FLYING HIGH IN NEW JERSEY

[Joel for Governor]

Well, I started flying when I was twelve years old, in a 1946 Aeronca Champ, with a flight instructor who was 94 (he flew for the US in WWI). I worked my way up until I had about twenty hours, but then gave up when I realized I was still way to young to solo. About 1999 or so, I aquired a Quicksilver Ultralight which I banged up up a bit trying to teach myself how to fly weightshift. It didn't scare me, but as I had spent all my money (and had none to fix it), I was grounded.

Two years later, I met my future wife Candice, got married, had a daughter, and decided that her life wouldn't be complete without a childhood in the sky. I bit the bullet, took out a loan, and am currently in the cross-country phase of my private pilot training in a 172N. Since the GI Bill from the military will pay for 60% of all advanced ratings, my plan is to pursue it to CFI, so maybe someday I'll be able to teach my kids. We plan to buy 150 acres in Missouri next year, and building my own sod strip with a hanger is top on my list of what to do with it.

My future goals, along with maintaining my airstrip, are to finish my PP, pursue intrument, seaplane, multi-engine, commercial, and CFI, buy some sort of four-place GA, preferably tailwheel, rebuild my Quicksilver, obtain my A & P, and live happily ever after. All told, I think owning my own aircraft, and having my own strip are two goals that will play out in the next five years. After that, feel free to fly in sometime, and Candice (or one of my five daughters) will whip you up a burger, and I'll have my five boys wipe down your plane. I don't believe anything is possible unless you first have the dream. And dreams are as realistic as we make them!

[John]

wow... sounds like some big plans that will be amazing... any ideas on whereabouts in MO you might be building?

[Joel for Governor]

We're really hoping to get on at either the Columbia or Springfield fire departments upon my military separation in December 2007, so within an hour and a half of one of them would be the best guess. preferably somewhere podunkish!