I have always been interested in flying, probably due to my father and grandfather. My paternal grandfather was a crop duster and barnstormer in southeast Florida, flying Stearman biplanes. When Dad went into the Navy, he flew as a flight surgeon with WEARECONRON FOUR (Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Four), otherwise known as the "Hurricane Hunters". Dad flew on the Lockheed Super Constellation (LC-121) out of Pensacola, Florida.

Ever since I was little, I recall dad pointing to airplanes and naming them, which is probably where I picked up the habit. It has become somewhat a joke around people who know me, as they will often see a plane flying over and try to name it (it usually goes something like "Hey Joe, look, it's a P-6-niner-bravo!") I think they just really want me to tell them what it is :)

When I was 17, dad pointed out an article in the paper that talked about the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA chapter 229) looking for youth in the local community to join a project. They sold their chapter airplane and bought a kit for an Zenair Zodiac CH601HD and invited youth from the local community to help build it. The deal was that, those who helped build could get flight training in it for just the cost of fuel (since they had the experience among the members to provide everything else). Something less than 2 years after we started, the Falcon Flight project rolled out a completed aircraft, and my flight training began. The bulk of the hours I have accumulated were done in that little plane, and it was great fun.

I ended up moving to Tallahassee to continue my education, at the expense of my flying. I still pick up a few stray hours from time to time in other planes, and I hope to finish my license sometime soon (now that I have a little time and money). We shall see... :)