FEATURES January 2025 VOL. 68 / NO. 1 72 A Vought F4U Corsair flown by Baptiste Salis (top) and a Dassault Rafale flown by Benjamin Fontaine (bottom) over the Lac de Serre-Ponçon in the Hautes-Alpes region of France. Both aircraft used to land on French aircraft carriers. Photography by Jean-Marie Urlacher Signing Off Mark Baker reflects on major successes and work that remains. By Kollin Stagnito Page 50 Hop is My Copilot Flying across the Rockies for ingredients to brew beer. By Julie Summers Walker Page 56 Mountain-High Aspirations A complete restoration on a Colorado classic V-tail renews its youth. By Julie Boatman Page 64 Photography Portfolio: Jean-Marie Urlacher French connection. By Sylvia Horne Page 72 AOPA PILOT / January 2025 1