Introduction/Greetings

[Frankp]

Hello Everyone!

My name is Frank and I just turned 49 on the 6th of Nov. I have approximately 220 hours total time. I'm married to a wonderful woman who is fully supportive of this other love of mine, flight! In fact, she thinks this is one the the better ideas I've had lately. I retired from the US Army in '94 and have done various jobs since then, but I know I won't be happy until I start flying for a living.

I've been around aviation in one form or another since '76 when I first jumped out of a C-182 over Gatesville, TX while I was stationed at Fort Hood. Jumping and repelling out of UH-1s while as an Army Scout kept me in the air as well. I went on to obtain both my rappel master and sky diving instructor ratings during that time. (No, not currently active in either...lol) While that was all good fun and fed my adrenaline junkie monkey, I still wanted to be the "one" at the controls of both. So....fast forward to '87 and Fort Knox, KY. I was living in Elizabethtown and went to the local FBO and did my PPL there. Mostly in the ol Piper "Trauma" Hawk...lol Sure made stall training interesting and very good at spin training/recovery. It's now '94 and I'm finally retired and have moved back to MI and am going to finish the dream and get my CFI at a local FBO in Linden. Well, got some hours in C-172 and C-172RG, passed both written exams (Inst & Com) and even did some OJT A&P work, but alas, didn't finish due to some life events. One thing though, I know this is when I'm happiest, in the air!

Wow~2004 Where did the last ten years get off to? After being chased around Florida by 3 hurricanes, I achieved my greatest personnel accomplishment in aviation so far. I obtained my PPL (H) Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating. Hovering, WHAT A RUSH! I had planned to follow that career track to CFII, GoM work, and then EMS, but the more I researched and looked at where my wife and I are the less reasonable that choice was. We have just bought a house in northern KY, very close to CVG. She is a Chemical Engineer with a good job over in Cincinnati. I'm currently a DOD contractor in Iraq providing base support to our troops. So my plan is to do the 90 day ACPP with ATP, instruct, and aim for a domicile at CVG eventually. Hopefully, this will begin in the spring-summer time frame.

So, if that hasn't put you all to sleep yet I want to thank Doug and Kristie for these two great sites. I've learned a lot in just the few days that I've been reading the posts here, so those thanks extend to all the forum members as well.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.

Frank

[LoadMasterC141]

Glad you made it over here Frank!

Gatesville eh? Just down the road from me in Temple.

They have a pretty busy sky-diving joint in Salado now. It is awfully close to our practice area and I have seen a 182 go barrelling straight down after a drop on a few occassions. Neat sight!

[Ian J]

Welcome Frank!

#1 - Thanks for your service!

#2 - Awesome with the helo certificate! Join us in the helo forum sometime!

#3 - When are you leaving Iraq? IMO, you contractors over there are nuts, but I know you get paid well!

#4 - Welcome to JC.

[surreal1221]

Originally Posted by ChinookDriver

Welcome Frank!

#3 - When are you leaving Iraq? IMO, you contractors over there are nuts, but I know you get paid well!

#4 - Welcome to JC.

Must be nice to pay that ACPP in cash

I kid I kid. . . Welcome to JC.

[n57flyguy]

Rapelling out of a helo must be way better than down a rock face.

[Frankp]

Thanks for the welcome folks! Still just finding my way around this site. Did drop in on the rotor heads and said hey! Yeah, rappelling outta helos is a blast, especially Australian slack rappels. THe original "bungee" jump w/o the rubber band. As to coming home...it's now almost 2 yrs, so yeah , I'm more than ready. I have R&R for two weeks over Christmas and then my contract is up in the spring. Looking at ATL for the ACCP and would welcome any feedback on that location.

[amorris311]

welcome frank and thanks for the service.