I've flown somewhere close to 200 times. That includes commercial, overseas and domestic, private small planes, and flying for work with the execs I used to write speeches for, journeys which were on small and medium-sized Lear and Canadair jets. I've also had ground school and 55 hours of my own flying time, but I'm not counting that in the 200 tally. The flying with my corporate executive bosses also involved a number of trips on nice helicopters, which I also love.

I flew for the first time when I was not quite 4 years old and so don't remember a time when I was ever afraid of it. I love being in the air, even when it's stormy or rough and the skies aren't so friendly. Love the sensations of taking off and landing--even turbulence. I've always--except for once when there was engine trouble on a little Cessna Caravan I was a passenger on--felt completely safe up there. Would like to spend more time studying flying sometime in the future and get my instrumentation rating, but I'm not sure I really need that. One of Dave's best buddies in the world owns a little aviation company here in Dallas and gets us anyplace we need or want to go.

Someday I'd like to learn how to fly gliders. That sounds like the epitome of aviation heaven to me.