My City August 2022

MYHOBBY

If you love to see the world from above, Johnson urges you to join the GFPA. “I was fascinated by planes as a kid growing up in Flushing. We had a neighbor who was a former pilot in Vietnam and I loved to watch him y,” he shares. “Before I learned to y, I was an avid scuba diver and I felt that I had seen a lot down there so, naturally, the next step was to go up. I received my pilot’s license in 1999 and have been in love with ying ever since.” Johnson and his fellow members are always looking for new people to join the GFPA. “Our pilot population is aging,” he states. “We have a lot of members in their 70s and 80s.ˆat’s not a bad thing – they are still active and love ying – but like everything else, I see a lack of interest in the younger generations.” What Johnson loves most about ying is freedom and eŠciency. “I have own to New York in three hours and Jacksonville, FL in ‘ve. If I want to visit a friend for lunch at Beaver Island, I can do it and be back in half a day. I call it a magic carpet ride.” If you would like to y your own “magic carpet” visit gfpa.org for more information. ®

The Greater Flint Pilots Association is dedicated to the safety and advancement of aviation in Genesee County and beyond.

ABOVE: INSTRUCTOR JEFFREY BROOKS (LEFT) AND STUDENT JONATHAN HARDY WITH THE 2000 CESSNA SKYHAWK 172SP. LEFT: 2001 CESSNA SKYLANE 182T. BELOW LEFT: 1997 PIPER ARCHER I I I PA-28- 181 . BELOW RIGHT: 1983 CESSNA SKYLANE 182RG.

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