Charles Stites
@bluepilot.bsky.social
Longtime pilot, founder of Able Flight, an aviation nonprofit that makes it possible for people with physical disabilities to become licensed pilots in the U.S. Before then, an aviation photographer and writer for aviation magazines. ableflight.org
Wind farm along a Sunday morning flight in the Midwest.
November 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Wind farm along a Sunday morning flight in the Midwest.
Came across this small school just outside Casper, Wyoming while exploring the Oregon Trail in May. Perhaps they could be warning strangers who don’t possess necessary local knowledge, or maybe just constantly frightening the kids. The first would be a service; the second would just be cruel.
August 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Came across this small school just outside Casper, Wyoming while exploring the Oregon Trail in May. Perhaps they could be warning strangers who don’t possess necessary local knowledge, or maybe just constantly frightening the kids. The first would be a service; the second would just be cruel.
Not often enough that you’ll see a ground speed of 139 knots (159.9 mph) in a Piper Cherokee 180. Moments after this photo the ground speed was 142 knots (163.4 mph) as the result of a nice push from a tailwind much stronger than forecast. Even better, power was set at well under max. #aviation
April 6, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Not often enough that you’ll see a ground speed of 139 knots (159.9 mph) in a Piper Cherokee 180. Moments after this photo the ground speed was 142 knots (163.4 mph) as the result of a nice push from a tailwind much stronger than forecast. Even better, power was set at well under max. #aviation
Below the left wing of the Piper with a layer of clouds hiding the “Fire Swamp” below (AKA the Okefenokee). Camera pans for the same view on the right, but below the clouds are highways and farm fields. Skirting the swamp seems the better choice if an unplanned landing is required. #aviation
April 4, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Below the left wing of the Piper with a layer of clouds hiding the “Fire Swamp” below (AKA the Okefenokee). Camera pans for the same view on the right, but below the clouds are highways and farm fields. Skirting the swamp seems the better choice if an unplanned landing is required. #aviation
My Piper resting between flights at Baxley, GA, a welcoming waypoint when heading South. The next leg over North Central Florida is over the Okefenokee Swamp, AKA the “Fire Swamp” & 30 minutes of asking myself why not fly the East Coast of FL with more airports and open fields than can be counted?
March 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
My Piper resting between flights at Baxley, GA, a welcoming waypoint when heading South. The next leg over North Central Florida is over the Okefenokee Swamp, AKA the “Fire Swamp” & 30 minutes of asking myself why not fly the East Coast of FL with more airports and open fields than can be counted?
Even a couple of miles away, you can get a nice bump from the warm air rising from the cooling towers of the Savannah River Nuclear Plant on a cold winter day.
January 26, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Even a couple of miles away, you can get a nice bump from the warm air rising from the cooling towers of the Savannah River Nuclear Plant on a cold winter day.
