This will most certainly sound pretentious. Most often we think that we pick music, but every so often I think music picks us. Take Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life."

If this song reminds me of anything, it reminds me of driving with the windows down with Dad in the old 3-series - and for some reason more particularly driving down Getz Rd in Fort Wayne, IN.

The last time I heard this song was June 18, 1996 (that probably isn't accurate).

While looking for Ryan Hood's Back Into Blue about two months ago (which by the way is impossible to find), I stumbled onto "Back In The High Life" on iTunes. Played the sample. Brought me back. Downloaded it.

Of course as a child I never really listened to the lyrics that closely. As I listened again, it was like listening for the first time. I was taken back by the opening lines.

It used to seem to me
That my life ran on too fast
And I had to take it slowly
Just to make the good parts last
But when you're born to run
It's so hard to just slow down
So don't be surprised to see me
Back in that bright part of town

I don't know about you, but for me I am not sure there is a song that describes life better.

The past three months have been back in the high life. I am now officially a pilot per the FAA. Started a beautiful relationship. Relaxed at night more with friends. Gone to the beach a few times. Climbed a "mountain" here in Georgia. Went to the Orchestra and the Theatre and the Braves game. Guest hosted the Allen Hunt Show. Ate great food. Spent time with great people.

It's strange how you have to fight for that sometimes. You'd think it would be easier to choose the "good parts." And maybe for most of you it is. But I find life almost naturally forces you to ignore the good parts. To keep pushing forward faster and faster even though your not sure what exactly your pushing forward towards.

I'll be writing a bit more now that pilot lessons are over and a few projects are out of the way. I know a lot has happened in the past couple of months. I need to admit I was wrong about my predictions regarding healthcare. I need to post my annual Presidental taxes blog. And I'll get to that. But for now, it's nice to be "back in the the bright part of town."


Photos of the past couple of months can be found here
Flight tracker of the piloting can be found here

It was another busy week this week. Maybe not 84 hours like last week, but probably 75. Got major progress done on the new Allen Hunt Show website. Very productive. But with the production, I was also very tired and looking forward to a Saturday of doing absolutely nothing.

At 11:45pm on Friday night, my friend Glenn swings by the studio. As he was leaving he asked, "hey you want to join us for tomorrow's Alabama game at Ole Miss? Plane takes off at 9:00." I don't care what I am looking forward to, if it involves taking a private plane to a great day of tailgating and a live SEC football game, I am dropping the other plans.

So even though I desperately needed the rest, I traded it for a day full of fun.

So because I am lazy on blogging right now, here is a post in picture form (with commentary):

If we know three things about be they are:

1. I am ridiculously anal retentive
2. I would live on a plane, and travel to a different city everyday if I could afford it
3. I am a little nerdy

Below is a scanned image of 116 boarding passes of the 152 flights I have taken on an airline in my 210,167 miles in the sky. You can verify these stats at my flight log if you'd like (told you I was anal, and I am thinking you are changing the "little nerdy" to "a lot nerdy" right about now).


You know what I love about boarding passes? They each have a story behind them of a great adventure. In the picture above there is...

...moving out to college
...the flight I took right after 9/11/01
...going to my study abroad in Israel and the Middle East
...mission work in South Africa and Venezuela
...my job interview in Atlanta
...taking US Military Kids based in Germany and Japan to camps
...adventuring to Australia by myself
...countless weekenders visiting friends and loved ones

Above there are boarding passes in English, German, Dutch, Japanese, Greek, & Hebrew.

But never before have I had a boarding pass like this.

Hello to the new digital mobile boarding pass Delta is now offering to its passengers when flying out of certain airports.

The check-in process was so easy. I did it from my iPhone while sitting at a Gwinnett Braves game. Then showed up to the airport where TSA has a special box that reads the phone. Unfortunately, for this trip that's where the fun ended.

Upon trying to board my flight to Fort Lauderdale, I handed the gate agent my phone.

