There and Back Again...

 The Schmidt's are finally back in Spokane after almost 2 months gallivanting around the States. It has been a wonderful summer seeing family, visiting supporters, and flying the Kodiak to new places. Over the two weeks that Tyler was gone he had traveled over 4800 miles, given rides to 300+ people and gained 17.8 hours of valuable flight time in the Kodiak.   The Spokane Turbine Center crew also visited over 9 States on this trip, and even got to play a little in the Colorado mountains with the Kodiak. We are so thankful for the safety that God provided during that time and the almost problem free trip with the Kodiak (some lights didn't want to work on the Kodiak). 

A heavy dew on the cowling at Smoketown PA

Ken Smoll and his dad, fixing the strobe lights that didn't want to work.  This was due to the moisture from the dew getting in the power box of the strobes, but as soon as they dried out we were set to go.  Thankfully it was not a major problem at all

Tyler doing what he does best...Shutting the door

Tyler flying one of the many legs to the next destination

Jeremy and Jill Hart were our host family in Colorado and good friends of Ken's.  We took them out to Eagle CO for lunch in the mountains and had a blast.

Got to see some pretty neat stuff like this waterfall

Also thunderstorm clouds started to "pop" and we got to "work" the weather and fly around some rain showers

The Hart family and STC crew in the Kodaik heading back to Centennial/ Denver CO

The dramatic walk away (with theme music of course) after a good flight

 

These are some of the kids we gave rides to in Grand Rapids MI from Western Michigan Aviation Academy, some of these guys had never ridden in a plane before

 

The man in the white shirt is Dick DeVos. He is the one funding the Western Michigan Aviation Academy and invited us back a second year to give rides to the new incoming freshman class.

Our "small" Kodiak parked next to a Gulfstream 5 in Dick DeVos's Amway hangar.

 

All packed and ready to head home!

 

Tyler is snoozing while Aaron is contemplates the complex pattern on the blanket he is face planted on

After two weeks of not seeing my family I am sure glad to be reunited with them

As we passed through North Dakota to pick up Renae, we were able to give a ride to Renae's sisters family.  It was their first ride in an airplane and they enjoyed it!