SKIPPER
Beech Craft BE 77 N38026
This is the wonderful Aircraft that I am learning to fly. I began my lessons in 2007 without the objective to solo. I Intended to fly around with instructors and enjoy flying. However, this
goal did not last long and I began wanting to become an accomplished pilot. The FAA did not cooperate but after eight months I received Medical Certification third class and Student Pilot Certificate. Many peopleattempted to discourage me because of my age, 85 years young. On September 18, 2008 I flew solo for the first time. As of 20 Feb, 2009 I have 10.7 hours of solo time. On Feb. 3 2009 I passed my written FAA private pilot Exam.
March 5, 2010 I have over 174 hours in the skipper.
In July 2008 I had the airplane repainted. The color scheme was designed by Ruh
Began one of America' finest aircraft artists’ in the colors of the 302nd Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group the Tuskegee Airmen. The aircraft's name is "Spirit of the Tuskegee Airmen" my Goal is to use this airplane to teach youth to fly at a very reduced cost. Toward that goal I formed a tax exempt 501(c) (3) foundation "the Lieutenant Colonel James C. Warren Scholarship fund ",a tax exempt foundation. To-date one young man has earned a private pilot license and will enter U.S
Air Force pilot training in April 2010, one has soloed and will enter the
Air force Academy in June 2010, and one youth has receives several hours of training. However due to objections to my program by the management of the Nut Tree airport, my program is on hold until these objections can be worked out.
I flew everything I could get my hands on. Whatever aircraft I flew in I got some "stick time." Warren said, "but to fly alone as the pilot that’s the dream. That’s the thrill knowing I can do it myself." Fast forward about 65 years and Warren decided he wanted to finish what he started long ago. But to do so, he needed some help from instructors. That’s where Adam Weiss and Lloyd Tincher came in. Weiss said he was a bit skeptical that Warren would get medically cleared, but vowed to work with him until the clearance came. "I thought he was crazy. It’s unprecedented. We had bets going that he wouldn’t make it," Weiss joked. "I really wanted to help him because I knew his character and how much it meant to him. We kept plugging away." Tincher had similar doubts, but also had similar hopes for Warren. "I thought that he’s too old" he said. "I explained to him , let’s do it for fun." I didn’t think he could. But he just went after it with gusto. Warren said, "he’s not used to folks telling him he can't do something. He kept persisting until the FAA finally gave him the green light." A lot of people told me that this would never happen. I said "No, I’m going to do it." Weiss said, "Warren never showed his age before or after the flight. He had a lot of tenacity and is very head strong." He said, "in many ways, he’s just like the young students. Afterward, he was as excited as a 16-year-old, if not more". Warren said "when the first flight was all over, it was time to celebrate and reflect on a long life dream come true. I got home and invited my neighbors over for some champagne, we partied!"
Lt. Col James C. Warren is a Tuskegee Airman, who completed 12,000 + hours as a Navigator during his Air Force career including 50 combat missions in the Korean War and 123 missions in Vietnam. But the 85 year old’s most memorable sortie took place last week when he flew a solo flight for the first time. "I’ve never been so excited as I was when I finished." Warren said, "when I got downwind I yelled a loud "Whee!." I knew that it was now between me and the airplane to get it down. There’s nothing like that first solo. You can only do it once. Warren’s flight around the Nut Tree airport continued a journey to be a pilot that was cut short while he was in pilot’s training. He said that it was a regular occurrence for African-American pilot to be disqualified with no explanation. He later became a navigator for missions in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, often times taking control of the planes, but never had the satisfaction of flying alone as a pilot.
Update on the saga of Lt. Col. James C. Warren and his flying career. On July 17, 2009 the FAA notified him that his third class medical was no longer approved. Due to a change in his field of vision test results. I took many actions to revoke this decision. I visited the University of California at Davis Ophthalmology clinic, a world class clinic and completed a six hour eye examination. The exam report stated that my field of vision was stable and my glaucoma was stable and had not changed since 2008 which is the year that the FAA had first issued the medical certificate. On November 13, 2009 I requested that I be given a medical flight test - the FAA refused. Their reply to my medical report from UCD Medical center was that they would submit my examination to their Ophthalmology consultants. The consultants requested that I submit the results of a current Goldman 1114e visual field graphs. I did. The FAA still would not relent. However with a request from the AOPA association they agreed to allow me to take a medical flight test administered by a flight examiner from the local FESDO. I took the flight test on 7 June2010 and passed with "flying colors". With the very strong assistance of Robert Hertan, my friend and flight instructor who insisted that I fly with precision and be dedicated to a high level of performance. I was then able to complete the flight requirements to be recommended to take the private pilot proficiency examination. However, Robert was not through with me yet. Prior to recommending me for the private pilots proficiency examination we entered in to a very intensive 10 hourtraining session on all the items that I would be tested on. Upon the completion of this training I was now ready and He then recommended me for the flight test. On September 20, 2010 I was administered a flight examination by Mr. Reinhardt Jarschke, A FAA certified Flight examiner. After an exhaustive flight test I was awarded my private pilot Certificate (license.) This was almost as thrilling as my first solo. The next day I completed my next flying goal. I gave my wife a flight around the local area, which she enjoyed.
I am very happy and comfortable with my accomplishment. I am the oldest person to initially earn a private Pilots license in America at age 87. The oldest prior to my earning my certificate was 84.The FAA began keeping records in 1995. The EAA list the oldest person to solo as 75 however Mr. Thomas Jefferson Beavers could have been 84 when he soloed. I was 85 years old when I soloed. I now have over 225 hours in the Skipper.