Airspeed

We all love those gorgeous air-to-air photos of aircraft that grace the covers and the insides of our favorite flight magazines. We even like the ones in the ads. Sometimes especially the ads. Ever wonder who shoots those pictures or how they do it?Enter ace aviation photographer Dave Higdon.Dave has been a working journalist for more than 25 years and currently freelances for a number of media outlets. His magazine work lands his images on several covers each year and on ever more advertising pages. He is an accomplished pilot with almost 5,000 hours flown in a variety of aircraft, including hang gliders, ultralights, and light-sport aircraft, as well as general aviation aircraft ranging from piston singles to light business jets.He is the president and creative director of PhotoProse Productions in Withita, Kansas. He is also a regular part of the panel on Uncontrolled Airspace, a relatively new entry to the podsphere that just hit its sixth episode and is one of the best hangar-flying shows out there. Dave

A balloon flight from start to finish in Cloud Nine (N1515E, a 77,000 cu. ft. Firefly 7-15) with 25-year veteran pilot Dave Emmert over Battle Creek, Michigan (BTL).  See the full commentary and more pictures at our blog at www.airspeedonline.blogspot.com.

The ultimate objective test of the new pilot.  The first solo.  Follow Stephen Force on the rocky road to his first solo.

We cover motion sickness and its effects on general aviation pilots and then turn to the expert as we interview world-class motion sickness expert and inventor of autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) Dr. Partricia S. Cowings of NASA Ames Research Center. Full show notes and contact information at www.airspeedonline.blogspot.com.

A fond farewell to Cessna 172R, N918TA - my favorite airplane.  18 met her end in the grass off of Runway 27R at PTK on July 13.  The accident pilot is fine, but 18 was bent pretty badly and it looks like she's a total loss.

The Lockheed C-5A.  Big, big, big!  We talk to the crew chief of this, one of the largest aircraft in use by the USAF Air Mobility Command.

We cover the Yankee Air Force's Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress "Yankee Lady" and interview her pilot.  Show notes at www.airspeedonline.blogspot.com.  Donate to help the Yankee Air Force recover from its 2004 hangar fire at www.yankeeairmuseum.org.

  We go in depth about the Canadair CT-114 and we talk to Maj. Cory Blakely, pilot of the No. 3 jet in the left inner wing position. Thanks to Maj. Blakely and to Snowbirds Public Affairs Officer Navy Lt. Petra Smith!  More information on the Snowbirds at http:/www.snowbirds.dnd.ca and show notes at http://www.airspeedonline.blogspot.com.

We talk to skydiver, jump pilot, and producer of Skydive Radio Dave Schwartz.  Dave gives us an introduction to skydiving and also gives some great tips for pilots about what to do if you hear on approach or the CTAF that there's jumping in the area. See more about Dave's podcast, Skydive Radio, at www.skydiveradio.com.  See more about skydiving in general at the United States Parachiute Association's website at www.uspa.org and DropZone.com at www.dropzone.com.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, we talk to Sgt. Brian Storbak (apologies in advance for any misspelling), boom operator on a KC-135 crew and part of the 128th ARW in Wisconsin.

Part 1 of our two-part series that covers the venerable KC-135 Stratotanker from tip to tail - literally!  From its first delivery to the military in 1957 to the R, T, and E modifications, we cover ths history and role of the aircraft, then talk to both a pilot and a boom operator.  This episode also includes a promo for our golf shirt giveaway.  Submit a show idea and you might find yourself wearing a handsome Airspeed golf shirt just like the ones that our crew wears at air shows!

We go up in the US Army Golden Knights' Fokker C-31A Friendship.  Full audio coverage from briefing to interviews on the aircraft to the team's exit.

We interview Maj. Jeremy SLoane, USAF, the operations officer and pilot of the No. 7 jet of the USAF Thunderbirds.

Part 3 of our three-part series about the selection and training process for NASA Astronauts.

Part 2 of our three-part series about what it takes to become an American astronaut.  This episode concentrates on the selection process.

Part one of our three-part look at the astronaut selection process.  This episode introduces the series and then focuses on qualifications - educational, physical, and so on.

We shoot the RNAV 36 approach at Flint, Michigan's Bishop International Airport (KFNT).  Lots of audio from the cockpit on this one.  We'll start on the ground at Pontiac (KPTK), take off, get handed off a few times, and then shoot the approach using GPS.  Lots of interaction with the controllers and we explain what's going on all the way through.  Check out the show notes at www.airspeedonline.blogspot.com for a link to the approach plate so you can follow along.

Transition alert!  We're merging Airspeed and Airspeed in Brief.  Please be sure to listen closely so that you can keep on getting your periodic dose of Jet-A, 100LL, and rocket fuel!  See the show notes at www.airspeedonline.blogspot.com for a transcript of this show and the information you'll need to make sure that Airspeed stays on your player.

We talk about how best to light the fires of your kids' minds - By taking them to the airport, to Kennedy Space Center, to the Very Large Array - Wherever.  Just take them! For full text and a picture of Ella, see http://airspeedonline.blogspot.com/2006/05/airspeed-take-your-kids-to-airport.html.

Capt. REFSMMAT - The ideal flight controller and a Steely-Eyed Missile Man.