-
-
L to R: Allen Kimble, a geologist and instructor pilot from Graham, Texas, in front of his Beech Baron N122RM, with Bill Hale, Loveland, Colo., his mountain flying instructor.
-
-
Carl Keller, from Omaha, Neb., with his 1962 Bonanza N724M (with only 2,175 hours of total time).
-
-
L to R: George and Anne Marie Houstch, Winnipeg, Canada, in front of their Bonanza N6724T, with local mountain flying instructor Brian Jones, Castle Rock.
-
-
L to R: Veterinarian David Johnson, Blair, Neb., in front of his Bonanza N1700B, alongside his mountain flying instructor Ron Timmermans, an instructor for the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Program from Fort Worth, Texas.
-
-
R to L: Joe Downes, Joplin, Mo., in front of his Bonanza N3076D, with Vern Foster, Enid, Okla., his mountain flying instructor.
-
-
L to R: Mike Nolan, Chevy Chase, Md., pre-flighting his Baron N7254P (radar equipped), with Jack Hirsch, Houston, BPPP president and mountain flying instructor.
-
-
L to R: Rex Corey Jr., Dallas, Texas, in front of his Bonanza N8055R, painted in his alma mater colors (Texas A&M), with Jack Cronin, Denver, his mountain flying instructor.
-
-
Ted Lewis, Phoenix, with his Bonanza N121YP.
-
-
On Saturday, one of the Bonanzas was unable to gain altitude and crashed in the median of Highway 24 just north of the airport. Fortunately, the pilot-in-command and a local mountain flying instructor received only minimal injuries
Every other year the Beechcraft Pilot Proficiency Programs holds a mountain flying course. This year a record 68 aircraft arrived in Colorado Springs for the course, held June 10-13. Most of the aircraft are Beech Bonanzas with a few Beech Barons mixed in. Some pilots of co-owned aircraft flew in together. The aircraft owners, although pilot-in-command, received one-on-one instruction from experienced mountain pilots, most of whom are local Colorado instructors. In addition to about six hours of ground school, each team flew from Colorado Springs to Salida to Leadville (where they got out to pet the airport cat, “Nipper”). Then they landed at Aspen and Eagle County Airport before returning to Colorado Springs.
Comments