Category: Greg recommends

“The Endurance,” terrific non-fiction adventure book

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The most incredible and inspirational true story I’ve ever read.

By now you’ve likely heard about the rediscovery of Ernest Shackelton’s legendary ship, “The Endurance,” which sank over 100 years ago in the Antarctic under nearly two miles of water and ice.

To survive, Shackelton’s crew conducted one of the greatest feats in human history, and this non-fiction book documenting their ordeal remains the most exciting adventure book I have ever read, non-fiction or fiction.

Don’t miss reading it, or listen to the audio book!!!

Greg

The book is The Endurance; Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition, by Caroline Alexander, and details Ernest Shackleton’s unbelievable ordeal trapped in Antarctic ice with 27 other men from 1914-1916.

After 17 months locked in the ice incommunicado with the rest of the world, and with their ship ultimately crushed by the ice and sunk, Shackelton’s men  journeyed over ice and water in open boats to a barren Antarctic island, following which he and five others sailed a modified lifeboat 800 miles across the notoriously treacherous South Atlantic in dead of winter to a remote whaling station for help.

The text is masterfully composited from diaries of the men onboard, and not only is the story gripping (all 28 men survived!) but the book is profusely illustrated with superb but haunting photographs shot by the expedition photographer — the glass plates were rescued from the sinking ship and soldered into tin containers to be carried along on the long journey to rescue!

This is why I’m a non-fiction fan — no one could possibly write a novel more breathtaking or suspenseful than this. And amazingly, it’s all true!

©2009, 2023 Gregory N. Brown

Greg shares Arizona flying destinations on “AOPA Live”

flying destinations, Greg recommends

aopalivescreencapture

Hey Folks, check out my “Flying Carpet” video segment 11 minutes in, with Warren Morningstar on this week’s September 15th AOPA Live aviation news broadcast, about Arizona flying destinations within range of AOPA’s upcoming Prescott Fly-in.

Find my mentioned Southwest Flying Destinations post here, and learn about my new Savvy Flight Instructor Second Edition book here.

Hope to see you at the Fly-in!

Greg

Southwest flying destinations

flying destinations, Greg recommends

For my fellow “AOPA Live” fans, here is a reblog of my Southwest Destinations post.

“Mentoring and Marketing for CFIs,” Greg’s webinar with NAFI Chairman Bob Meder

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SFI-2 FrontCover_shadow1200I had the pleasure of being Bob Meder’s guest on this month’s NAFI Chairman’s Webinar. (National Association of Flight Instructors)

As you’d expect, we spoke primarily on flight training and flight instructor topics, with emphasis on key marketing, motivational, and pricing ideas and insights from my new book, The Savvy Flight Instructor Second Edition.

CFIs and flight school operators should find this material particularly relevant.

So if those topics interest you, please have a listen by clicking below! (Also available as MP3.)

Thanks to Bob and NAFI for inviting me to participate!

Greg

For more guidance on this topic, see Greg’s book, The Savvy Flight Instructor 2nd Edition.

“‘Echo’ of the Past” Greg’s January, 2016 Flying Carpet column

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Ten hours home

3-GregBrownFT116_3341eSmw1200Good times not withstanding, Jean and I were more than ready to head home following eight days on the road.

The daylong journey from Aurora, Illinois to Flagstaff, Arizona appeared daunting, however, especially against headwinds. If necessary we’d stay over with our friend Bruce in Santa Fe, just two hours from home.

A country church filled our windshield after takeoff this morning, but how much closer could we get to heaven than these sparkling Sunday skies? Yes, there was weather through Illinois and Missouri, but we dodged it easily enough. Initially we faced a ten-knot headwind. I’ll accept that westbound, anytime! But gradually it grew to twenty knots, and then thirty. Changing altitudes didn’t help. That gave us plenty of time to discuss the week’s travels.

This journey originated two years ago, when Howard Spanogle, long-ago faculty advisor for the Echo high school newspaper where I once served as photography editor, proposed a reunion. At first this seemed overkill—after all there were only a handful of Echo staffers at a given time. However “Mr. S” had been adviser for 26 years, so there’d be many attendees beyond my immediate circle. Jean hesitated to go until my closest Echo friends talked their spouses into attending. After all, who are we these decades later without them?

VirgaAloft_Oklahoma_3394eSmw1200Flying “East” is a trek, so en route we’d capitalized on the Flying Carpet’s flexibility to visit friends and family.

The circuitous journey had delivered us to four Midwestern states, culminating in yesterday’s reunion…

**READ THIS MONTH’S ENTIRE COLUMN, “ECHO OF THE PAST.”**

Top Photo: Sunday morning country church near Sugar Grove, Illinois.

Lower photo: Virga south of Boise City, Oklahoma.

SEE MORE PHOTOS!

(This column first appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine.)

