SCFC member Jerry Birn was living vicariously through the cross-country adventures of his friend, SCFC member Bob Turcott, as Bob winged his way across America in BYF41 (N1483L). Then out of nowhere, lightning struck (figuratively), Bob tore his achilles and the plane was stuck on Cape Cod. Recognizing a unique opportunity, Jerry flew the plane back to San Carlos in three and one-half days, logging true “cross-country” time.
Jerry is an instrument-rated commercial pilot. He will focus on the aeronautical decision making that went into planning for and making a fast trip across the country, including the unique challenges of weather, unfamiliar terrain, new airports, and setting and continually reevaluating reasonable personal safety limits. Whether you are a new pilot interested in venturing farther afield from the Bay Area, or a seasoned pilot ready to embark on longer, multi-day flights, each of the five legs of Jerry’s flight offers interesting lessons. Join us to hear about Jerry’s unexpected adventure from Cape Cod back to the Bay Area.
You surely won’t want to miss this seminar if you are planning to go on a long cross-country trip, improve your flight planning, or you just want to learn more about the adventures of a fellow pilot.
Jerry Birn, a retired lawyer, earned his private pilot and commercial certificates in the late 1970s. After a brief hiatus of four decades, he returned to flying three years ago under Herb Patten’s guidance and has participated in the flight center’s summer trips to Colorado and the Pacific Northwest the past two summers. He still believes in paper approach charts and thinks that GPS is cheating.
