Recently, an iconic figure in the flying world celebrated his 80th birthday by soloing an Aeronca Champ - the very same Champ he first soloed on his 16th birthday in 1954. How sweet is that? This career airline pilot, author of numerous books, narrator of aviation programs and videos and, for 55-plus years, writer and columnist for another "obscure aviation rag" has managed to worm his way into the left seat of an astonishing 357 different types of airplanes. Now, this ought to be a record, but it seems a Royal Navy test pilot, Capt. Eric Brown, lays claim to 487 different types. So you can't quit at 80, Barry Schiff; you have a lot more flying ahead to catch up with that Brit.
展开▼