Greg

©2015 Gregory N.Brown

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

“Sightseeing Michigan,” Greg’s December, 2015 Flying Carpet column

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Visiting friends far from home

TedHeckman-1941MeyersOTW_AlleganMI-35D_1202-EditeSmw1200“For some great sightseeing, cruise low along the Lake Michigan shoreline on your way from Chicago,” my friend Jason Blair had advised before takeoff. However lake-effect showers streamed southward over northern Indiana, dulling the view. For the moment we navigated haze under grey 2,200-foot ceilings.

“We’re a mile below Flagstaff’s airport elevation!” Jean exclaimed, noting the altimeter. That seemed queasily unnatural compared to our normal 8-11,000-foot flight altitudes back home in Northern Arizona’s mountains.

Gradually, however, we found ourselves descending under lowering clouds and virga. I checked weather. While 60 miles away our destination of Allegan, Michigan remained clear, nearby lakeshore stations had suddenly fallen below 1,500 overcast, with Michigan City reporting 900 broken. We deviated eastward toward better weather away from the lake.

Why are we doing this? I thought, eyeing cobalt skies through broken clouds overhead. There were other airplanes down here, and tall radio towers. Rather than steer farther off course to escape the muck, I requested a “pop-up” instrument clearance, which South Bend Approach promptly granted.

In no time we surfed blue skies over snowy clouds, at 5,000 feet. Between them could be glimpsed vivid farm fields and sparkling Lake Michigan beaches. Funny how visibility can sometimes be restricted near the ground, and yet appear crystal-clear from above.

GregBrownFT1215_3768eSmw1200Jean and I now shared excitement about visiting our friend Tyler Allen, a sophomore at Kalamazoo College.

You may remember Tyler from previous columns–he began flight training as a high school student on the Navajo Nation, and we shared many Arizona flying adventures together. Here, finally, was our opportunity to visit him at college…

**READ THIS MONTH’S ENTIRE COLUMN, “SIGHTSEEING MICHIGAN.”**

Top Photo: Ted Heckman’s 1941 Meyers OTW biplane, at Padgham Field, Allegan, Michigan.

Lower photo: Tyler and Jean at Kalamazoo College, Michigan.

SEE MORE PHOTOS!

(This column first appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine.)

Greg

©2015 Gregory N.Brown

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

“Family Fliers” Greg’s November, 2015 Flying Carpet column

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Revisiting heartland skies

GregBrownFT1115_1084e1Smw1200Departing the four lakes of Madison, Wisconsin, Jean and I steered the Flying Carpet southeastward toward others embedded in our past: Lakes Koshkonong, Delavan, and Geneva.

Beneath our wings flowed a verdant carpet of crops and trees teeming with lakes and rivers. This seemed a watery paradise compared to the stark stone beauty of our adopted Southwest, where the few natural lakes contain only seasonal water and even then might qualify as ponds anywhere else.

Equally refreshing, today’s cobalt heartland skies brimmed with music to our aviators’ ears. In contrast to largely silent radio frequencies near our remote Northern Arizona home, our headsets crackled with radio chatter from airports around the Midwest.

Jean grew up just across the Illinois line from Lake Geneva, and for years we landed at rural Galt Airport (10C) to visit her family. Back then Galt was a narrow, tree-obstructed, rough-around-the-edges strip. But after teetering on the edge of bankruptcy several years ago, the airport turned itself around and blossomed into a thriving aviation community. Seems like every month Galt boasts a hayride, a barbecue, or a flour-sack bombing contest. I knew of this vitality only through the airport newsletter, having last landed there in 2003. Now I was eager to visit the revitalized airport in person. (See “Flying Carpet: Renaissance Field,” November 2013 Flight Training).

Soon Wonder Lake appeared on the horizon, and next to it, Galt Airport. Jean and I recognized the field’s location, but not it’s appearance. The pencil-thin runway we once frequented has long been replaced by a grander one. The hangar that impinged on the west end of the runway is gone; the formerly weedy tiedowns are now paved, and there’s a spit-and-polish about the place visible even from the air.

GregBrownFT1115_1093e1Smw1200“There’s Jo!” said Jean as we taxied in. Her twin sister lives just beyond Galt’s traffic pattern on Wonder Lake; we’d phoned ahead just before departing Madison.

One thing that hadn’t changed beyond fresh paint, was Galt’s nostalgic “country control tower” airport office. Now this felt like old times! While Jean and Jo chatted on the ramp-side bench, I ventured inside.

There to welcome me were Facebook friends I’d never before met in person: pilot Greg Kaiser, and his instrument instructor, Mike Nowakowski. Galt’s cheerful ground instructor, Ed Brown, piled us into a golf cart to tour the field…

**READ THIS MONTH’S ENTIRE COLUMN, “FAMILY FLIERS.”**

Top Photo: “Jean and Jo at Galt Airport’s “country control tower” office, Wonder Lake, Illinois.”

