Buccaneer Rob Bach
My brother, Rob, taught me to fly in 1991. I thought it would be weird, spending day and night with him as a student. I assumed there’d be lots of sibling tension. In fact, it was glorious. We had a great time. I went from neophyte to solo cross-country flight in three-weeks.
Being a pilot is automatically a sort of buccaneery thing, if you want to be a GOOD pilot. You can get the certification, but that’s just the beginning. An excellent pilot does a lot of extra self-education to learn his aircraft inside and out. After years of not flying, I’m going through training again (this time my father is my instructor.)
Rob is an airline pilot, inventor, and antique aircraft restorer. He never went to college, and none of the things he’s famous for were taught to him in high school.
Here’s Rob talking about how he built his latest plane.
I wish I lived nearer to him, so we could build a plane together.
“I’m a capricorn and love pasta”
Hahahah… made me chuckle.
Comment by Yabusame — September 15, 2009 @ 11:41 am
Was that this year at Osh? I think I walked past the plane in the vintage lot, near where we camped, but not sure.
Rob needs his own TV show. He sounds as polished as the professionals. Must be all those years perfecting his “Captain’s” voice over the aircraft PA system.
[James' Reply: Yes, this year.]
Comment by Christopher Laney — September 21, 2009 @ 11:08 am
James was a remarkable student. He still holds the record for quickest solo among my students: 8 hours. And I was tough on him.
I, too, wish we were in closer proximity…I think he would be as amazing in the shop tooling up airplanes as e was flying them.
Comment by rob bach — March 18, 2010 @ 9:44 pm