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Editor’s note: This is the latest installment in our weekly series called simply the “Friday Photo.” Each week we’ll share a great photo taken from the cockpit – one that shares the joy, beauty or fun of flying. If you’d like to join in, send your photo and description (using the format below) to: [email protected]
The view: The Salton Sea, California
The pilot: Gareth Williams
The airplane: 1942 Stearman (N75753)
The mission: Repositioning the plane from Pennsylvania to California
The memory: Beautiful sunset approach into Thermal, near Palm Springs, California
Click on the image for a full size image
Gareth Williams is founder of Fly-Hope-Dream, a 501(c)3 nonprofit providing flight experiences to families who’ve lost a child. He recently flew his 1942 Stearman from Pennsylvania to California to reposition it in Santa Paula (KSZP). Gareth began flying gliders in the UK, soloing in 1977. He now holds a Commercial Certificate and Instrument Rating and is studying to become a CFI. He has flown everything from 152s to Super Decathlon and Cirrus. But nothing beats the Stearman! Having quit the corporate world 3 years ago, he is now living his dream – hopping rides to people who really need a “lift.”
Latest posts by Gareth Williams (see all)
- Friday Photo: the mighty Mississippi - August 5, 2016
- Friday Photo: Stearman over the Salton Sea - March 25, 2016
Gareth, welcome to the best (flying) weather on earth, enjoy :-)!
Thanks! The move to Santa Paula (KSZP) is strategic and the best flying weather is one of the biggest factors. I have founded a nonprofit that gives flight experiences to families grieving the loss of a child (see http://www.Fly-Hope-Dream.org and our FB page) and to maximize our effectiveness, it was necessary to move away from the North East. Much as I love rural Bucks County, PA (I was based at a beautiful grass strip – Van Sant – 9N1), we were limited to 2-3 months a year for flying passengers. SoCal – and KSZP in particular – gives us virtually year-round CAVU! We plan to start regular operations again in May.
Your Bio said you learned to fly gliders in the UK.
Are you a Brit like me, who hates the winters? My aeroplane is based at a grass strip in Ontario, Canada. As of today, said grass strip is still waterlogged & our TV “Weather Network has just forecast another week long extension to the so called “Polar Vortex” to last a further ten days!!
I know Santa Paula airport north of Los Angeles well. Having been a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) film cinematographer for thirty years I have seen every U.S. State but six. Have been a private pilot, having learned to fly at Blackpool (Squires Gate) Airport, Lancashire at the age of nineteen, I too love Southern California for it’s VFR weather.
An article in the Brit aviation magazine “Pilot” – one Brit private pilot wrote, having flown in Calif., wrote “Happiness is an open cockpit, a desert airstrip & a limp windsock”. Very appropriate for Cali or Arizona !!
Please drop me an e-mail.
Tom Ingle (Ontario, Canada) Ex Pat Brit, originally from Buckinghamshire, England.