He looked at me and said, "I need your boarding pass, not your phone."

I responded, "this is my boarding pass."

He took a gradual look at it and said, "I can't use that. It will mess up the computer. What's your name?"

So alas, this wasn't my last non-digital boarding pass as the gate agent printed me a paper boarding pass and moved me along.

But that only slightly hampered the coolness factor, and hey for all I know, maybe there was something going wrong that day and it really would have messed up the computer.

If you fly Delta out of Atlanta, LaGuardia, Memphis, Minneapolis or Las Vegas you should see if you have better luck.

Also here's a tip: take a picture of the pass when you check in by pressing the Power button on the top and the Home button at the same time. You'll hear a clicking sound and then your boarding pass will be in your Photos "Camera Roll." This way you won't have to reload the boarding pass everytime you go to use it.

I always fly mainline airlines, but I have to say, Delta is really rising* to the top of the US mainlines. Their improvements in technology - including WiFi on planes and the Mobile boarding pass - not to mention in-flight trivia and live television on many planes really helps them soar* above the competition in my book.

*Puns intended

P.S. Remember everybody that I am in Key West starting tomorrow, but I have the new iPhone / Email blogging capability so check back often for photos and small blog posts. And in light of this post, to answer your question, no we aren't flying. CJ and Andrea and the kids are driving from Indiana to Atlanta. And then I am driving them from Atlanta to Key West. Although I love a road trip almost as much as I love being in the sky.

Photo Credit: Mark Kryst - YXUphoto

I was just about to head to bed and I checked Airliners.net and heard about a airplane crash outside of Buffalo. Buffalo's airport is one of the airports at LiveATC.net - a website I listen to often to "train" myself for the fast paced conversation of Air Traffic Control Transmission. So I took a listen and it was a bit eyrie to be honest.

I condensed the whole thing from about 12 minutes to 3 minutes given that most of you a.) probably can't really understand what is being said, and b.) don't really want to listen to 12 minutes of ATC transmission.

The female voice right at the beginning was the pilot of the aircraft that went down. It was her last transmission - which I think is eyrie how calm and unsuspecting it is.





A couple of things really stuck out to me.

The first is how unsuspecting the pilots voice was. It didn't appear there was anything wrong. All reports say that there was no attempt to communicate anything was wrong with the aircraft. In a matter of couple of minutes you think everything is fine - a few minutes from touchdown - and then it isn't. Initial reports (although they could be wrong) say the plane essentially flew nose-first, right into the ground (it did not "glide" down).

The other thing I noticed is how professional the surrounding pilots and air traffic control had to be.

Delta 1998 probably flew incredibly close to - if not right on top - of the plane that had crashed. There is a camaraderie in the airline industry - even amongst competitors. I imagine it has to take a true professional to be able to know what essentially happened right in front of him and keep his concentration to a.) get his passengers down safely amidst unknown conditions, and b.) communicate to ATC while doing it in order to make it a safer situation for planes behind him.

To all the family members of those on board 3407 my prayers are with you. And to the pilot on Delta 1998 - great job keeping it all together.

We all know I am an über-aviation nerd.

I have spent the last 7 years teaching myself how to fly using a simulator, longing for the day in which I can responsibly afford to go get my own pilots license.

I love going to airports. I used to just sit at the end of the runway at LAX, have some In 'N Out burger and watch the planes come in.

I will volunteer to drive to the airport for anyone, at anytime.

I also spend way too much time at airliners.net.

I am going to let you in on one of my deepest secrets - of which I am sure you will laugh at. I have a hero fantasy. But every man desires to be hero, right? Mine just focuses on aviation. It goes like this...

