Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Flying from Palwaukee (Chicago Executive Airport)

After several years of not flying as pilot in command, I decided to get back into it in 2008. Since my last time flying in 2001, I had become an overworked attorney, and what little free time I had was consumed by other hobbies, particularly horseback riding and writing my first two novels. And then I fractured my back horseback riding in 2004, which required two years to fully recover. And even now, It's tough to find the time to fly as a full-time lawyer, part-time author, part-time professor, avid traveler (and being socially hyperactive)... But flying is freedom, and for that there is no sacrifice too high. So I decided to become a regular at Palwaukee (Chicago Executive Airport; PWK), just a few minutes north of O'Hare and not too far from my office. On May 20, 2008, I finally got back in the cockpit -- it felt great! I flew around Chicago's north shore (Fort Sheridan, Deerfield, Lake Forest, etc.) and then did some practice maneuvers over the lake, and then came back to Palwaukee with a perfect landing -- not bad for not having flown in 8 years!

(above) Office and hangar at Palwaukee Flyers where I rent my planes.
(see link to Google Map of Palwaukee Airport).

(above) My rental Cessna 172 after a short flight over the north shore in June 2008 (my second flight since getting back into flying regularly).

(above) On long final for Runway 16 at Palwaukee.

Copyright © 2008 A.C. Frieden. No reproduction permitted.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Vegas and the Grand Canyon from the air

On May 5, I hopped into an Eurocopter EC-130 from Maverick Helicopters as a passenger and took to the skies over Las Vegas, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and parts of the Grand Canyon. An exciting ride indeed!

(above) Stopping for lunch in the Grand Canyon, on a ridge above the Colorado River. The views were striking as the helicopter flew into the Canyon.

(above) View of the "Strip", Caesar's Palace (foreground), Paris (left/center), Bellagio (far right) and other casino hotels.

(above) Flying past the towering Stratosphere at the north end of the Strip (I went on the rides at the top the day before).

(above) Flying over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.

(above) Spectacular view of the Colorado River.

Copyright © 2008 A.C. Frieden. No reproduction permitted.