lycoming, and a wood prop

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Bill's 2002 Hatz Biplane	Bill in his '77 Grumman Tiger

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This warm-up for Oshkosh is held annually at the Alexis Park Inn & Suites on the Sunday before Oshkosh, and is open to all pilots en route to Airventure.   Our first one in 2003 was well attended!  We had good weather, and our farthest guests flew all the way here from New Zealand!   A great time was had by all, and we're looking forward to doing it again next July!

Barnyard Bob, Harry & Greg holding court at poolside...	Live music made the night magic...	Christine & John boogie by the pool...	Jay, Barnyard Bob, Jim Weir & Gail Allinson...
Mary & Jay cut the rug...	Doctor Ofu and Gene Adkins...	Some folks dance, some don't!	A great night -- a great time!

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In 2003 Jay & Mary Honeck threw a Rec.Aviation get together at their campsite in the North Forty at Oshkosh 2003.

Everything went off without a hitch, and it was well attended. One thing we discovered, however -- you can't walk 10 hours in the blazing hot sun, eat sparingly, and THEN start pounding beers like there's no tomorrow!  Well, you CAN -- but not if you want to survive past 9 PM...  Before we knew it, the girls were dancing on the wing, and walking to Friar Tuck's had become a challenge!  

Here are a few pix -- some sent in by attendees -- from that wonderfully crazy day:

Jay & Mary's campsite from the air...	A shot of the group, Rwy 27 in the background...	A gathering of like minds...	The Hilton probably didn't like this banner right out front...
Ron Natalie and Jay's hotel shirt -- autographed by Patty Wagstaff!	THIS is what happens when you drink on an empty stomach!	Jay Honeck, on the right, explaining why the Pathfinder is the best plane ever built!	Margy and Ron Natalie...
Mike and Mary deep in thought...	Palo and Christine looking good!	Ron and Steve...

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OSHKOSH '04

On this separate webpage are posted many pix from the world's biggest fly-in, and the 2004 version of the Rec.Aviation newsgroup party, held annually at Jay & Mary Honeck's campsite in the North Forty campground. 

With Montblack providing grills and enough food for an army, the night was a dazzling success!

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Added 8/5/05 

OSHKOSH '05

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Added 8/5/06

OSHKOSH '06

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John is a long-time contributor to the aviation newsgroups, and is one of the self-described "Gang of Fools" who are currently building fourteen (14!) identical Nieuport replicas in Independence, Oregon. (One of the photos shows the first completed Nieuport in flight.)  Until his Nieuport is finished he flies a club Cessna, which, he says, is also much more practical for flying Young Eagles.  See the December 5, 2003 issue of "GA News" for an article on John's EAA Chapter 292, or go to their website at www.eaa292.org for more info.
 

John's homebuilt Nieuport replica	An incredible sight -- THIRTEEN homebuilt Nieuports!	John in flight...	Working on the firewall of his Nieuport...
John in the club Cessna...	Making airplane noises in the future Nieuport...	John's Nieuport...	The first one done!
All 13 builders...

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Updated 4/26/04    

Updated 10/7/06    Michelle P -- Maule M-7-235B

Based now in Montana, Michelle is an ATP pilot, a CP-AMEL, and an AMT-A&P.  She is also a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight, and her day job allows her to fly her Maule in her free time!   She's sent us some new pictures of what forest fires look like from her "office" in the sky!

Michelle used to work on this...	So she could have fun with THIS!	Michelle driving a tram-tractor at Sun N Fun '04!	The view from Michelle's "office" in the sky...
The airport she flies out of...	This is what she's looking for...	Rugged Rocky Mountain terrain...	The plane Michelle flies now...
Lost in a sea of King Airs...	The panel with the tactical radios on the right...	A rear shot of the plane...

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Based in Sebring, Ohio (3G6), in northeast Ohio, Roy hails originally from England.  He moved to Ohio in 1998, gained his Private Pilot's certificate in 1999, and purchased -04Foxtrot in June of 2004.  His greatest adventure, thus far, has been flying the Archer back from California to Ohio -- and the beautiful photos, below, show some of the great scenes from that awesome flight.

You think Roy is enjoying his airplane?	Nice looking panel!	Brrr...Sebring in the winter...	Ohio sunset on a nicer day...
Roy gets the red carpet treatment in Elko, Nevada...	Idaho Falls is a great place to stop...	What a fabulous shot of Jackson Hole, WY...

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Don is based at Creve Coeur Airport in Maryland Heights, MO -- the coolest airport in Missouri!  His beautiful Fairchild has been "in the family" for just a little over a year, and is right at home with the many antique classics based at Creve Coeur.  Pictured with Don is his son, Skyler, who is already an Oshkosh veteran, having been there 3 times!  (Don has attended 19!)  The Fairchild is powered by a 200 HP Ranger engine, giving 115 mph cruise at 13 gph.

Don and Skyler like to fly!	THAT is a beautiful plane...	On the grass, where all Fairchilds belong...

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Based in Middletown, New Jersey, George and Elisabeth Patterson enjoy flying their Maule anywhere the wind will take them.   George is a prolific and long-term contributor to the aviation newsgroups, and is a true "old-timer" as far as Usenet goes.  