I am on a plane. For some reasons both pilots become incapacitated to fly. Terrorist event would be the best since that would make me a "national" hero in the end - but I'll let anything suffice. Of course, the pilots wouldn't die in said fantasy. Some how we get control of the plane back from the terrorists, but the pilots still aren't able to fly. With no one able to fly, I of course jump to the opportunity. Air traffic control of course wants me to land at the nearest airport, but I say neigh, I am continuing on to the destination (which happens to be LAX) because I am more comfortable landing there since I have situational awareness. I navigate across the country, get her lined up on ILS, and put her down a bit too hard, but safe nonetheless.

I think if it were perfectly clear weather, with no crosswind, and no problems with the aircraft, and auto-pilot worked, and there was ILS at the runway there is about a 47.935% chance I could put the plane on the ground with no one dying.

Sounds a bit like the movie Airplane doesn't it? Ohh well. As always, have a good laugh at my expense.

But alas the only emergency landing in over 200,000 miles of flying was enroute to Fort Wayne from Atlanta on a Delta airlines flight. We diverted to Evansville. Needless to say, the pilot didn't need my help.

So it shouldn't surprise anyone that my friend Chris asked in the last blog post why I hadn't blogged on US Airways Flight 1492. Actually, it surprised me that I didn't think of it before he said something.

So get a cup of coffee this might get long. This will be the ultimate US Airways Flight 1549 blog post. If you ignore this one because it goes so far beyond my 500 word normal max, I will forgive you. But some of the video is pretty cool. Ready for take off...

First off, here is a simulated reenactment I flew on MS Flight Simulator. Exact model of the plane. The old paint scheme though. My take off was a bit too steep, but all and all, pretty close. What I find amazing is how quick the whole thing happened.


Next is the best video I have found of the landing in the water. The pilot did an amazing job (more on that later), and CNN did a good job putting this all together.


This is the best video I have found of the rescue effort. It is amazing how quickly everybody got out and the boats got to them.



The pilot - Chelsey "Sully" Sullenberger truly did an amazing job. This is where pilots earn there money. Whenever I hear someone say pilots make too much money, I think to myself, sure that would be correct, if you could guarantee safe flight. But when an engine goes out, or in a crosswind landing scenario, or having to ditch in a river you'll be glad they are as professional as they are.

In addition to that, the Flight Attendants are in the same boat. Anybody can serve drinks from a cart. But it takes a true professional to be able to get hundreds of people out of four doors in under 90 seconds. FAs deserve our respect just as much as pilots do.

For all the people on 1549 - if the flight crew wasn't such professionals, this is what would have happened:

The pilot here made two very large mistakes that thankfully Sully did not. 1.) He didn't come in level. Thus one tip caught the water early causing an asymetrical force. 2.) He didn't land in deep enough water. He actually hit a sand bar. Over 80% of the people were killed on this flight. On "Sully's" flight no one died.

Planes can fly on only one engine. It is part of their certification process. Also, it isn't uncommon for their to be a problem with a plane's engine in midflight - most the time this is at cruising altitude and it can be restarted. What made 1549 such a troubling situation is that both engines - not just one - became useless at the same time. I can think of less than 10 flights in the history of flight where this has happened.

In addition to that, they became useless at a relatively low altitude. This creates a big problem in that it removes glide time. If you lose power on a plane at say 36,000 feet, I believe you can "coast" to the ground safely for around 108 miles. That should easily give a pilot enough time to find a safe runway. When you lose power at 3,000 feet, you don't have very much time to find an alternative.

Needless to say, the odds of losing both engines, at such a low altitude are extremely low - but all the more reason "Sully" did a great job piloting that aircraft.

Now on to a few of my favorite pictures from the situation.

This is a good photo screenshot showing the path, altitudes and airspeeds. It is a bit off in its location (i.e. the plane went down close to Central park, but on this map it has it's final impact further south). But you get the idea:



How would you like to survive a plane crash, exit the plane in under 90 seconds, in freezing temperatures and water, only to be greeted by another plane staring you down. I about fell out of my chair when I saw the Concorde (museum) in the background of the rescue footage.



