I did not realize it until I spent a week at AirVenture with David but the only polite response to the introduction, “and this is my son, David,” seems to be an outstretched hand and the question, “Nice to meet you. And do you fly, too?”
David started out the week with his standard answer about being a happy passenger and too busy with swimming and a job and school and wanting time for a life. By the end of the week, though, the well-wishers had worn him down. He had his student sport pilot certificate and an EAA give-away logbook. We had also located the Silvercreek Glider Club within easy driving distance from home. Soaring looks like the better option at this point in his life and I think I will have to join him on that adventure. With luck, Kevin will, too.
Toward the end of the show, I caught a shot of David climbing into his new “ride.” It is a Beechcraft Premier I with a maximum cruise speed of 451 knots (526 mph) and range of 1,490 nm (1,713 statute miles).
Well, OK. Maybe I just caught a shot of David’s dream. Only time will tell.
