Useless talent......

My ability to identify an aircraft type, by sound alone.

General Aviation: The cost of flying for private pilots...

Recently, a fellow pilot told me that I "must be rich", because I fly our Aero Club's Cessna 182 so often.  I fly roughly two to three times per month.  I replied that I didn't spend five thousand dollars on a Segway.  This conversation took place in the aftermath of an airshow, where the volunteer organization that we both belong to was helping out.  My colleague owns a Segway, which he graciously let me drive for a bit, and he told me that he paid five thousand dollars for the machine.  He bought it used, by the way.

Several of my fellow pilots have been "encouraging" me to purchase an I-Pad.  They're very nice to have in the cockpit, because aeronautical charts can be downloaded into the unit.  What's more is that these devices are GPS driven and will give the pilot a "moving map" projection right on the electronic chart display.  Still, my eleven year-old portable GPS receiver serves pretty much the same purpose.  And, I know how to navigate using paper charts.  Mind you, I'm not on an "anti-technology" rant, here.  I have a "smart phone".  I'm qualified in a "glass-cockpit" airplane.  I use a computer.  And, I shoot digital photographs.

I-Pads are expensive.  I can rent my club's airplane for over three hours for the price of one of these devices.  Since I am on a budget, and because I am not rich, I cannot justify buying an I-Pad (or similar device), because that would mean flying less.

4Wheeling into the San Bernardino Mountains...

The photographs that I've published in connection with this trip, so far, were all taken with my cellular telephone's camera.  They are simply "snapshots" designed to show readers where I was.  This trip was not a photo-excursion, but simply a "get-away-from-it-all" for a day trip.  The photograph below, however, was one of the few that I shot with my Nikon SLR camera.

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

4-wheeling into the San Bernardino Mountains...

From my April Fools Day trip...

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

4-Wheeling into the San Bernardino Mountains...

Sometimes, fate places obstacles in ones path....

The SandnSky Jeep Cherokee. About that missing right fender flare:  Some years ago, the vehicle became stuck in some sand.  A passerby, who was helping your author, attempted to rock the vehicle by pushing on the wheel flare.  The flare became loose-no surprise there-and eventually separated from the vehicle. 

The body shop needs the vehicle for half a day in order to repair the flare (which I still have) and to reinstall it on the vehicle.  One day soon, I will make the time for this.

Photo by Sharon Callon-Schwartz

4 Wheeling into the San Bernardino Mountains...

April Fools Day, 2013.  Another Jeep-owning couple led us on a trail, which took us high into the San Bernardino Mountains.

Photo by Scott Schwartz

Well, on this day I've left the trip planning to someone else. I took this shot with my phone camera-the trail is known as the "Manzanita Flats" trail, near Running Springs, CA.