Someone wasn't paying attention during the safety briefing. This would probably still work at keeping you afloat, but it might choke you in the process.



I think this picture really shows just how close this plane was to crashing into buildings if it weren't for the skilled hands of "Sully."


I find it a bit ironic - and some of the passengers might take issue - that FBOWeb has marked their plane's status as "landed"



And if this blog isn't long enough, I am going to throw in one more caveat. I was looking at the NYTimes Interactive Tracking of Flight 1549 and the only 20-something I found in there was Emma Sophina in 13F. Since she was in her 20s I figured she'd have a Facebook or MySpace and sure enough she does. And she is a musician.

Isn't it weird to think about how technology has changed our lives even when it comes to tragic (or potentially tragic) events. 10 years ago something like this happens and people are names in a newspaper.

Now something like this happens and they are an internet search away and you know all about them, or can listen to their music, or shoot them a message. It it one more example of how this world is a smaller place because of technology.

I find that interesting.

Plus since I like Avril and Taylor Swift, I don't think it surprises anyone that I think the music wasn't half bad.

Well, I don't think I can write anymore. If you think I missed something, please be sure to pass along. Hope you have a good time on your next flight.

There have been some heavy posts recently, and it's Friday, so I thought I would lighten it up a bit. I have been meaning to do this post for almost 2 years.

Most of you know I don't drink alcohol because I know I would be an alcoholic. There are a few reasons I know this to be true, but one of them is that I drink like a fish. Those poor waitresses at restaurants will usually refill my glass of Pepsi four times a meal. I am a good tipper - I promise.

Now, because I don't drink alcohol I have become somewhat of a connoisseur of other beverages: mainly Lemonade and CranApple juice.

Believe it or not Kroger generic brand is the best CranApple juice out there. It beats OceanSpray - which is good. Everything else out there sucks hardcore.

That is except for Minute Maid Cranberry Apple Cocktail. But here's the problem. I can never find it anywhere except while flying above 10,000 feet and served by a flight attendant (the nice ones make my day by offering the whole can). It doesn't matter if I fly Delta, United or American - they all have it.

This stuff is so freaking good, but all attempts to find it on the ground have been futile.



This picture was taken aboard my United flight from Tokyo back in April of 2006. But this stuff was still around per my last flight on Delta from Midway in November. So I know it's still being made.

So here is what I want to know. Has anybody seen this anywhere besides on a plane? If you can lead me to a sustainable source of this exact drink - not Cranberry Raspberry Apple (see that all the time) or Cranberry Grape - there will definitely be a hefty prize awaiting you.

Have a great Friday.

Last weekend I visited my brother in Chicago to watch his play. It was fantastic and my brother was brilliant. But at 36,000 feet on the way home I did something I have never done in all the 202,011 miles I have spent in the sky: I asked the flight attendant out to dinner.

She was beautiful - not slutty beautiful like she was doinking all the pilots on layover - just classically beautiful.

Typically I would talk myself out of asking her to dinner for two reasons: 1.) I assume she probably gets hit on a lot and 2.) I typically fly United or American who don't have any flight crew hubbed in Atlanta. But this was Delta, so there was a good chance she lived in ATL, and about 2/3 the way through the flight I said to hell with the other reason.

So I got out of 10C and walked to the back of the plane and asked if she was based in Atlanta. She said she was for now, but in a couple of weeks was getting moved to the Honolulu-hub. I told her that I thought "that was unfortunate as I think she is a very beautiful woman and I just wanted to see if she wanted to go to dinner sometime." We talked for another 10 minutes, I gave her my card after she told me she was moving back in a year, and that was probably the last I will ever see of Kate.

I told this story to three people upon my return to Atlanta and all three said something along the lines of that was ballsy. But what woman, even if she thinks you are hideous, doesn't want to be told they are beautiful? The worst thing that happens is you feel a bit embarrassed, and she goes home with her day made. What's the loss?

