Mid to late June; flying a Bushcat LSA, AFW, My engine failure story, AirVenture Oshkosh…

He has a Bushcat, which I had not heard of before. There are lots of Light Sport Aircraft. The Bushcat is a factory-built, certified aircraft manufactured in South Africa and imported. It’s a 2-seats, side-by-side, high-wing, fabric covered airplane, with a Rotax engine, and has a tailwheel. There are only a few in the US. It’s unique, with a single control ‘stick’ in the center between the pilots, and 2 separate throttle controls, one on each side for each pilot. I have seen this before. It’s just different and takes some getting used to.

His insurance requires him to get at least 10 hours of training, which includes a Flight Review and a tail wheel endorsement, and training to proficiency. We started last weekend, and he is only available on the weekends, so it will take some time to get this done.

Xxx

When I joined many years ago, I was able to fly a few missions transporting either people in need of treatment, or doctors being flown to a clinic. I can tell you that is VERY REWARDING to be able to put my piloting skills to work in a volunteer capacity like this, as an Angel Flight Pilot, transporting people in need. Very rewarding! I am grateful that I am able to do this, as a service to the community.

Since I am also a long time CFI (flight instructor), I also got involved in ‘checking out’ or ‘qualifying’ pilots who wanted to join and fly AFW missions. During this process I got to meet and fly with prospective members and fly with them in their airplanes to ‘qualify’ and vet’ them to fly for Angel Flight West. Now, in the interest of promoting a ‘safety culture’, AFW has monthly town hall safety meetings that are on YouTube.

The volunteer pilots who fly for AFW are a mix of aircraft owners some of whom are ‘private pilots’ and others fly professionally and also volunteer for AFW. Because of the nature of these missions, transporting people in need of care, AFW has to vet prospective pilots to make sure they are a ‘good fit’, In other words, no ‘risk-takers’, or macho types. It’s better to cancel a mission and have ground transportation arranged, if a flight cannot be made safely. .

xxx

Last year, in May 2025, I had an engine failure in my Cessna 150 as I was taking off from a local airport, Riverside Airport, in Riverside, CA about 40 miles east of where I live. Afterwards, I wrote a story about this for a popular general aviation publication, Flight Training Magazine, and my story appeared in the May 2026 issue. Here is a link to the story.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2026/may/flight-training/flight-lesson-sump-more-than-once

xxx

As I write this on Thursday, June 25, 2026, it’s 3+ weeks to go before AirVenture, aka Oshkosh, which starts on July 20 this year! It’s simply the LARGEST aviation gathering in the world! Last year, paid attendance was over 686,000! Pilots and aviation enthusiasts  travel from around the world to attend! I’ve been attending for over 25 years, and now I  volunteer for 2 organizations, SAFE and the Florida Aviation Network (FAN).

SAFE is an organization for aviation educators, and FAN is a volunteer aviation media group, that I’ve been a member of for many years. For FAN, we arrange interviews with various people in the industry, and I also take pictures and send them to FAN which they put on their website. And every year, is a new theme. This year’s theme is, ‘Celebrating the Freedom of Flight’. There’s always something new and different to see. And I have many colleagues that I only see yearly at Oshkosh! It’s a reunion every year! There’s only one word to describe it, which for me, is OVERWHELMING! There’s so much to see, and not enough time! Here are a few pictures, from the 1000’s I have taken, below. Enjoy!

Xxx

Earlier this month, on June 9, Michael Church, whom most of you reading this don’t know, made his final appearance, speaking at an FAA Safety Meeting at John Wayne Airport, in the Admin Building. Michael, who is approaching 80 years old and has been flying for nearly 60 years!! had owned a flying school, at John Wayne Airport, for 40 years, Sunrise Aviation.

He was very successful in this endeavor, training 1000’s of students over the years. He specialized in aerobatic training, in a 2-seat Pitt’s Special (designed by Curtis Pitts), and he also competed in aerobatics. I never did fly with him. But he could also be very controversial, and he questioned and disagreed with the FAA on some things, but he spoke from experience. As a result, he is highly respected for his work as a flight instructor and his flight school, Sunrise Aviation, which was a success. But about 2 years ago he was diagnosed with a form of cancer, and while he has survived, he shut down Sunrise Aviation during the course of his treatments.

When he spoke to us for the last time, the organization hosting him, presented him with a plaque recognizing Sunrise Aviation and his contributions to general aviation safety! It is well-deserved.

Fly safely!

Xxxx

Finally, IF you are in need of an experienced instructor to work with you, in YOUR AIRPLANE (I only work with aircraft owners) to improve ‘rusty’ IFR or VFR piloting skills, provide avionics training, add or finish your instrument rating, or anything else, I AM available! I WILL travel to YOUR location. Contact me for more information.

Also, in addition to flying and training pilots, I am also a freelance writer and speaker.

John