Aviation has been an interest of mine for many years. I am a licensed private pilot and hold a taildragger endorsement (taildragger pilot = real pilot). I am also a designated Aviation Medical Examiner (Flight Surgeon) for the F.A.A., so you see, I'm from the "gub'ment" and I'm here to help you. Actually, I tend to be more of a pilot advocate, granting medical certificates to qualified pilots and representing pilots trying to get back their certificates after medical problems. But my main interest in aviation centers around my love for old biplanes.

I served on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Air Museum for several years and enjoy the contact I have with the museum folks and especially the contact I have with the historic aircraft on display at the museum. If you like historic aircraft, you really should visit the Arkansas Air Museum website by clicking on the site below. Then go see the museum in person!

Let's see, didn't I promise you a ride in an open cockpit biplane? For many years my good friend  Joe "Col. Joe" Kittinger and his wife Sherry (the best and prettiest roustabout you ever saw) used to come barnstorming through Northwest Arkansas and Northeast Oklahoma in Steve Oliver's 1929 D-25 New Standard open cockpit biplane. The aircraft was built for the Gates Flying Circus and is doing today exactly what it was designed and built to do in 1929...selling rides to people anxious to fly in a vintage aircraft. Joe is pretty famous himself. In 1960 he set a number of world records when he parachuted out of a helium balloon from 103,000 feet. In free fall he exceeded the speed of sound (the only person to achieve this without benenfit of an aircraft), and he set the world's record for longest free fall and highest parachute jump.

AN AUTOMATIC CAMERA RECORDS KITTINGER'S JUMP FROM 103,000 FEET

Joe was also the first to cross the Atlantic solo in a helium balloon, and ALL of Joe's records still stand! He was a fighter pilot in Viet Nam and scored kills against enemy fighters, and was a prisoner-of-war for 11 months. He has recently been inducted into the Air Force Hall of Fame. And there is more, and more, and more. The point is, YOU can meet Joe and take a ride with him at the National Biplane fly-in in Bartlesvile, Oklahoma, every June. Come take a ride, meet Joe, get his autograph and have your picture taken with him and the historic aircraft...he'd be glad to see you.

As I've mentioned, my favorite aircraft are biplanes and each year in June I try to attend the National Biplane Fly-In held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I have managed to get a little bit of stick time in a Stearman, and truly it is the finest flying aircraft I have ever piloted. It's a pilot's dream. I've been through a loop in a Stearman with fellow Arkansas Air Museum board member Bob Younkin at the stick, and took a ride in an open cockpit biplane with the legendary pilot Frank Price. Frank flew the stunt pilot scenes in movie "The Great Waldo Pepper" and he also represented the U.S. in the first World Aerobatic Championships held behind the Iron Curtain in the 1960's. I've also flown with Steve Oliver of the Pepsi Team (his lovely wife Suzanne does the skywriting).

In the summer of 1996 I got to fly in the co-pilot seat in the Budweiser Blimp. We flew over the University of Arkansas and then took a 360 degree turn right over my house. It was a terrific experience. Just let me at those controls!

In September 1996 I got to take my first ride in a DC-3 at Harrison, Arkansas. Oh, my, what a thrill! It was a trip into the past and a dream come true. And to add to the realism of going back in time to the golden age of propliners, a young boy got airsick and barfed as we were on short final for landing. It was great!

I also enjoy working with model aircraft and have built a 1/6 scale Jenny which is on display at the Arkansas Air Museum. When I'm not working on some other project, I enjoy writing about aviation, having written three aviation novels. The first, "The Silver Vulture " is about an aging airline captain in the 1950's who develops medical problems and tries to cover them up to preserve his job. The second, "Altitude Critical" is about a private pilot who takes a flight with a minor cold but because of barotrauma (severe and dangerous ear pain caused by pressure) he cannot descend to land. And, of course, a storm is bearing down on the airport. The third, and I think the best, is "The Flying Scotsman of Beaucomp" which is about an aging pilot in a mental institution who has a most remarkable story to tell. I won't tell you any more, it would give away the twisting and surprising plot.

If you are interested in any of the above items, if you would like to find out about my books or other interests, or if you have comments about this website, please contact me by email . Meanwhile, happy flying, and always keep the greasy side down and the shiny side up.

• Arkansas Air Museum