The opening line of the movie Hitch is: "No woman wakes up saying: 'God, I hope I don't get swept off my feet today.'" Now that doesn't mean she wants to get swept up by me or you, but nevertheless she wants to be desired.

And men are really no different.

I know absolutely no one who doesn't want to find love. Don't read that so fast.
I know absolutely NO-ONE who doesn't want to find love.

Think about that. We all differ on religion, politics, financial desires, sexual orientation, how many kids to have, and what movies we watch. We all differ on everything from the trivial to the profound. The one thing we all share is that we all want to love and be loved. I think that is beyond profound.

In a somewhat ironic twist, I came home later that night after the show and saw Taylor's Swift's new music video Love Story for the first time. In a risk of embarrassing myself like I always do, I love Taylor Swift's music. And at the risk of sounding gay, Love Story is both incredibly well-written, and a phenomenal video. It captures the Shakespearean desire every single one of us share even in the trivialist of all moments like walking from class or riding on a plane 7 miles above the earth.

This flight didn't end in a Love Story for me or Kate - but I saw a beautiful woman and took a risk and tomorrow hopefully I'll get the chance to do it again.

While I could probably write another 10 posts on this topic, I am going to wrap this series up.

Over the past three years I have had numerous 20-somethings come to me struggling with the idea of doing something they love or doing something that pays the bills.

I find that most people I know who are struggling with this balance fit into one of two camps: 1.) they either do something because of the money/security/upbringing/family or 2.) they do something purely for the love with no regard to the security.

The answer is you have to find a balance in-between.

Neglecting the security needed in employment is wreckless and impractical. Yet doing something just for the money or security can be devastating towards a holistic and well rounded life.

I am going to use my brother for an example on this one. About a year ago my brother graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Theatre Communication and Culture and a minor in Theatre. My brother loves acting and from what I hear he is fantastic at it.¹

But like many people in that field, he realized upon graduating that it wasn't exactly going to pay the bills for a while (if ever). So he had a dilemma: does he just give up the acting thing and find a secure job with a future, or does he throw all caution to the wind and pursue acting with no regard to any long-term financial security.

My advice to him: neither and both.

I told him that if he loved acting then he should pursue that responsibly, and the risk can be reasonable. He needed to get another job that allows him to pursue acting and keep him out of debt. If in three years he decides that it isn't working out, and assuming he isn't in debt, then there really is no long-term loss.

I have another friend who also is a theatre person who works at Starbucks. Sure, he knows Starbucks isn't his future. It isn't what he set out to do in life. But he fully recognizes Starbucks is what enables him to pursue what he loves.

The same rings true for people who love to teach or do research or own businesses or anything else. There is a way to pursue what we love and are passionate about and still be reasonable with it. It might me some lifestyle sacrifices. But in the long run, doing what one loves in a responsible, balanced manner leads to a more holistic and fruitful life.

When Allen, Glenn and I travel, we sometimes take Glenn's plane. What I enjoy about that is we always stop off at Waffle House before proceeding onto the airport. I love the contrast of sectors of life (for those who don't know, Waffle House is kind of "dumpy" - but awesome waffles). Well today topped that. Why? Because there aren't too many days you wake up in a Motel 6, only to board a private jet. And that isn't where the fun ended.

We all know I am an aviation nerd. So when Pete (CJ's boss) offered to send the private jet to pick up CJ and I in Charleston, I was ecstatic.

We show up at the airport with our jet and Andrea and Asher's jet sitting next to each other on the tarmac. I try and look smart by picking out which jet is which, but I end up just making myself look stupid by picking out the wrong one. Luckily for me, I covered well and said, "ohh I have just been following too many flights on FlightAware." This prompted the co-pilot (Wes) to say, "ohh, are you a pilot?" And I responded, "I am trying to be." He responded, "well then, we'll have you up to flight deck." I think, "Awesome."

