A bizarrely nice day for flying and a Christmas dinner invitation on Martha’s Vineyard were sufficiently motivation for me to pull the Cirrus out of its hangar today. While letting the electric preheater take the overnight chill out of the engine, I ran into my friend Michael, who flies for Linear Air, a local charter company. I thought he might be upset about spending Christmas in a Cessna Caravan going to East Hampton and western Massachusetts instead of being home with his family. He said “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Christmas than by flying.” I wonder how many other careers there are where folks enjoy being at their jobs on Christmas Day!
The air traffic controllers were all cheerful as well, and the Cirrus, pulled back to lean of peak, delivered 20 miles per gallon. We cruised to the Vineyard at 160 mph on 5 gallons of gasoline. The only challenges were bumps en route and landing in a gusty crosswind.
Merry Christmas to everyone who has been kind enough to read this Weblog over the last year.
Phil, Merry Christmas to you as well… I’ve been reading your stuff for years now. Your writing is always insightful and fully deserving of a place on my toolbar. As an engineer, I enjoy, and sometimes even envy the analytical way you are able to look at things and distill the essence. I hope you continue to share your thoughts and opinions in the coming years…
Well said chrisw, and may 2008 be a great year for all of us.
Merry Christmas to you too, Phil.
I’ve been reading your words since I ran into Travels with Samantha back in 1994. As someone who works in the technology field, and is also a pilot and CFII, I really enjoy your work. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.
Thanks,
John
Merry Christmas to you too Phil.
I am also a long time reader, from the days of photo.net, when you wrote most of the content.
Have a Happy New Year too!
Chris
Phil,
I’ve been reading your blog ever since I ran into your materialism articles a few years back. I find your analysis of world events to always be extremely insightful.
Thank you for your generosity in sharing with us.
Dillon
Dear Phil,
Wish you a Merry Christmas too. I have been reading your website/blog for 6 years now, thank you for your generosity in sharing so much information, insight and wisdom.
Cheers,
Naveen
Thank you, Phil, and Happy New Year, & Happy flying always.
Off-hand, on Christmas Eve, I read a novel about flying that reminded me of your recent post about flight simulation: Frederick Forsyth’s The Shephard. Picked it up off the family bookshelf not knowing what it was about. An hour later, I was finished reading it. Pretty apropos coincidence that I read it on Christmas Eve, since the book itself was about a pilot flying home for Christmas on Christmas Eve. You may want to give it a read, since you love airplanes so much.