A.C. Frieden's Cockpit World

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.

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.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Flying over Buenos Aires

At the end of December 2007, I visited Buenos Aires, Argentina, and had the pleasure of going flying in a Robinson 44 helicopter over various parts of the city. The flight started from San Fernando (SADF) airfield and landed at AeroPark Airport downtown.

(above) Taking off from San Fernando airfield.

(above) The R-44 helicopter after landing at AeroPark Airport near downtown.

(above) Flying along the northern coast of the city (the Belgrano neighborhood), with the Rio de la Plata on the left.

(above) A cruise ship docked at the city's main port.

(above and below) Flying over the La Boca district and its famous stadium.

(above) Flying over the naval facilities, including an area where old submarines are being dismantled.

(above) Flying over the chic neighborhood of Puerto Madero.

(above) Flying along Avenida Figueroa Alcorta, you can see the Facultad de Derecho (Law School) building and to the right the Plaza Naciones Unidas (United Nations Plaza), with its circular reflecting pool which houses the Floralis Genérica, a huge mechanical flower erected by the architect Eduardo Catalano.

Thursday, April 20, 2000

Flying in Chicago in Early 2000

A typical flight for me in Chicago in the late 1990s was to rent my Cessna (usually a C-172) at Midway airport and head either north (to Waukegan and north shore area) or down to Kankakee. The flight below was on a beautiful, high visibility day in April 2000.

(above) In the cockpit of my rented C-172 at Midway Airport, Chicago.

(above) My rental C-172 at Midway.

(above) Aircraft parked that day in front of Millionaire Aviation.

(above) And this F/A-18... Can I upgrade from my C-172?

(above) Taking off from Runway 31L (the one most used by general aviation).

(above) View of the "Loop" and Grant Park, Chicago.

(above) View my condo building (center highrise) at 5445 North Sheridan Rd.

(above) Flying over Wrigley Field and nearby "L" station.

(above) Flying over barracks and vehicle storage facilities at Fort Sheridan.

(above) Downwind at Waukegan Airport.

(above) Heading south over Rogers Park and Lakeview neighborhoods.

(above) Heading south past the United Center.

Saturday, July 3, 1999

Flying in Chicago in the Late 1990s (Part II)

By late 1999, I became harder to find the time to fly. I was working long hours for a top Chicago law firm, had bought a horse to ride in the distant suburbs, was finishing my LLM thesis in the evenings, was writing my first novel, and maintained an over-active social life. It was a surprise that I could get any flying done at all. Most of my flights were local, starting from Midway and heading to places like Kankakee, Meigs Field, Rockford, Waukegan, and Lake Geneva. (To see "Flying in Chicago, Part I," click here). The pictures below are from a flight in mid-1999 from a C-150.

(above) I sometimes took an instructor with me whenever I spent more than a couple months without flying. This one (I forgot her name) was particularly nice.

(above) Spectacular view of downtown Chicago shortly after takeoff from Midway.

(above) McCormick Place and Meigs Field, which was a fun airport to fly into.

(above) Foster Beach, Lake Shore Drive, and my condo building on Sheridan Rd.

(above) View of the Diversey Harbor Lagoon west of Lake Shore Drive.

(above) Heading south along the north shore (Bahai Temple visible on left/center).

Sunday, April 25, 1999

Flying in Chicago the Late 1990s (Part I)

After moving to Chicago in 1997, I began flying C-150s and C-172s, at first from Poplar Grove, and later from Midway Airport. Typical destinations included Kankakee, Meigs Field, Rockford, and Waukegan, and Lake Geneva.

(above) Flying as second in command in a C-172 from Poplar Grove Airport.

(above) View heading north at about 4000 feet, passing over Meigs Field (1999).

Friday, July 17, 1998

Flying in Georgia with Scared Friends

On July 17, 1998, I was visiting Tifton, Georgia, a sleepy town in the southern part of the state, when I had the urge to rent a plane at the local airport and take some friends flying. It was a perfect day, with clear skies and warm temperatures. Great idea, you think. Well, when we got into the hanger, the attendant was glued to the television, following the breaking developments of the disapperance of a Piper Saratoga II aircraft piloted by JFK Jr. in the sea off Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Lesson learned: check the news before you take inexperienced passengers with you. I finally got them to fly with me, but it took a lot of convincing (even though the weather was absolutely clear, that there was no other plane in the area, and that I'm a sane pilot).

(above) Taking my terrified friend, Candace, up for a short flight.