Ending and beginning

Made my final landing in the 77 last week. I told the Captain that if I bounced it I was going to go around, I was only semi-joking. I started my airline career in August 1996 as an ATR First Officer in Newark, I was on the 77 for 8 years, and I don't know what I'll miss more: flying out of Newark and getting to interact with the NY TRACON controllers, or flying the 77. But I'm coming back to the Bay Area where I grew up dreaming of being a pilot, and you can go home again.

2 days later I was in training. This is the BASIC trainer for the 78, a long way from the days of plywood mockups we used to start out in. 

I'm an analog guy in a digital world. Upper left computer is displaying today's computer based training (CBT) module, bottom left is the Aircraft Operating Manual on our company issued iPad, bottom right is my computer that I'm taking notes on. I really miss getting to mark up a paper manual. 

Kitplanes visits the Rotax factory

Keeping with our powerplant theme, Kitplanes Magazine recently paid a visit to the Rotax factory, good look at this uniqure company and engine.