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Interview 2-12-04
Heath Blair

Hello Mr. Blair

Here are the questions; sorry for the delay on them. I was a little bit
busier at work than what I though I would be. I really appreciate you
taking the time out to help me. Please take you time answering these
questions. I am very interested in what you have to say.

1.   Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

My name is Heath Blair. I am a 28 year old male living in East Tennessee. While growing up next to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I have always dreamed of flying (literally). This started at a young age. I think around age 4 or 5 I had reoccurring dreams I was flying. It was such a free feeling and a nice one. Sometimes these dreams were so vivid I could have swore it happened. This subject made it to the dinner table many times with my family.

At the age of ten, my mother, Vera Blair purchased a ride for me in a Cessna 152 (N95028) at the local airport (TYS). My instructor, a very nice lady, looked me straight in the eye immediately after take off and said "would you like to fly"? My eyes were the size of the universe and I could barley see out of the window. With a brisk "hell yes" I grabbed the yoke and began my venture as a pilot. She told me to hold enough pressure on the stick to hold a 70 knot climb. I think there was enough adrenaline running through my body at the time I could have flown without the wings.

As the years went by I took many flight lessons and ground school from Cherokee Aviation. On my sixteenth birthday I had my first solo in a Tomahawk (N2460C). Dam what a feeling! Although great feelings were going on, fixed wing flight was not my main goal. Prior to my solo I started helicopter lessons in a Schweizer 300C. I was fifteen and cocky as hell. In my mind I should have been able to fly anything by this point. This turned out to be not so true. A light helicopter is dam hard to fly. My instructor put me in my place real quick. Jim Folger took me and N428MS between the two runways at Tyson (in class C airspace) and said "here.. hover". He flew us in there like we were Magnum PI and I flew us between the jets like a baby learning to walk. I was all over the place. I asked him if he thought it was dangerous for me to learn how to hover this thing between two runways. His answer was as cocky as my earlier attitude. I thought you said you would have no trouble with this he said. It was hot and I was sweating like a black bear in Vegas. After thirty minutes of torture he guided me out of there. After 6 more lessons and 6.9 hours later I became a dam good helicopter pilot. The trick is learning to relax and fly the thing like a lady. I got my first class medical and proceeded with 172's, Warriors, Dakotas, and once a twin.

Something drastic happened at the age of 17. Hormones, hormones, hormones! I gained a sex drive and left everything else behind. All I cared about was women and party's. I flew 10 times between 1992 and 1998. College was even fading due to my priority list. At one point during college my mother decided if all I wanted to do was party she would have no reason to pay for it. My financial help went away and a grudge was held for a year. I finally got a full time job and realized my friends and women were keeping me from my destiny.

Although I soloed and was a good pilot I never went for my license. Things dwindled at 17. During 1999 I decided I had a 6 dollar an hour job, no girlfriend, and it would be best for me to join the military. I filled out a national security questionnaire, took the ASFAB, and was very close to joining the ARMY as a helicopter pilot. I went to the air base here at TYS and talked with the ground crew. They were very upset that there was no funding to keep the birds in the air and I decided against this. Clinton was in office at the time and I think he went through the hormone stage. I understood this and went on my merry way with college and a nice job with the local cable company.

3.   How did you did you excel in your career?

As time went on, I was still trying to go to college and be something. Every night class I took became harder because of work. I kept getting raises and promotions. It got to the point were I said the hell with this. I am making more money now than I ever would going to college. I enrolled in some NCTI courses through my work and again was paid more for my efforts.

2.   Why did you get into the ultra-lite industry and instructor business?

Although I was making good money and things seamed to be going well for me, I decided again that I wanted to suffice my ultimate goal (I wanted to fly again). For six months I researched different aircraft that would be affordable to me. I found ultralights! Key point here. I was seriously looking at a mini 500 helicopter when I ran across a Challenger. I found that the mini 500 was badly designed and a death trap. I also found a Challenger built by quad city that was manageable and one hell of an airplane. I bought the video and researched some more. I could not find any reports on the internet claming the Challenger as a poorly built or structurally unsafe airplane. Everything pointed to this aircraft. Believe me I was anal about safety. I know how I fly. The decision was made and I called the manufacture. They gave me a name and number of the dealer here in Knoxville. Bob Lewis was called immediately and we meat that evening at a hanger an hour away from the office. I was sold at the sight of the thing. I ended up buying a plane that he told me about that was built by an A&P fitted with a ballistic parachute and all the extras. My talent as a pilot was recognized fast. After a short time I became an instructor. I passed all the tests with flying colors and flew like a fish in water. Bob and I decided we were good crew mates and began a flight school. With my technical background I was able to build a nice web site to show others how fun, affordable, and safe this could be. Boy were we in for a supprize. Today we get calls from all over the world and have visitors from everywhere. I am working on a film now that I hope Discovery Wings will pick up. Maybe this interview will help.

4.   If someone wanted to enter the Aviation field how would you recommend they go about it?

It is a good idea to start early. I was fortunate enough to have a family that saw and embraced my feelings when they were evident. Funding is the biggest issue but can be managed if you are determined. Start with a lesson in a small plane in your local area. If you have a bad experience don't stop there. You never know when someone is having a bad day or the area you are in just isn't friendly. Talk with other people about your goals, what you are interested in, and what you are trying to accomplish. Flying is not for everyone but can be accomplished by about anyone. Since 911 security has increase and tension is high so don't go into this with the attitude you only want to learn how to take off and fly. Trust me, you will either be humbled or interrogated.

5.   What is something that Aviation has offered you other than your salary?

Aviation has never paid for itself. I do this for my own enjoyment and to help others become good, safe, and happy pilots. I am sure I could become more than this but I have a good job as an engineer now with offers from big companies. The teaching part pays for my gas and maintenance but could never be a full time income. You must pass a first class physical, dedicate full time to teaching, be prepared to starve at times, and entertain your goals full time to become financially successfully.

Gratification comes to mind as I think about what aviation has offered me. I feel free in the air. There are no stop lights, no speed limits in certain areas, I can go up and down, fight the wind, and relax on a regular basis. Have you ever felt true freedom? Go flying one day. I guarantee you this. There is no where on earth you can be as free as in the air. You are just another part of the energy when you are in the air.

6.   What do you feel others in the field can do to better themselves?

Stay focused if you want to do this full time. It is not so easy to just say I am a pilot and or instructor. Keep building on what you know and teach. You will learn more by teaching than you ever would as a student. Be cautious of your attitude. You may be good but there is always someone out there better than you.

7. Final Comments:

Mr. Davis,

Thanks for the opportunity to speak to who ever you present this to. I feel like you deserve my thoughts for trying so hard to reach me. I understand we are both busy people and that's the way things go. I hope this interview helps and that you get a chance to pursue your dreams.

Sincerely,

Heath Blair

http://flyultralites.com

Thank You

ADAM DAVIS