11/4/06 How to Teach an Old Bird New Tricks - Our school's Neenah-based Cessna 172 came out of maintenance today with a new engine. I normally don't get excited about Cessna 172s. But I did today, when I took off solo and flew the plane for the first time since July. It climbed very steeply, ran smoothly, and cruised faster than before. I flew to pick up another pilot in Iola.

I had gotten used to my "substitute" airplane from Green Bay and didn't want to give it up, but after flying 81Q today, I was happy to be reunited with the little hotrod.

11/5/06 Door County Tour - This morning I took 81Q's owner and mechanic to Sturgeon Bay, in Door County. I dropped him off and got to fly around the peninsula while he did some work. It's not often I get to fly by myself for fun, so it was a nice treat and a beautiful flight.

Whitefish Dunes, east side of Door County, WI

11/17/06 Early Thanksgiving Dinner at Iola - It was a gorgeous day to fly to Iola for Friday lunch. My student Eddie and I flew in to the spongy-soft grass runway that was drying out after a recent snow. There were about 20 airplanes, lots of cars, and probably 100 people for this special meal. Turkey, bread, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberries, pie, ice cream... More than one person joked about eating too much and putting their airplane over gross weight. There was barely anywhere to sit, the lunch was so popular. Everyone liked this early Thanksgiving meal.

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