THINGS MY FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR NEVER TOLD ME

“Experience is what you get when you dont get what you want.” That quote, attributed to his business partner, characterizes Michael Leighton's personal experience in the world of general aviation. This book chronicles one man's journey in the world of general aviation and personal aircraft ownership. He has owned more than 70 different aircrafts, ranging from a very rare Travel Air 12Q Biplane to a King Air 200 Twin Turboprop.

Topics like fuel management, flight planning, reluctant passengers, dealing with weather, the FAA, buying and owning an aircraft, as well as moving up to bigger and faster aircraft, are all discussed with humor and whit. He also discusses the people in aviation he has met that have had an influence on his flying career. He began writing about his aviation experiences in 1995 and his stories have been published in numerous aviation magazines since then.

Leighton began flying in 1980 and has now accrued more than 3,300 flight hours, earning his Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multiengine, Flight Instructor, Instrument Instructor, Multi-Engine Instructor, and ATP ratings as well as a type rating in Citation 500 series jets and a Single Engine Seaplane rating. He is a current and active flight instructor, a licensed A&P mechanic and a former FAA Accident Prevention Counselor. He operates a FAR Part 135 Air Carrier charter company located in South Florida.