Okay, so I have a bone to pick. This is against all $100 hamburger thrills but let's get real. Are airport restaurants legitimately good because of the food? I'd say most are not are not, in fact they are awful. Don't get me wrong, I love all airport fly-in restaurants just as much as the next guy but that doesn't mean they have good food. There is something very invigorating about pulling up to an eatery in your aircraft, hopping out, and drinking as much iced tea as you possibly can stand. Realizing you forgot you have to fly home and now your in a position where you have to pee every 15 minutes for the next few hours. The fly in airport restaurant is a dying breed. Its the excuse for many aviators to fly their airplane. Not many quality fly in restaurants exist any more. Being in Chicago, one of the country's food capitals, there are very few fly in restaurants. Its sad, incredibly sad.  There are a few well known and popular places to fly in to and eat, but they are few and far between. Quite frankly, the aviator gets burnt out on going to the same place over and over again.  How can we fix the business model, little do the restaurant owners know, they are an excuse, purpose, destination and hobby to fly in to. I think we need to continue to support these eateries, but it wouldn't hurt to have more options. Options that go beyond the frozen grilled hamburger patty, pickles, and iced tea. Maybe something a bit tastier, fresh food, fresh ingredients, new cuisine? I mean come on, we are pilots we are born to burn fossil fuel, and eat. I wouldn't be opposed if there was friendly competition in this important area of aviation. We'd get to see more destinations, have better excuses and eat more food. I am all for a new fly in restaurant, where is it at!? 

Constantly I am harassed by my co-workers about going into beta but who cares. If you don't know what beta is that's okay. You just need to know what it sounds like. Its probably one of the coolest aviation sounds out there. Beta a.k.a. ground fine, has its very practical uses for operating aircraft. It kind of gives you that same feeling of wearing Carhart on the first snow fall of the year. Its a great feeling. By simply pulling back on your power levers you can almost wake up the entire neighborhood by creating an awesome sound. You can also almost stop on a dime by going into beta, but who cares about that? Wait....I kinda do. When the engines and propellers go into beta, the propellers slap the air in such a funny way that it creates the best sound ever. Its so distinct, so loud and its what I get harassed for doing by my co-workers. I just look at them and smile. To optimize the sound of beta you should be rolling. The faster you roll, the louder and more awesome the sound gets. To get the minimal amount for a quality sound, do your self a favor and taxi at the brisk walk or jogging pace. Put your hand on the power levers and lift those puppies up over the gate and shove them down into beta and enjoy!! - AL