Young Eagles Pilot Information

Carl Swepston

I can still remember the first time I rode in an airplane, the year was 1947. I was five years old. A small grass strip in the southern hills of West Virginia called Pence Springs Airport was home to a piper cub that my Uncle Fred flew. I remember my dad giving me $3 and telling me to run over to the plane and give it to Uncle Fred for a plane ride. That event launched my life experiences in aviation. The part of the flight that I remember the most was how strange to see the stick between my legs moving all around by itself. Maybe I was so short that the control stick was all I could see. I remember dreaming of flying, as a young boy, in West Virginia. I would fly my kite and look to the sky and imagine me flying amongst the puffy clouds.  Although, I have grown much older, I continue to enjoy flying in and around those puffy clouds in a real airplane.

I started working toward my private pilot's license in 1965 at Brown Field near San Diego. Between deployments to Vietnam with SEAL team One, I finally earned my license in 1970. One of the most memorable life experiences I have is the first time I flew an airplane solo. The thrill of me being the sole operator at the controls of an airplane remains as a significant moment.in my life. From 1970 to 1979 I rented numerous aircraft and finally purchased my own Piper Warrior in 1980. I put 800+ hours on my second plane, a Grumman Cheetah, before I became the proud co-owner of a 1962 C Model Mooney. I have found co-ownership to be a quite pleasant experience (especially on the wallet). If you are fortunate enough to get a partner that is compatible with your spending and flying style it is, in my opinion, the best way to own an aircraft.

The aircraft has been completely rewired from the M20J spinner back. The dash is probably the most noticeable upgrade. Ramona Avionics @ KRNM did all of the avionics installation. Some of the major add-on items are as follows: S-Tec 55 auto-pilot with roll-steering capability, altitude select, P-100 digital tachometer, Shadin data processor, JP-EGT-700 Engine analyzer, KMA-24 audio electric panel, P.S. Engineering intercom, yoke mounted anywhere map, transmission playback on yoke (I never remember to use it), and wing tip strobes. The KLN90B GPS was recently replaced with a GNS 480 GPS (what a dream to fly).

I am still getting used to having the roll steering that is coupled to the GNS 480 GPS take me around a holding pattern in the soup followed by an approach all happening hands off except for altitude and speed control. Speaking of speed control, the add-on mooney 100 series speed brakes are great for VOR approaches. At each step-down point, just hit the speed brakes and they act like an elevator button taking you down at 1000 fpm. 

Carl Swepston
Young Eagles Pilot/Flight Leader
N-78982