Fly With Skip

08/27/2026

Great flight yesterday... EARLY... watched the Sunrise.....

08/25/2026

The plane from Fort Myers that landed in the Atlantic Ocean yesterday was just pulled from the water. If you didn't see my post last night, the story is incredible. 23-year-old Faith Tenkley told me she started having engine issues about 15 miles west of Boca Raton. Her initial plan was to make an emergency landing at Boca's airport. But the landing gear wasn't working, so she figured it would be a bad idea to try and land on the runway since the plane still had a lot of fuel and a hard landing could spark a fire. She decided it was safer to land in the water.

Faith had to dodge buildings near the coast and paddleboarders, but she managed to find an empty spot next to the beach. The landing in the ocean was smooth. A lifeguard got to her within a minute, and they walked to the shore unharmed.

📸 Boca Raton Recreation

07/01/2026

Where is Skip ???

05/13/2026

Great lunch spot...

Very good Brisket....

05/07/2026

This made my Day.... Thank you Bill Farrell

Those of you that know me. I put all I have into teaching ANY of you and Still after 45 Years I Love what I do. ...🛩✈️

02/14/2026

GREAT CLASS for Aviation Study Group at FMY Base ops. Good Group of Pilots.
Thank you ALL for attending.

See you March 14 th Mark your calendars.

Skip

11/16/2025

Great Aviation Study Group at Page Field Base Ops.

This Great group of Aviation Enthusiasts have been meeting over 10 Years in the Conference Room upstairs.

Once a month every month. Alternating between IFR one month then VFR the next.

Next meeting is December 13th at 9 AM.
We meet for about 2 hours and go over a Pilot Workshop Scenario.

Send me your email if you would like to attend and get a reminder.

Keep the dirty side down.

10/25/2025

Pilots Often Make the Wrong Decision After Encountering Icing Conditions

Last week, a Piper PA-23-250 Aztec carrying a certificated pilot, his CFI daughter, and a non-pilot daughter was cruising at 13,500 feet near Polson Airport in Montana. The outside air temperature (OAT) would have been approximately -8°C as the aircraft entered an area of light precipitation determined from ADS-B data and radar returns. This would have immediately alerted both pilots that structural icing and engine induction icing was likely if they continued along their route.

The pilot continued — possibly setting up one of the most common and deadly scenarios in aviation: a stall/spin accident known as loss of control.

Minutes later, ADS-B data showed the Aztec slowing, possibly due to increasing drag and weight from ice accumulation, and reduced thrust or engine failure from induction icing. The aircraft began a controlled descent toward 9,000 feet and then executed a 270-degree turn appearing to stall and spin just above the terrain. Tragically, all aboard were fatally injured.

Takeaway: while we may never know the exact cause of this tragic event, the FAA Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge does remind us to avoid areas of precipitation whenever the OAT is at or below 0°C, as structural icing and induction icing can develop rapidly. The proper action upon encountering potential icing conditions is a 180-degree turn to exit immediately.

The NTSB is currently investigating this accident. A final report should be published in approximately two years.

Fly safe, friends. ✈️

10/10/2025

A student pilot in Tampa is being hailed as a hero in training after keeping his cool during a terrifying emergency. Moments after reporting to air traffic control that his engine had failed, the young aviator calmly said the words no pilot ever wants to say: “I’m going into the water.” Seconds later, his small plane splashed down in Tampa Bay. But instead of panicking, he climbed out of the sinking aircraft and began swimming toward shore.

As controllers scrambled to alert rescuers, another nearby pilot spotted him treading water and relayed his exact location. “He’s out of the plane, waving at me, swimming,” the pilot radioed. The Coast Guard rushed in and pulled the student to safety, wet, exhausted, but alive. Though this incident happened exactly one year ago today, it’s still making waves across the internet, with people everywhere praising his calmness and courage under pressure, the kind of composure that defines a future great pilot.

10/08/2025