There's a new addition to the rank of pilots among the hanger owners at Orlando Apopka Airport!  Congratulations go out to Yuka Yoshinaga Kagan upon becoming an FAA Certified Private Pilot!    Under the skilled and caring guidance of CJ (Amon Modine), Yuka's flight instructor, she was consistent, passionate, and dedicated to her training,

A little over 9 years ago Yuka came to the United States from Japan to become more proficient in English.  Little did she know her language skills would include a new wealth of technical terms and be challenged by the air traffic control phraseology required by all  general aviation pilots.  

Growing up in Japan Yuka always had a penchant for adventure.   She's participated in the now famous automobile sport of "drifting," skydived, bungee jumped, owns a Ducati "Monster" motorcycle,  and now has extended her sights into aviation.    When asked, "what do you want to do now Yuka..." she unabashedly says, "fly aerobatics!"  

Congratulations Yuka!  Sky's the limit!

After the most interesting 10-year stint as a young engineer at Kennedy Space Center, I decided to return to my native Puerto Rico. I was most fortunate, not only for having worked as a Design Supervisor in the Pneumatics and Propellants Section of the Apollo/Saturn, but also for having seen and felt  most of the Apollo/Saturn launchings from only three miles away; shortest distance anybody could be at launch time.  

I returned to PR to pursue other challenges but always believing that some day I may return to Florida. After all, my three children had been born, one in Atlanta, Georgia while getting my Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering and two in FL while working in the space program. I obtained my Private Pilot Certificate at Arthur Dunn while working at Cape Kennedy, and was the proud owner of a beat-up Cherokee 140. What I did not suspect was that I was going to be able to return 35 years later flying the most advanced little plane that anybody can have -- a new CIRRUS, SR22 G-3.

Although, I had made the trip from San Juan, PR to Florida a few times, this was a very special trip since Cirrus N-747MB was heading home: to Hangar 36 at the Orlando-Apopka Airport. The trip was well planned and included many waypoints and intersections along the route. The first leg took me along A555 on a 316° course from TJIG-Isla Grande International Airport in San Juan, PR--the smaller of two airports in San Juan--and where most of the small GA planes await their owners that enjoy weekend flying around the Caribbean Islands.  Continue Reading....