Snoopy the biplane-flying pooch decorated the yard of one of my neighbors. In the flying community where I live, many of these can be seen on an evening tour of Christmas lights.
As pilots clear the skies so Santa and his flying reindeer can go about their mission, it seems fitting to offer a word of thanks to all of you who have frequently visited this website.
Our surveys show more than 65,000 Light-Sport Aircraft and LSA-like aircraft around the globe and we are proud to reach most of these pilots at some time every month.
Pilots have often told me that I have the best job in the world and they may be right. Certainly I enjoy what I do and hope it shows on this website and in the hundreds of videos on which I have interviewed talented people or reviewed aircraft. See the best of them here and all of them (and more) on Light Sport and Ultralight Flyer.
As 2019 approaches, we near the 15th anniversary of the Light-Sport category and the Sport Pilot certificate. As we have since before the category was created by FAA in September 2004, we will continue to report on all the light aircraft that amaze you and us and we aim to fly as many as possible.
Hang glider pilots will wonder why Santa is hanging from the base tube but as one who enjoyed this kind of flying for many years, I was simply glad to see one included in Christmas decorations at my home airport.
Each year, we attend a number of airshows and hope to see you at one or more of them.
The nearby scenes are but a couple of the many airplane-oriented holiday themes at the wonderful residential airport that I call home — Spruce Creek Fly-In (7FL6) near Daytona Beach, Florida. I’m happy to share these to keep you in the spirit of the season.
Friends in the Sky
Besides the great airplanes I am privileged to fly and report, I have the opportunity to meet many fascinating people.
The Seamax LSA seaplane image shows me (still draped with or holding camera gear after doing a Video Pilot Report) along with very-talented Brazilian design Miguel Rosario (center) and William “Rocky” Roquemore (right), the generous owner of this flying machine who was kind enough to let me take his plane and receive about an hour’s worth of flight instruction in handling Seamax on the water and in the air.
Seamax LSA seaplane with Dan Johnson, Miguel Rosario, and Rocky Roquemore. photo by Shalom Confessor
Pictured nearby are aircraft reviewer, designer, and owner …three people essential to conducting a video pilot review.
Of course this leaves out two other equally essential people. You also need a qualified CFI who knows the subject airplane intimately well and Russ Miley fit the bill perfectly. I’ve flown with a lot of other pilots and Russ performed his role exceptionally well.
The final key player — without whom these videos you love would simply not happen — is videographer and YouTube channel owner, Dave Loveman. Thanks to all for their respective contribution.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Here’s to 2019 being a great year of flying for thousands of pilots around the world and a successful year of business for those who make the airplanes we love.
Thanks to Tomas Brødreskift and the team at Equator for the home page and social media photo used to promote this article.
Dear Sir
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