COMMENTARY 4 President's Position 28 18 On Course 20 Proficient Pilot 22 Flying Life 24 Safety Spotlight 26 For the Record DEPARTMENTS 14 Letters 101 Advertiser Index 102 Tips from PIC 104 Pilots SECTIONS AOPA ACTION 10 Top Stories 12 View from Capitol Hill BRIEFING 28 Events 30 Industry 31 Sweepstakes 33 Membership 34 Postcards 35 You Can Fly 36 Milestones 37 Test Pilot 38 Technique 40 Aircraft 42 Aviation History 35 91 2 AOPA PILOT / January 2025 ALL DOLLED UP 1963 V-TAIL BONANZA / P.T-X ACROSS THE ROCKIES FLYING FOR FRESH HOPS / P.XX 43 People 44 Why I Love My Airplane 46 Musings RUDDER & WRENCH 80 Ownership 84 Weather 87 Savvy Maintenance 89 Flying Smart 91 Never Again FLY WITH AOPA 94 Membership 96 ASI Safety Tips 98 Social Media 100 Medically Speaking The Voice of General Aviation aopa.org/pilot / January 2025 / $8.95 BLUE SKIES MARK BAKER REFLECTS ON GA SUCCESSES / P.XX BLUE SKIES Kollin Stagnito interviews AOPA President Mark Baker as the energetic leader prepares to retire in " Signing Off, " which begins on p. 50. Photography by Chris Rose Contact us at 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) OCTOBER 2024 Blues Skies: Mark Baker / V-Tail Bonanza Restoration / Portfolio: Jean Marie Urlacher aopa.org