AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2021 - 22

PROFICIENT PILOT
All in the family
A third-generation Schiff takes to the skies
UNTIL MY SON, BRIAN, TURNED 14, I had no way of
knowing if he was interested in learning to fly. He
had never said a word about it. Then one day it came
out of nowhere. " Hey, Dad. Will you teach me to fly? "
" Are you kidding? " I blurted. " Nothing would
please me more. " I had never asked if he wanted to fly
for fear that he would say yes just to please me. It was
important to me that it be his idea. This meant more
than father and son sharing a common interest. His
BY BARRY SCHIFF
instead vectored Jon to Mark King, a gifted taildragger
and aerobatic instructor at nearby Santa Paula Airport.
When Mark gave Jon the approving nod to make his
first solo circuits, Brian; his wife, Lynn; my wife, Dorie;
a cluster of Jon's friends; and I were there to witness
the event, hiding behind hangar doors to prevent the
new solo pilot from discovering the celebration awaiting
him. I recognized the pride beaming from Brian and
wondered if Jon had any idea how special he would
regard this moment for the rest of his life.
Not surprisingly, Mark later introduced Jon to
aerobatics, which whet Jon's appetite for more. At
home, he searched YouTube and other portals for
aerobatic videos, studying some and becoming fascinated
by others.
His absolute favorite aerobatic pilot is Rob
Holland, who performs maneuvers never before seen
at airshows. He holds 19 U.S. national championship
titles and is a five-time World Freestyle Aerobatic
Champion. When asked how he got his start in aerobatics,
Holland says with a grin, " When I was a kid,
the models suspended from my bedroom ceiling were
hanging upside down. "
One day recently, Mark was scheduled to give Jon
Jon Schiff
wanting to fly told me more than words could express
that he approved of what I did and who I was. Many
of you know that Brian's drive and passion resulted
in him being hired by TWA when he was only 21. He
now is an Airbus captain for American Airlines.
This explains why I knew exactly how Brian felt
BARRY SCHIFF'S
parents were
opposed to his
becoming a pilot
until learning about
airline passes for
family members.
22 | AOPA PILOT July 2021
when his son-obviously, my grandson-Jon, confronted
him with the same life-changing question. I felt and
shared Brian's excitement. And just as I had purchased
a Citabria in which to give wing to my son's ambition,
Brian did the same for Jon. He made the painful decision,
however, not to personally teach Jon in the family
Citabria because he had no experience instructing a
presolo student from the rear seat of a taildragger. He
an aerobatic lesson in his Pitts S2. When Jon arrived
at the airplane, however, Mark told him, " I'm not feeling
well today, but there's someone else here to take
my place. " At that pre-arranged moment, Rob Holland
walked up to Jon with an outstretched hand. You have
never seen such a stunned expression on anyone's
face. (Holland was in town to coach some aerobatic
pilots, and he and Mark are friends.)
Both pilots donned parachutes, buckled themselves
into the Pitts, and departed for what will
always be regarded by Jon as one of the most exciting
flights of his life. " We did a whole bunch of stuff
including tumbling and double hammerheads. It was
exhilarating. " Holland enjoys taking up youngsters to
inspire them and veterans to say, " thank you. "
Jon will be attending the University of North
Dakota this fall and majoring in aeronautical science.
It also is where he will be earning his advanced ratings.
He says that he chose UND not only because it
is a great school but because he hates heat. He certainly
won't have to worry about that in Grand Forks,
North Dakota.
AOPA
barryschiff.com
http://www.barryschiff.com
AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - July 2021
