Flying the Pipistrel. How it all Started.

It's true. I used to hate to fly! It would fill me with anxiety and dread the minute I lifted off the runway.

So I decided to start watching aviation videos on Youtube. My palms would sweat and my heart would race just watching the clips. But the passion that the aviators had and the beauty of flight was undeniable.

It was the beginning of covid lockdown and I took an 8-week online IFR course from the Sling academy in Torrance Ca.
I was fascinated with the procedures and approaches.
Using xplane as a platform. We flew into airports all across the country. From the big class bravo fields like Kennedy and Atlanta. To the equally challenging Aspen and Telluride. Using only the instruments to navigate.
We even flew from my home airport in Jackson to Truckee. Flying to minimums on a rnav approach.

At the end while in the chat all the pilots were discussing their next steps. The teacher CFII Phillip Stokes discovered that I was not a pilot and invited me down to take my first lesson in a Sling 2. Steep turns over Catalina island at sundown and landings at Long Beach and Torrance, (Bob Hoover's home airport) was all it took. I was hooked!

I came home and immediately joined a flying club and started lessons in Santa Cruz Ca. In an awesome and apply named Tecnam Sierra (I live now, and grew up in the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains)

Commuting to the bay and staying over night was taking its toll. And I remembered checking out a flight school nearby. Foothill Flight Center. Run by Don Bradley. An Intel engineer, Climber, Gyrocopter pilot Adventurer, Extraordinaire . Very cool dude. I climbed and raced motocross as a younger guy and still ride dirt bikes today. On a fully modified RMZ450 Race ready Rocketship.

Foothill had these cool little low wing Evector Sportstars that were similar to the Sierra. So, I was stoked to be there. Plus the professional structured ground school was very appealing. I was right at home. Kolby Best is my CF double I A no non-sense great instructor that I can’t recommend enough.


I am now finishing my training with a few weeks away from my check ride in these cool little Pipistrel Alpha trainers. Modern composite planes that fly beautifully.
I can’t wait to be able to take my wife Deborah on our first flight together and see what adventures are instore. We have already planned our first long cross country to Deborah’s home state of Colorado.

I hope you will join us as we document all our new experiences along the way. #aviation #pipistrelaircraft #pipistrelalpha #foothillflightcenter #stuhamm #jerrymarotta #3gguitars #pilot #studentpilot