Reposted by Charles Stites
January 17, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by Charles Stites
Gonna start using this term now
January 17, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Gonna start using this term now
Congratulations to Chris Sullivan who just passed his checkride to become an Instrument Rated pilot! An Able Flight pilot (quadriplegic) steadily advancing through ratings and certificates, Chris owns the specially-adapted Piper Arrow seen here. ableflight.org #peoplewithdisabilities #aviation
January 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Congratulations to Chris Sullivan who just passed his checkride to become an Instrument Rated pilot! An Able Flight pilot (quadriplegic) steadily advancing through ratings and certificates, Chris owns the specially-adapted Piper Arrow seen here. ableflight.org #peoplewithdisabilities #aviation
Able Flight is busy reviewing scholarship applications for the “Class of 2025”, and like this group from 2024, they will become licensed pilots. They face the challenges of physical disability, but with adapted planes and excellent instruction, they will succeed. #ableflight #aviation ableflight.org
January 11, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Able Flight is busy reviewing scholarship applications for the “Class of 2025”, and like this group from 2024, they will become licensed pilots. They face the challenges of physical disability, but with adapted planes and excellent instruction, they will succeed. #ableflight #aviation ableflight.org
Yesterday, a singular moment in over four decades of flying. Not this ordinary view of passing southwest of Jacksonville and the St. John’s River to the left. It was when the JAX controller told me he couldn’t handle my request info so fast; that it was too much for him at one time. Sweet. #aviation
January 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Yesterday, a singular moment in over four decades of flying. Not this ordinary view of passing southwest of Jacksonville and the St. John’s River to the left. It was when the JAX controller told me he couldn’t handle my request info so fast; that it was too much for him at one time. Sweet. #aviation
The mental math it takes to nail a 15 degree correction angle…oh wait, the GPS and autopilot did that for me, and did it perfectly. But I’m sure I still could if needed. Just don’t need to…#aviation
January 5, 2025 at 12:50 AM
The mental math it takes to nail a 15 degree correction angle…oh wait, the GPS and autopilot did that for me, and did it perfectly. But I’m sure I still could if needed. Just don’t need to…#aviation
Fly long enough and you’ll have a favorite passenger or two. In this role reversal, I’d like to think that I was her’s. For years she was a natural flyer, most often napping in the back and waking just before landing. #pilots #aviation #aussie #dogsinplanes
January 2, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Fly long enough and you’ll have a favorite passenger or two. In this role reversal, I’d like to think that I was her’s. For years she was a natural flyer, most often napping in the back and waking just before landing. #pilots #aviation #aussie #dogsinplanes
Reposted by Charles Stites
For everyone flying off to the holidays this week, here’s a #WingWednesday to celebrate!
#avgeeks #aviation
#avgeeks #aviation
December 18, 2024 at 1:21 PM
For everyone flying off to the holidays this week, here’s a #WingWednesday to celebrate!
#avgeeks #aviation
#avgeeks #aviation
For Wing Wednesday, a decade old memory of a Navion wing above a solid cloud layer with thin clouds above. Most likely over the Appalachians. #WingWednesday #aviation #avgeeks
December 18, 2024 at 1:37 PM
For Wing Wednesday, a decade old memory of a Navion wing above a solid cloud layer with thin clouds above. Most likely over the Appalachians. #WingWednesday #aviation #avgeeks
After having flown a “larger” plane for many years and never having named it, I’ll call this one “Little Wing” (credit goes to my wife), and retroactively name my earlier plane (with little creativity), “Big Bird”. Little Wing awaits an early Friday the 13th flight. #Fridayflight #aviation
December 13, 2024 at 2:58 PM
After having flown a “larger” plane for many years and never having named it, I’ll call this one “Little Wing” (credit goes to my wife), and retroactively name my earlier plane (with little creativity), “Big Bird”. Little Wing awaits an early Friday the 13th flight. #Fridayflight #aviation
Reposted by Charles Stites
People love seeing the sunrise. People are fools. If you’re watching the sun rise in December, you’ve been up WAY too long. 😴
December 7, 2024 at 8:39 PM
People love seeing the sunrise. People are fools. If you’re watching the sun rise in December, you’ve been up WAY too long. 😴
Westbound over KY in a Cherokee 180. A smooth ride at 6500’ to clear a scattered to broken layer of clouds. #WingFriday #aviation
December 6, 2024 at 8:12 PM
Westbound over KY in a Cherokee 180. A smooth ride at 6500’ to clear a scattered to broken layer of clouds. #WingFriday #aviation
Reposted by Charles Stites
flying between cloud layers feels like being in a different world ☁️🛩️
September 29, 2024 at 2:22 PM
flying between cloud layers feels like being in a different world ☁️🛩️
Reposted by Charles Stites
Any Cherokee Fans here? Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee C-FXKP joins up with the Aviation Photocrew Skyvan with the base of the glacier found on Mount Baker in the background. The striking red and white paint made for a nice contrast against the green trees and haze of the summer day.
#avgeek
#plane
#avgeek
#plane
December 3, 2024 at 1:24 PM