Right as we are hopping onto the plane, Boeing's DreamLifter was taking off out of Charleston. 99.9% of you aren't going to know how cool that was, but for the aviation nerd, this was a very rare site. The plane is designed to transport large parts of the 787 from the factories around the world, to Boeing's factory in Seattle.

We take off and head directly to Fort Wayne. At about 12,000 feet (10 minutes into the flight), Wes comes back and asks if I would like to sit up front. I was thrilled. I sat down and for the next hour or so, sat at the controls. It was AWESOME!

Then the most amazing thing happened. The pilot (Steve) and I are listening to air traffic control (like we should be), and then all of the sudden we hear instructions to another plane reference Air Force One (President Bush's plane). Steve and I quickly look at each other with a "no-way" face. He said he has been flying for years and never been in the same airspace as Air Force One.

We landed directly into FWA around 12:05 - right behind Asher and Andrea's plane. Asher and Andrea hopped in the ambulance. Lisa was waiting to pick CJ and I up. Dropped off the luggage and then went to Lutheran Hospital.

All and all, quite an exciting morning. Maybe that is why I passed out for 3 hours this afternoon.

Well that's about it for now. I will update you on the three things I learned while in Charleston (preview: one of them is that married people suck at being wingmen). But for now, just thought I would update you on the awesome day I had.

Today was AWESOME!!! I can't state that any better. Today was probably one of the top 5 experiences I have had in my life. Why? Because I think I killed a bunch of Navy Sailors!

Allen and I left the office this morning at 7:30 am and headed to Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta, GA. We met up with a friend of the show (callsign Toolrod), and he took us onto the base. It reminded me of driving around Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. But this had a twist Kadena did not have: today I was going to the Navy's F-18 flight simulator!

Most of you know my love of aviation. Some of you know that for a six month period of my life I aspired to be a professional pilot until (and I don't claim this very often) God spoke to me (not audibly) and told me that wasn't the plan He had for me. Very few of you know that during that six month time period I actually visited the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO as I was very seriously considering entering it, as I aspired to pilot the F-16.

I knew today was going to be amazing. I found the F-18 astonishingly easy to fly. It accelerated like a fighter jet should. Rolls and climbs were remarkably smooth and quick. At one point I was climbing at a rate of 24,000 feet/min (your average airline flight shouldn't usually exceed 3,000 feet/min). The only real problem I had for the day was I couldn't figure out how to trim the aircraft very well, which meant I had a hard time keeping the aircraft at a constant altitude with no change. This surprised me because when I flew a Cessna I remember being surprised how easy it was to control the trim.

I had two highlights of the day:

1.) I pulled a 4G Inside Loop that started at 5000 ft, climbed to (if I were to guess) 12,000 ft, and then (and I kid you not) returned to exactly 5000 ft. I can't explain the rush when doing that and then looking at the altimeter and see it read exactly where I started (all while flying 600-700 MPH).

2.) I almost landed on an aircraft carrier. I had a little bit of a hard time figuring out the Instrument Landing System (I am used to the way it looks on commercial aircraft), but I got lined up perfectly with the carrier on the first try. The only problem was, I was a little low and didn't realize it until too late and crashed right at the back of the carrier. I certainly would have killed myself and a whole bunch of Navy Soldiers on the boat. But I was freaking close I tell you!

Now if someone out there from Delta can get me a couple hours in the Boeing 777-200 simulator at Hartsfield, I think I could die a happy man.

But what is the point of all this? Well lets be honest, I mainly just wanted to report on the cool thing I got to do. But it also got me thinking about interests and hobbies in our lives. I can't explain why I like aviation the way I do. I spend way too many hours a airliners.net and flying my computer game simulator at home. But this I do know. When I was in high school, I used to question why I spent so much time dinking around on the computer and with technology. I had no idea how God was going to use that. God creates passions in our lives for a purpose. So with aviation, I have stopped questioning why I spend so much time learning about it, and I just hope and trust that I will get as much out of it as I have with technology.