Experiencing the Fun of Flying
I have been flying general aviation aircraft for more than 40 years. I suppose it goes without saying that I got started because I loved aviation. But I also saw the practical uses of GA for transportation.

Throughout my career. I've had plenty of reasons to travel for work. I haven't always had the option of flying for myself, but whenever I have had the opportunity. I've seized it.

So from the earliest days of my flying career, the majority of my flight hours have been spent trying to get from point A to point B. Over the years I've owned or flown a variety of Cessnas, Bonanzas, and other aircraft - mostly for business transportation.

When you need to move from place to place, there's no more enjoyable way to do it
than GA. But what about flying just for fun? I've sometimes had trouble squeezing in
a $100 hamburger or personal travel between the demands of business trips.

Well, for the first time in my four-plus decades of flying, I am making flying for fun a
priority. Earlier th is year I purchased a good-as-new 1998 Aviat Husky. Learning to
fly a tailwheel has been an enjoyable challenge, and the Husky is the perfect vehicle
for visiting all kinds of new airports and back-country airstrips in remote and beautiful
locations. And that's just whatI've been doing.

I recently tagged along on a magazine photo shoot, taking my Husky to New England
while AOPA Pilot magazine's Dave Hirschman flew the Tougher Than a Tornado
Sweepstakes Husky. The weather was perfect. the leaves were colorful, and the flying
was some of the most relaxing and enjoyable I've done in years.

II the weather in your part of the country permits, I hope you'll take some time out of this busy holiday season to go fly just for fun. You can bet I will.

Craig L. Fuller,
AOPA President and CEO