While I'm busy getting into my new job, I wanted to share a photo of a Stearman I made in the sand while on vacation in Hawaii (as you can see, it's not to scale). Time ran short as I built it too close to the quickly rising tide. One thing I learned is that building a biplane in the sand is tricky. Another thing I learned is that building a prop in the sand is darn near impossible.
Brian built something a little more permanent with graffiti, Hawaii style. He spelled out STEARMAN with coral on a lava rock cliff.
Yes, we admit it. We are hopeless stearmaholics. Any 12 steps to offer?

Last night brought weather perfect for flying and perfect for my first Stearman flight of 2010. Brian came up with me, and I added another hour to my pilot log. My take-offs were downright scary and my landings were even worse. But since Brian offered to go up with me again so I guess I didn't scare him too much.

It sounds like I missed some beautiful weather and great flying this weekend. But I'm not complaining. Really! I attended my first writer's conference this weekend and learned plenty of great things... and piqued the interest of an agent to boot. Woo hoo!
But anyway, this is an aviation blog, so I need to get my head back in the clouds... On Saturday, Brian, Dan Soko and Craig Sommerfeld got together to do a few fly-overs for a new assisted living home and land in Madrid donated by a retired Navy vet. Kudos to his big spirit! Michael Vogt from the Camp Dodge Museum rode with Brian in the Texan, and Dan caught his first ride in Craig's sexy new T-34. After some fly-overs with the Navy trainers, they enjoyed the Boone Hangar Dance. It was a full day of aviation activities.

I must admit something. I, Rachel Aukes, have been doing a horrible job at keeping this site updated. I vow to post more regularly. Of course, those posts may not contain much else besides an aviatrix's ramblings. :)

What's going on this weekend? I'm heading out of town, but Brian plans to spend most of the weekend flying, including a Navy veterans fly-over at Madrid on Saturday. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a weekend of blue skies and tailwinds for you all.

Brian and I have returned from a wonderful week in Hawaii. While I'm wiped from the long flight back, I wanted to leave a little something to whet your appetites from our island adventures...
This photo is from our flight to Hawaii, where another Boeing 757 decided to join up for a formation flight. The two planes flew in formation for some time and even did two crossovers with each other. I have never, ever in my wildest dreams imagined I'd see two large jets do formation maneuvers, but it was pretty darn cool!

Brian and I are packing our bags for a beach getaway with Dan & Diane.  Have a great week!

The Flying Cyclones and Haps hosted another great breakfast to kick off the 2010 flying season. The Sokos brought over their Stearman (along with their friend Gary and his Waco) on Friday night as the first fly-ins. Then Saturday morning brought perfect weather.  We did our best to wake up the town with our own version of dawn patrol. But it looks like our wake-up call wasn't needed after all because plenty of planes and people showed up for breakfast throughout the morning. Here's a snapshot of just a few planes in front of our hangar early in the morning.
Let the fly-ins begin!

Last week, Christian Ledet organized a large Cub Scout day at the Ames airport. The Ledet family, Sparky, Brian, I and several others joined the fun (and educational experience). With over 40 cubs and their parents, it turned out to be quite the event. The best part... or, at least the funniest part of the day? It had to be the cubs choosing to have their picture taken in front of the decrepit Stinson (i.e. the Smurf) with Christian's Luscombe - the pinnacle of restoration perfection - shining just twenty feet away.

While Brian took to the skies last week for the first time this spring, this Saturday I seized my chance to update my logbook. Larry Miller popped up to Ames in his Cessna 150, and I logged my first hour of 2010 (and my first hour in a C-150) and had a blast doing it. 150s are definitely underrated for the fun they offer. And Larry's is one of the nicer and better performing 150s you'll find in the skies today. I'd include a picture of it, but I forgot my camera... so here's a nice photo of his plane off the Web.
After the morning flight, Brian and Larry brought the Texan out for the first time this year, and it sounded like they had fun - at both straight-and-level and not-so-straight-and-level flight.
Last but not least, Matthew and Amy took to the sky in their Cessna 140 and enjoyed some spring flying as well. What a great day of flying!

We hope you and your families have a happy Easter weekend!