George & Elisabeth below Norris Dam in Tennessee	The Maule shortly after picking her up from the factory. Home was 47N back then.	Another shot at 47N. That wing should give you some idea of how Maules handle turbulence; the plane's a kite!	The whole right side is door. The back seat can be removed in a minute or two.
In Oshkosh, waiting in the north 40 for the field to go VFR. When it did, you could hear about a hundred engines start all at the same time.	Panel - A no-frills IFR panel. When I bought it, there was an airspeed indicator, an altimeter, and a magnetic compass.	Summer '94. The infamous Hudson River VFR corridor. This shot was taken from a Cessna 150 while descending out of 900' for a photo run of "the Lady".	Younger George -- Older plane!

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Rick & Debbie live in Bartlett, TN, and base their plane at Charles W. Baker Airport (2M8) in Millington, TN, just outside of Memphis.   They operate an air tour business, giving bi-plane rides all over the Memphis area!   See their website at www.belleairetours.com.

Rick & Debbie Pellicciotti	Rick & "Mr. Waco", Bob Wagner!	On the takeoff roll!	Ain't she purty?

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Tom is based in Corvallis, OR (KCVO), and calls his plane an "ugly duckling" -- but says it flies great!   He ordered the kit in June of 2004, and had it flying by December!   He's got a little over 100 hours on it now, and it's got him "wondering why (he) didn't do this long before (I) retired."  It may only fly at 90 mph, but the Savannah can take off and land in just a few hundred feet!  Tom says he's really enjoying exploring the high desert of Eastern Oregon.

Tom making airplane noises!	The first flight!	The panel...	This is why we fly!

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Added 1/25/04    Updated 6/11/04  "Badwater Bill" Phillips  -- A Wide Assortment! Bill has been posting on the aviation newsgroups for so long, that everyone knows him simply as "Badwater Bill."   He's even published magazine articles under that name!   Bill learned to fly in 1957, got his ATP in 1979, and has "spent more time at the top of a loop than 90% of pilots have in their logbooks!"    He's got around 10,000 hours, in "all kinds of crap -- mostly government cluges."  (Believe it or not, I have EDITED this gallery!)   As can be seen by these photos, Bill is one of a kind!  New 6-11-04. This is the ultra-light that almost killed Bill when it capsized on take-off New 6-11-04. Note the way Bill's body must shift to bank the aircraft New 6-11-04. Tom Verner and Bill built these in 1980. They were powered by a Yamaha go-kart engine. Bill salutes us! B-26 Bill used for remote sensing. Another B-26, in flight. A Bell 212 Bill used to fly air pollution missions over L.A. The Huey Bill used for tracking lake pollution Same Huey on Lake Mead The Mohawk Bill flew for wind direction certification before nuclear weapons tests The T-34, also used for wind certification before atomic bomb tests. The Otter Bill used on the Lake Survey to switch crews at mid-day Stuck in the ice in Wisconsin Bill flew over 100 missions in this radiation cloud-tracking version of the Beech D-18 Bills Raven AX-8 balloon in 1986. Antaries 190 Hang Glider-1984 Bell 212 on Airpollution missions in Los Angeles-1973 Mini-500 in Bill's driveway-1997 Lark Sailplane Bill rebuilt in 1986 Same bird? Bill's old Stearman PT-17 -1978 A Turbo 210 Bill once owned Bill's AT-6A that he used to own A 172 on floats Bill used to fly-1988.  See the Star Fish in the water? A C-45 Bill flew... Scratch built Minimax 1500-1994 Bill's current RV-6, and ??? An RV-6 that Bill was test-pilot on... Back to Top

Updated 5/29/04    Pinckneyville 2004 -- An Annual Rec.Aviation Party!

Pinckneyville, Illinois has become synonymous with "PARTY!" when it comes to the rec.aviation newsgroups.  John "Highflyer" -- a long-time Usenet user -- and his wife, Mary, throw this annual shin-dig in their hangar, attracting pilots and enthusiasts (and, usually, bad weather!) from all over the country.

The first 11 pictures from the 2004 edition are courtesy of Dan Luke, who managed to dodge the thunderstorms and high winds in order to attend.  (Don't let those blue skies fool you!)  

The next 11 pictures are courtesy of John Ousterhout, who attended with Stella ("StellaStar").  They beat the storms by driving in from Des Moines.  

Most people coming from the north were simply unable to penetrate the stationary front that settled just to the north of PJY for the duration...   However, according to all who attended, a great time was had by all! 

Looking north on the ramp as a Decathlon arrives to give us some laid-back aerobatics	Looking sw across the ramp to John's (Highflyer's)hangar. John says he got the handle because he never gets above pattern altitude	Jerry & April from Boston and John talk to a Quickie pilot about his bird.	The "Cadillac of the air" itself. John let Tina and me fly it: too, too cool.
"Not many single engine planes have a tire big enough to make a good chair," said Michael.	Stella & April	Stella believes that one MUST stay hydrated in this heat!	"That's "Nauga" Hyde to you, son!" With Sydney (Snowbird) and her daughter...
"By God, there'll be some changes made when we get organized!"	Another view of the group.	Michael gave Dan his first ME lesson in his bird. It's a real sweetheart, but his landing was, ah, "interesting."	Highflyer's gorgeous Stinson
A Decathalon doing low aerobatics	Gary Thomas	John "Highflyer" taxies out...	Lucy and Sydney "Snowbird"...
He's not excited...	Saturday's blue skies...	...Became Sunday's yuck...	Another Stinson...
The supper line...	The ramp...