What's the FPA?

Monument Valley from above
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During the last ten days, I've filed and flown 8 IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flight plans, flown one single VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight, burned about 325 gallons of aviation fuel, and have flown 24 hours round trip from Minneapolis to San Diego in a single engine aircraft.  Together, Anne, dad, and I have seen the american west from the air, mirroring the trip we took a year ago via automobile.

So why do this, and wouldn't it be cheaper and safer to fly commercially?  Sure it would, but Roger (dad) has belonged to the FPA, or the Flying Physicians Association for as long as I can remember.  The FPA is an organization of Doctors, Surgeons, and Psychiatrists that, well, fly.  Albeit an aging organization with decreasing numbers, they are some of the nicest, interesting, and exciting people to be around.  Sharing their interests of flying, medicine, and travel, over happy hour is just one of the activities that was slated for this year's national convention.  It's nice to see someone else enjoy happy hour as much as me and Anne.

Pika and I could live here...if we just had jobs and money

Grand Canyon's south rim
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So we lifted off at Flying Cloud at O 700.  Our first day's flights took us from Minneapolis to Pueblo Colorado where we rented a car and drove out to Bishop Castle where dad was able to see the castle that Jim Bishop built with his own hands.  The trip to the castle this year was extra special as I met Jim Bishop himself, repairing some broken glass about half way up the tallest spire.  Madder than a sprayed hornet, Jim is quick to let you know his displeasure with our entire government, encouraging me not to renew my driver's license and take immediate action at all government levels, whatever creates the most havoc with our entire bureaucratic system.  I assured him that I was just there to look at his castle, and thanked him for his interesting creation that he has been working on for nearly 40 years.

Everything is under control, honest.
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The next day we climbed to 13000 feet and crossed the Rocky Mountains, with a destination of Santa Fe New Mexico.  A quaint city with a lot of over priced art, Santa Fe possessed beautiful weather that promised us an excellent site seeing flight the following morning.  Aside from a minor landing gear problem, the flight from Santa Fe to Page Arizona brought us over Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and finally to Page Arizona, where dad and I toured the Glen Canyon dam.

Finally on day four, we were off to the convention in San Diego, but not before passing over the Grand Canyon (with many flight restrictions I might add) and the deserts of southern California.  We landed and made our way to the hotel where Roger stopped and talked to every FPA member along the way, eventually making it up to our 12th floor room.  The Hyatt's rooms were newly renovated with excellent views, but much less attractive deals, such as the 5 dollar bottle of Aquafina water and the 30 dollar bottles of white zinfandel.  Still, nice area.

Silly Gorilla
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During our stay in San Diego, we visited the famous zoo, Sea World, the Air and Space Museum, and the Midway Aircraft Carrier.  And I'm not really going out on a limb here, but San Diego is a tremendously wonderful city.  Pika and I could live here...if we just had jobs and money.  I highly recommend visiting the area if you have not done so already.

All things must come to an end, and with two solid days of flight planning and flying, I steered the Cessna back to Minnesota where we landed uneventfully.  The trip was a success on many levels.  Not only did I gain valuable experience of flying long cross country flights over mountains and the greater american west, but I have been able to spend copious amounts of time with my father, something that I didn't always get to do growing up with his over-stacked work schedule.  Plan B does pay its dividends.

Shamu's
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