2012 Recap—Top Cap'n Aux Posts!

Well the Stats are in, and they are telling.  Looking back on the most popular Cap'n Aux posts of 2012, I have to say, it truly is "the best of the best!"

So, for you cheechackos* who may have missed them, or you sourdoughs who wanna relive 'em, without further ado, here's the Top 8**

(Note: apologies for the occasional difficult fonts to read; some older posts were written in my original web design, which may conflict with the current one.)

NUMBER 8

Gone with the Hurricane! (Part 1)

The notoriously ill- (or prophetically-) timed Gone with the Hurricane posted the very same week of last year's Hurricane Sandy debacle.  While the story was about my experience evacuating seaplanes during Hurricane Hugo in the U.S. Virgin Islands, late '80s, it turned out to be a very poignant story conveying life in the midst of a natural disaster—at a time when the world was focused on the trials and tribulations of the Eastern U.S. Seaboard.

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/11/there-i-wuz-gone-with-hurricane.html

And here's Part 2:
http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/11/hurricane-hugo-part-2.html

NUMBER 7

Go Ahead, Make Capn's Day!

When it comes to safely flying the ship, Cap'n Aux has a Nepoleon Complex.  His motto is:  "Welcome aboard!  Make my day."

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/09/go-ahead-make-capns-day.html

NUMBER 6

A Future Pilot Interviews Cap'n Aux

What started as a high school English project turned into a great blog.  I'm pretty sure my interviewer Cameron got an "A+!"

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-future-pilot-interviews-capn-aux.html

NUMBER 5

Answers to the Sandy Hook Tragedy Found in the Christmas Season

After this horrible tragedy, we were all searching for answers.  I believe I found at least some in the spirit of the Christmas season.

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/12/answers-to-sandy-hook-tragedy-found-in.html

NUMBER 4

Busted Aviation Myths:  Otto is My Copilot

A pet peeve is when someone asks me, "Hey, them autopilots can practically fly themselves, right?"  My answer: "Does your Cruise Control drive your car?!"

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/05/busted-aviation-myths-2-otto-is-my.html

NUMBER 3

Zen and the Art of Pilot Maintenance

Pilots are a notoriously picky lot.  More than just button-pushing, there's an art to the two-man crew.

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/02/zen-trois-zen-and-art-of-pilot.html

NUMBER 2

Flying a Fallen Hero

Another somber post, but with a touching, uplifting ending.  I dare you to try to read this dry-eyed!

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/07/interlude-flying-fallen-hero.html

NUMBER 1

Zen and the Art of Aircraft Maintenance

By a factor of two, this one consistently comes in at Number One.  A bit of a head-scratcher, it may be due to the similarity to the famous book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.  Nevertheless, it's filled with hilarious "squawks," or pilot mechanical write-ups, followed by Maintenance Control's smart-aleck replies!

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/01/zen-and-art-of-aircraft-maintenance.html

To make it an even Top 10, here are 2 more of my personal faves:

There I Wuz!  Episode One: The Sky Fell

Dedicated to the memory of my good friend Steve Wilson, a career Alaska bush pilot, this is the true story of a watershed moment in my career—and my life.  A fiction version of this episode appears in my novel, The Last Bush Pilots.

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/06/there-i-wuz-episode-1-sky-fell.html

The Girl, the Sold Watch, and Everything:
A Thai Adventure

The hilarious, true story of travel in a 3rd world country.  The simple search for a cheap watch that turned into an excruciating quest.***

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/05/there-i-was-episode-1-girl-cheap-watch.html

Bonus Post! A Pilot Looks at 50****

After turning the Big 5-0 last year, I look back on a career that has seen over two solid years spent in the sky.

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012_06_01_archive.html

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Double Bonus!  Last Year's Valentine's Post!

The Loon is a Harsh Mistress:
the Pilot's Dysfunctional Love Affair

Ask any pilot how he or she got into flying, and you will hear a love story.
One just like mine...

Link:

http://capnaux.blogspot.com/2012/02/loon-is-harsh-mistress-pilots.html

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Over at YouTube, my Cap'n Aux page gets lotsa hits too.

First off, if you haven't seen it, here's a quick one-minute guide to all things Cap'n Aux:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel here:
http://goo.gl/WSoih

Top Videos:

 30 years in the Life of an Airline Pilot

 Remember my viral vid, A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot?

(Which, sadly, I had to pull.)  Well, here's 30 years!

Zen and the Art of Landing

2nd in popularity (so far) to A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot

Santa Drops In

A charming Christmas poem... about a midair with you-know-who!

 

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*Cheechacko: Tenderfoot, greenhorn.  (If you'd read my book The Last Bush Pilots, you'd know this!;-) From Chinook jargon, originally a reference to someone new to Alaska or the Yukon.  chee (“new, lately”) + chako (“to come, arrive.”)

**Woulda done Top 10 if Google woulda given me that data!

***The watch is still ticking—and remains the best 3rd world piece of junk I've ever owned!

****Psst!  Can't help it!  Here's links to a few more personal Faves: The Poker Game That Launched My Career; Cap'n Aux's Ultimately Shattered Aviation Dream; The Life Aquatic and the Battle for Air Supremacy; The Darwin Awards, Aviation-Style!; Grand Crisis over Grand Canyon; Judgement Day! A Child's First Solo

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HAPPY VALENTINE'S MONTH!
Folks, you're gonna be so busy reading thru these posts, I'm gonna take the month off and travel thru the Philippines!  (And maybe do a little golfin' 'n skiin' around the States, too.)

No doubt, I will return with LOTSA bloggin' material!  I'll be sure to keep you posted on my daily adventures on my Cap'n Aux Facebook Page (facebook.com/CapnAux) and thru Twitter (@Capnaux) so be sure to check in!

(Note to all would-be burglars:  Vicious attack cat Tarzan remains on duty prowling my premesis, as does my teen son, 6'3", 230lb, Kickboxing & Glock handgun specialist Tim!)

Posting Feb 13 @ 12:00 PHX:

A Special Valentine's Vlog

A Love Story in (and of) the Sky!

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Posting in March!

Cap'n Aux interviews future airline pilot Swayne!

(For a preview, Check out Swayne's blog of flight training adventures over at http://martinsaviation.blogspot.com/)