Jekyl or Hyde Page
When I was three years old I knew that I wanted to play guitar and fly airplanes. I played my first gig when I was 13 and I got paid $20 bucks. I took that $20 bucks to the Dowagiac airport and logged my first flight lesson . That pattern continued later as whenever a tour ended and I had some time before the next one started, I would head to the airport and get another rating added to my pilot certificate. These two obsessions have so far balanced each other out. When I get burned out on the guitar, I turn my attention to flying. When I get burned out on flying, I get all fired up about playing guitar!
As for my flying gig, I am a check airman for NetJets and the airplane I fly is the Hawker 800XPC.
This picture link is a short video of the Hawker in flight.
Netjets is best described as a private airline for celebrities and well to do folks. When Arnold was running for governor I was assigned to fly him when he campaigned around California. I told him that if he won, I would move back out there. So far he has not held me to it!
For fun I have a little tail dragger that I seldom get higher than 500 feet in. If its not to cold I buzz around with the doors off. Its an absolute blast. Its called an Avid Flyer.
If you would like to go for a ride in the Avid, check out the Flight.mpg video. The music is Jeff and I playing in a basement in Clinton, IA. Its a demo for "Flight" off of the Clark, Pauken, Ricketts CD.
I like to fly the Avid from grass runway's and so nick-named it the "Grass Hopper".
Email me if you would like at:
2004-2008 MichaelDRicketts.com