Q. When did you first become interested in flying?

A. While living within 1/2 mile of the local airport, I watched many airplanes on final approach. As the planes were nearing touchdown, it was amazing to me to watch the pilots driving the airplanes in response to the wind conditions, as we all know change frequently. Some were good, others were great! Some touched down with such ease and what looked to be great skill, and others literally slammed the aircraft into the runway, and I simply had to discover what the difference was. Once I made the decision to learn to fly, I knew I would one day know the difference.

Q. Why fly to all of the airports?

A. The idea of becoming the first pilot in history to take off and land at all 3,805 public airports is one of the "first" in aviation events left, and in fact, this record may be the last "first in flight" remaining.

Q. What are your favorite things about flying?

A. With the recent events in New York, and the media's ability to misplace fear, I simply refuse to allow anyone to deny the right's that I have to pursue happiness. The most inspiring moments in my life have been in the cockpit of my airplane, while being witness to the beauty of the land that we so often take for granted. On an early morning, flying alone and seemingly isolated, with the ground fog lying in the low valleys and the sun just on the horizon, I know that I am one of the luckiest people in the world because I have the opportunity to be free.

Q. What have been people's reaction to your tour?

A. People have been very receptive to the idea of our record attempt. I think that as American's we've come to expect that every-so-often someone will be trying something new, or doing something better. That seems to be one of the underlying threads in the fabric of our society, in that we are the leader's of the world because we lean toward the "what's possible" ideals. Impossible is becoming a word that we simply do not understand.

Q. Who is the most interesting person you've met so far?

A. There are many interesting people that we have been able to meet and share experiences with. One of the most notable was a fellow named Wolf who we met at Metter airport in middle Georgia. As he told it, "I may have been the only pilot in WW2 to shoot my own airplane while flying." He went on to clarify that statement by telling us that while practicing strafing runs in Austria, he got a little too low, and his bullets ricocheted off of something and actually hit the tail of his P51 that he was flying. At age 75 Wolf acted more like 40, and we had a great time listening to his "tales". Call me crazy but I'm convinced that most were true.