OC Sling Aviation

Doing some filming for King today in JJ’s gorgeous Turbo Arrow. #pilotlife #turboarrow

Today’s desert adventure was to Coyote Dry Lake, north of Barstow, CA. It’s a remote and desolate location with a Mars-like terrain, and an old miner’s cabin. Coyote is unique in that it is often strewn with meteorite fragments. Over 250 meteorites have been documented here in recent years. It is also a geological marvel with abundant mineral deposits. Strewn around are many prospector claims for gold, which has been found here since the 1800’s. Many things have been filme...d here including a weird 80’s sci-fi called, A Boy and his Dog, and several other TV, film, and music video projects. NASA and the Air Force have used the lake for decades. Just North is Fort Irwin with its military restricted area and artillery, gunnery, and missile ranges. The RAF has marked a small area of the dry lake suitable for landing (it’s BLM land) using old tires, and they have improved an old mining cabin which sits about 1/2 mile from the lake edge. The lake bed is wonderful to land on. The silence here is deafening. An incredible place. Shout out to Gabriel Zeifman who was working Joshua Approach today and is always courteous, helpful, and knowledgeable. And fun to say hi to on the freq. :)

A little landing workout in the 206 with the owner. #cfilife #stationair #cessna206 #johnwayneairport

Baby’s got new shoes. And they’re bigger and beefier. Now she looks proper :) #cessna120 #desertflying

I learned to fly as a kid at Tallmantz Aviation. It was an airplane museum and the largest movie-airplane operation at the time. Owned by Frank Tallman and Frank Pine (and Paul Mantz, who died filming ‘Flight of the Phoenix’), they did The Great Waldo Pepper, Baa Baa Blacksheep, and hundreds of other films and commercials. One of the airplanes I soloed in on my 16th birthday (shown here: N73387) appeared in an episode of CHiPs where Ponch and Jon help a pilot that land...s on a freeway in L.A. Here is a still from that scene. Frank Pine, one of my bosses, was at the controls. #firstsolo #pilotlife

There is a lot of need around the world. This story struck a nerve because, as most of you know, I love dogs and believe in their unique ability to heal. I’m trying to help this veteran with his dog. It’s not aviation related, but he served our country. I felt it a worthy cause. If nothing else, maybe you can share it. https://gf.me/u/y7x7fi

A quick video I shot when I got the chance to fly with the Horsemen P-51 team out at Chino not long ago. I was in a P-51 D model. This blue-nosed P-51 with the invasion stripes next to me is the rare C model. Notice the difference in the canopy. That’s Lake Mathews in the distance. #p51mustang #pilotlife #aviation #aviationlovers

PROUD CFI Folks, this is my student, David, and today he passed his checkride (first try!) and became an official Private Pilot. Im in awe of David’s focus, calm under pressure, and kindness. He will make a fine pilot and member of the aviation community. David is also the owner of the well-known Vegan Sling turbocharged Sling 4. Congratulations and well deserved! #checkridepassed #newpilot #sling4 #slingaircraft #cfilife

Sunset over Huntington Beach.

A beautiful image by the talented Alex Crail (@aviation35) of us playing in the mighty turbo 206 today. #stationair206 #turbo206 #aviationdaily #aviationphotography #cessna206

Me waiting for the flight school airplane ahead to turn base. (*not my photo) #747pattern #bigPatternsareDangerous #turnfinally

Me waiting for the flight school airplane ahead to turn base. (*not my photo)

A great summary of this tragic crash of a complex, high performance turbo-prop TBM that broke apart in flight just a few days ago in upstate New York. My flying friend, Dan Gryder, has expressed his usual accurate and welcome analysis. Read the very first comment on the YouTube video for his summary.

Today’s commute to San Diego. #kingschools #cessna150aerobat #pilotlife

That right there is a dog that loves McDonald’s ice cream cones. #mydog #dogsofinstagram #mcdonalds

Nope. No filter. That was our afternoon here in SoCal. #smokey #johnwayneairport

A Smokey night coming on in the Sling 4. #slingaircraft #cfilife