Kirks Latest Activities

Miatas at Deals Gap, 2002 [305 k]
I joined several hundred other Miatas at Deals Gap on the North Carolina/Tennessee border to play on one of the twistiest roads on the East Coast. Here's some pictures of other Miatas that attended.

My 2002 Mazda Miata

Click on the picture to see the beginnings of my web page about Miatas. (Soon to be re-organized.)

Oshkosh 2002 [311 k]
Here they are, and just a week after the show!

Oshkosh 2001 [254 k]
Slow to be posted, but here are my Oshkosh 2001 Pictures. 11 Pics (mercifully culled from hundreds I won't force you to look at.)

Oshkosh 2000 [Almost 500 k]
Pictures from Oshkosh 2000. 21 Pics, including ultralights, seaplanes, warbirds, and, well, odd stuff.

Oshkosh '99 [402 k]
Pictures from Oshkosh '99. Sorry they are several months late.

Oshkosh '98 [167 k]
Here are some pictures I took at this years EAA airshow in Oshkosh, WI.

Oshkosh '97 [207 k]
Last years trip to Aviations Mecca in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Here are some pictures I took at the big EAA airshow. Also a few from my stop at the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Hope you enjoy them.

When I was a kid I had the coolest toy, called a Vertibird. Chopper Command is a modern day equivelent, with which I'm having too much fun.

The League of Mad Scientists!
See how we intend to bend the universe to our will, or at least stay entertained until we work the kinks out of our plans...

My latest model rocket.

It has two configurations, one 25 inches tall, and the other 42 inches, and uses Estes solid fuel engines. I built it to use up some engines I bought during Halloween. ('Nother story.) Click on either configuration above to see how things went!

Aerobatic Flying
I used to fly a Zlin 242L. Unfortunately the FBO I rent from had to sell it, and I haven't found another nearby aerobatic plane that I can afford. The plane I used to fly was painted with the same scheme, so it really is a pretty good representation of my main activity/goal during a couple years of weekends. I'd love to start flying aerobatics again.

I've taken a number of friends up. To answer the most common question: Yes, one of my passengers has lost his/her lunch during an acro flight. Not a pleasant experience, and I must commend my friends astounding neatness and dexterity with that sick-sac. Nothing for me to clean up! Aerobatics do expose the human body to forces it's not used to, so I end the flight as soon as a passenger gets uncomfortable. However, sometimes it takes a while to land...

Regular flying
My early training was in a Piper Tomahawk. This is someone elses. I took the picture at a flyin at Horn Point, MD.
(Image size:113k. Piper Tomahawk PA-38-112. Piper no longer builds them, though.).

I then finished getting my license in Aerospatiale Tampicos. Since starting into aerobatics I haven't done nearly so much regular flying, and I'm not current in either of these two planes at this time. I want to get re-checked in the Tampico so I can fly a couple of trips this year. This is one I flew down the Ocean City, MD.
Image size:116k. Aerospatiale Tampico Club TB-9).

Inline Skating
I spent a couple years keeping in shape by blading a couple times a week. I've been pretty sedentary over the last year, so this spring I am starting to get back into the habit. This is a hint to any of my friends that they shouldn't let me get away with that old "I don't feel like skating right now" excuse. Here is the site of Rollerblade Inc., probably the the largest of the inline skate manufacturers.

Skydiving
Probably the most "out there" thing I've done, and I've only done it once. The excuse I used for talking myself into it was that the FAA requires anybody aboard a plane doing aerobatics to be wearing a parachute. I figured I should know how to one. However, I really, really wanted to skydive anyway. It was a total blast, and I may go back and do it more in the future. For now, I'm spending my money on actually landing in all the planes I take off in. (grin) Here's a page that looked to have some good skydiving info.