Lower photo: “Ed Brown, Mike Nowakowski, Greg Kaiser, and Brian Spiro at Galt Airport’s maintenance hangar.” 

SEE MORE PHOTOS!

(This column first appeared in AOPA Flight Training magazine.)

Greg

©2015 Gregory N.Brown

If you enjoyed this story, you’ll love Greg’s book, Flying Carpet: The Soul of an Airplane. Autographed copies available!

Introducing “Pilot Achievement Plaques,” featuring Greg’s renowned aerial photography!

Greg recommends, Greg's photographs

WeddlePilotPlaque-WallMockup

Commemorate your pilot accomplishments with my new art-quality metal wall plaques! Ideal for celebrating:

  • First solo!
  • New pilot certificate or rating!
  • A gift for your favorite pilot or flight instructor
  • A new-to-you airplane!
  • A special flight accomplishment
  • Just proud to be an aviator
  • Any other aviation achievement you can think of!

These large 10″ x 20″ frameless, ready-to-hang metal plaques feature your supplied photo and pilot achievement. (More info and examples HERE.)

To highlight your accomplishment, select your favorite pilot vista from my Views from the Flying Carpet aerial photographs. (Each image incorporates my signature mark.)

20x30-SunsetRains-MetalPrint_2959-EditeSmw1200These Pilot Achievement Plaques feature superb finish and image quality similar to my Fine Art Metal Prints.

20x30-SunsetRains-MetalPrint_2962eSmw1200Each semi-gloss metal plaque delivers ready-to-hang on a frameless back mount that floats it 1/2″ off the wall, similar to the Fine Art Metal prints shown at left and right.

Pilot Accomplishment Plaques – sizes, pricing, and delivery

  • 10″ x 20,” with floating wall mount: $124 + s&h*
  • 10″ x 20,” with optional black flush-edge mount: $154 + s&h*

* $15.50 shipping within the Continental US. Applicable sales tax is additional. Normal delivery runs 2-3 weeks. (Not guaranteed.)

_______________________________________________

Order your Pilot Achievement Plaque here!

_______________________________________________

©2015 Gregory N. Brown

Introducing Greg’s affordable new Fine Art Metal Prints!

Greg recommends, Greg's photographs

20x30-SunsetRains-MetalPrint_2960-EditeSmw1200Introducing my trendy and affordable new Fine Art Metal Prints! 20x30-SunsetRains-MetalPrint_2957eSmw1200

I am thrilled with the superb image quality and fidelity of this series, and believe you will be too.

What’s more, prices start at an economical $125* including shipping within the Continental US.

Each semi-gloss metal print delivers ready-to-hang on a frameless back mount that floats it 1/2″ off the wall. (Framing options available.) 20x30-SunsetRains-MetalPrint_2959-EditeSmw1200

This approximates the museum-mount appearance I prefer on my Fine Art Collector Prints, while helping to keep them affordable.

Each open-edition metal print incorporates title and my signature mark. 20x30-SunsetRains-MetalPrint_2962eSmw1200

All my popular “Views from the Flying Carpet” aerial images and “Down to Earth terrestrial photographs are available as Fine Art Metal Prints.

I predict you’ll be delighted as I am with these gorgeous and impactful prints!

Greg

  • 11″x17,” $125
  • 12″x18,” $145
  • 16″x24,” $195
  • 20″x30,” $295
  • 24″x36,” $395
  • 30″x40,” $495
  • custom sizes available
  1. Preview and select your desired AERIAL or TERRESTRIAL image.
  2. ORDER YOUR FINE ART METAL PRINT HERE!
  • Ready-to-hang frameless semi-gloss metal prints, 1/2″ standoff from wall.
  • Normal production runs about 1 week, plus shipping time. (Delivery time not guaranteed.)
  • Print sizes are nominal since aspect ratios vary by image.
  • Applicable sales tax additional.

“The War in the Air,” yesterday’s view of the future, by H.G. Wells

aviation history, Greg recommends

0574890L-1I’ve just finished reading The War in the Air, by H.G. Wells.

For those who aren’t familiar, that 1908 sci-fi work is renowned for having presaged modern aerial warfare.

Although the book’s protagonist and his personal story are forgettable (if not downright annoying), Wells is remarkably prescient in predicting the advent of world war, coming 20th-century German and Japanese aggression, and the terror rained down by aerial armadas in World Wars I and II.

And if you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to do battle from dirigibles, or fly a flapping-wing aircraft, here’s your opportunity to find out!

You’ll need to hold your nose through parts of it, but the author’s broader observations and predictions are quite fascinating.

Those who have read it, or choose to, let me know what you think!

The book is available in various print editions, or you can download The War in the Air for Kindle, FREE from amazon.

©2014 Gregory N. Brown