WingsConnect - Making Aviation Connections

Friday, February 27, 2015

Want to feel like Iron Man? Go fly with Sky Combat Ace in Vegas!

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Well, one thing that happened to me in Vegas last week that is going to be known is my EPIC aerobatic flying experience last Friday. Too great to not share about SCA! Mind blown & thumbs up to fly with Sky Combat Ace! They are a MUST DO in Vegas for Aviation Lovers.

My first taste of an aerobatic move was back in December 2014. I experienced a smooth roll in a stylish RV-7. I had never experienced anything like it. Like a "Matrix" (ie the movie) moment, in a great way, it opened my mind to a whole different type of flying. It was a Wow moment for me and yet another great aviation memory. I definitely knew I would be open to trying more aerobatics if given the right opportunity.  

That next opportunity came up as I made plans to meet up with friends in Vegas last week. As part of my planning phase, I was looking at possible activities out there to do for us. I've been to Vegas before. There's no shortage of the usual options and things to do. During my search I came across SCA's deal which was a Groupon (SCORE!) and began to do some research about their services and reviews. I liked what I read, considered things, and then booked my flight. Game on!

A few things I really enjoy about aviation is that it is constantly serving up to my desire to learn and excel, presents me with challenges to face and grow from, opportunities to stretch and expand my horizons in ways beyond the status quo of regular Life decisions/choices. There are no apologies or tip toeing for driving hard, the desire to excel and giving it your best, it's expected. You own your progress, it's as much or little as you put into it. Of course, one progresses faster and better being surrounded with those skilled and eager to see you shine brighter. Be grateful when you find these gems, in all facets of Life! Even better, strive to become such an influencer, if you're not already. Dare you!

A couple action pictures:
One of the things I love about flying is the unique adventurers I meet along the way! Here is a picture of Maurice and I. Maurice is a traveling adventurer from Switzerland. It was so cool to share in the experience, chatting pre and post flight.


SCA has the BEST hangar I have stepped in. 

This plane.... WOWZAS!


Pre-flight smiles with Kyle, an excellent aerobatic pilot!

I took the ups...
I took the turns...

and upside down moments with HUGE smiles! 

Only time I was quiet was when I was wearing my 5 Gs face!:-D

Got the Guys to do a post flight photo with me ~ Kyle, Maurice, Denis & I! Love a great group of aviation enthusiasts:-D

A few points about my experience with SCA: 
* Really impressed and satisfied with their operations. 
* They provide door-to-door hotel pick up and drop off service, upon arrival the signing process was smooth.
* You get to wear cool jet flight suits, get a callsign badge and SCA insignia patch for your suit. This promotes a cool fun experience leading up to the flight that's about to knock your socks off! :-) 
*Their hangar is the best I've seen in my entire life, so far. I seriously want my future home to be a model like this one! So thank you SCA for setting the bar there. ;-) 
*Next it was up to the room for preflight debrief. Great job with the overview of the aircraft, maneuvers that we were going to experience, as well as safety points including how to use the parachute should that situation arise. I really liked the details covered in that brief.
*My pilot, Kyle, got me set up with my parachute and situated in the aircraft prior to flying. His flying was Excellent!
 
Join me for the flying experience and check out the video that was captured during my flights with SCA. A couple things about the video, look at my major smiling face throughout the flight. I'm chatting it up and definitely in my element! I go silent when I'm feeling the Gs! :-) 

Primary goals as it relates to this flight was to assess the flying experience, to check out the operations of this place, and I did not want to throw up or get knocked out by the Gs. I am happy to report that mission accomplished all my goals were met on this flight!

I don't have a lot of experience and exposure to aerobatics flying. So stretching myself in this area, stepping out into the unknown to experience something totally different from my current flying experience, was very rewarding. I enjoy that stretch process in life, and it doesn't necessarily have to be aviation, but any life enhancing situations that come from stepping out of your comfort zone, experiencing things that are not every day situations and feeling the rewards of living life to the fullest. 

Taking a unique flight with an experienced pilot to show me the ropes on new maneuvers is a hearty, healthy, fun filled decision that is another step to enhance my journey of life. I'm eager for more exciting chapters to come! Next time I'm at SCA I'm doing more of the hands-on experience which will likely be the top gun package and I'm bringing my pilots logbook for that one! :-)

To wrap things up, nothing I write could really show you just how awesome this flight was for me. It is certainly something that I will never forget, left me wanting more, and I look forward to returning back to SCA so I can further experience some more high throttle aerobatic flying with them! 

