Portfolio – OptAir

Orrin and Tony at Sun ‘n Fun 2014

Don Weaver — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:23:01 +0000

After a nine hour flight from PTK to Lakeland, FL in Orrin’s Archer for Sun ‘n Fun, 2014 Tony Petz and Orrin needed a beer or two, maybe 3…but had many more. Sitting at Sam’s on the Gulf of Mexico eating mountains of fried shrimp and fries.

Smiling at Four Hours Aloft

Don Weaver — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:19:07 +0000

Orrin heading back to Richmond Field (69G) after a cross country flight of 4 hours and 220 miles.

Orrin – Getting ready to launch

Don Weaver — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:14:10 +0000

Orrin Beckham in his LS4 sailplane ready for a 4 or 5 hour flight from the Sandhill Soaring Club located at Richmond Field (69G) NW of Ann Arbor

Aerobatics R Us

Don Weaver — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 02:35:05 +0000

My favorite picture of the Berz Flight Training Pitts S2B, flown out of Ray Community Airport (57D). This is the only Pitts in a five state area available through a flight school that we know of, and yours truly gets to teach in it. Tired of staying right side up? Send us a note. We can solve the problem. You’ll learn more than you can imagine and have a great time doing it. DRW

Operation Good Cheer

Don Weaver — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 02:30:25 +0000

Orrin Beckham with some of the kids that helped unload all the goodies from the SR22 after an Operation Good Cheer cargo run. This is one of our favorite days of the year – the first Saturday of December when hundreds of aircraft converge on PTK to pick up gifts for kids and deliver them all over the state of Michigan. It is an amazing effort and a lot of fun and all for a very good cause. DRW

When It Was Just Starting

Don Weaver — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 00:23:56 +0000

Doesn’t seem like all that long ago…late fall, 2004. A brand new 359CD on a trip to NC, our second program plane. Andrew was 11; as of this writing he’s a Senior at MI State applying for Vet School and just earned his Instrument rating for his Private ASEL this summer. Time flies. 359CD just got its 10-yr chute repack and is happily flying in the program. DRW

Andrew’s First Solo

Don Weaver — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:08:08 +0000

Had to throw this in the collection. Andrew Weaver, 14, prepping for his first solo flight ever, in a Schleicher K 7 at the Sandhill Soaring Club, summer 2007. Good stuff. A great way to start flying. DRW

TKS Closeup

Don Weaver — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:08:55 +0000

Yes, there really are holes in that leading edge TKS strip. While we don’t have any FIKI aircraft at this time – and don’t believe we ever will – this system is quite effective. See the musings blog on FIKI for more on OptAir’s position regarding FIKI aircraft. Photo by Andrew Weaver. DRW

RDU T-Storms

Don Weaver — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:05:40 +0000

Best. Shot. Ever. Tim Tessin hits the jackpot on the ramp at RDU with this photo. But we should have pulled the cowl plugs and pitot cover, eh? Bummer. Still, it was one awesome sky. Tim and I flew around that stuff on the way in. DRW

Final for Put-In-Bay

Don Weaver — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:09:33 +0000

Tom Sullivan, the Cirrus rep who got us most of our aircraft, caught on final for one of our favorite gems in the Great Lakes. Mac Island, Beaver Island, Washington Island, Put-In-Bay…just some of the great places to explore.