Check out their site and learn more about their operation, they're flight packages, their pilots, and more: http://www.skycombatace.com/

Also check out their reviews. They are quoted as one of the top things to do in Vegas. I can attest to that I would say don't miss out on an exciting opportunity to experience Vegas, fly with them while you're out there!


What is your most exciting flying experience, what did you feel you experienced in terms of stretching and growth in that flight?

If you go and check out SCA or you happen to be at Henderson executive airport and see them, snap a shot and share it with me on my social media channels. You can find all of them listed on my website http://www.wingsconnect.com/
I'd love to see and hear about your experience!

Happy and safe flying always!

Monday, February 16, 2015

️Love is always in the air for this Aviation Lover

Every flight I've taken has never ceased to take my breathe away at one moment or another. It is an experience, for me, where any thoughts of anything mediocre are gladly overtaken my flying focus during these special moments in time. ️

Every flight provides different challenges and rewards. It demands you always give your best. I love that about aviation.

Flying, for me, is not only a passion. ️Flying is more importantly, my Love and Zen.  Each flight brings me a surge of New Life and greater gratitude for the things that are important to me. I've found my wings and love soaring! :-)

I really enjoy this video directed by Eric Magnan and first saw it from a BoldMethod release by Colin Cutler. http://www.boldmethod.com/blog/video/2015/01/this-is-why-you-love-being-a-pilot/

If you like the video https://vimeo.com/109141765, share it with fellow aviators you'd know these flying images would resonate.

The only main thing different I'd do if I made the video is my Man wouldn't be waiting on the ground for me. He'd be up in the skies flying with me!:-) 

Here's a low flying still from the video. I cannot WAIT to experience this in Vegas in a few days ~ WOOOHOOO!

Happy & Safe Flying, Always!

Emily
www.WingsConnect.com

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Friday, February 6, 2015

Talk LiveATC Radio to me & other aviation digital tools I use to enhance my flying experience!

Flying is one of my deep passions. What it gives me is the opportunity to leave the ordinary and soar into extraordinary. Few things in Life THIS exhilarating. A delicious blend of intense focus, zen, love and freedom.

For me, in learning to fly, it is about nailing the fundamentals without dependency on all fancy tech gadgets. That being said, I embrace these additional tools as secondary tools to enhance my flying experience. In this post, I'll share a few of my favorite tech digital aviation tools that I actively use.

Pilots - I'd love to hear what you are using, even if they are some of the same. It's through pilot referrals that I discovered these tools!

Foreflight - I really like using this on my iPad and iPhone, both in flying and on the ground. When on the ground, I'm often looking up FBOs I'm contemplating to visit in the near future or just poking around to view details about places I have been while familiarizing myself with the features. I use a lot of the runway details, taxi diagrams, view specs about the FBO, etc. 

This app is loaded with information! It is a great secondary reference for situational awareness, along with increasing productivity in choosing better routes (ie winds by altitude details, etc). Oh, I also like the TFR setting so you can be sure to avoid those hot spots. If don't have Foreflight yet and are interested in learning more, I included the site link above for you to peruse further.


Stratus - I have the original that works fine for me. I love the seamless integration with ForeFlight. I bought mine from Sporty's and here's their description of it, "The original Stratus is the easiest, least expensive way to get subscription-free weather on your iPad. Stratus is a totally wireless, portable receiver that streams NEXRAD radar, text weather, TFRs and GPS position to the ForeFlight app—all without a monthly subscription. Simply turn on Stratus, connect to your iPad and go flying. There are no wires, no subscriptions and no hassles." I'm a fan of it, especially for having what I feel is enhanced GPS and more current weather feeds. Click here to view this device and more details on Sport's site.


LiveATC Wow, I really dig this mobile app!! It's such a great way to listen to ATC and pilot radio talk to expose ones ears to what is conveyed. I listen to it whenever I want on my iPhone or iPad. All kinds of handy features in this bad boy like various channels worldwide (Wow!), diagrams, Wx and frequencies. Click here to read my July 2014 post about this useful app.

So, FESS UP, Pilots...What are some of the digital tools you are using to enhance your flying experience and accuracy?

Happy and Safe Flying, Always!