Ron Blehm

So, you want to learn a little more about the Club’s Founder huh?  Well, somehow (I think it was dyslexia) I quickly became known ‘round here as the “Cub Flounder” or just… “Flounder” (every pilot needs a call-sign) so go ahead and call me that.  Here is a quick summary of who the Flounder is and what keeps him flying:

Age: Lower 40’s

Location: Call it KPDX

Career: Physical Therapist – including some research

Former Career: Firefighter / EMT (early 1980’s)

Status: Happily married more than 10 years, two kids

Hobbies: I’d really love to say, “World Travel” but that costs a lot more money than I actually have…so I sim instead.  (I have traveled to nearly 30 countries in my lifetime) I also love classical and choral music (Go Handel!!!)

Other Duties: Church Elder, Children’s Leader, various committees and helping thewife-unit with some home duties too

Sports: I’ve done many sports, had a scholarship to play Volleyball once…UCLA - I didn’t take it!  I enjoy watching Olympics, Formula-1, American Football, Soccer, Cycling – I ride the bike to work ……

Favorite “worst” foreign food I’ve had: Ingira and wat while in Ethiopia – I still love it!

Worst “worst” foreign food I’ve had: Squid rice in Philippines ~ shudder

Favorite Food: Fresh Fruit

Favorite Desserts: European Pastry – turnovers etc

Favorite Desert: This is an Oxymoron

Favorite “Quick Getaway”: Victoria, BC (I realize this doesn’t really apply to those in Brazil!)

First Sim: 1985?

Rebirth: My wife bought me FS2000!

Sim belief: “Why should I play around with little GA planes when I could fly commercial?”

Sim’s Greater Good: Achieving a greater understanding and world peace by sharing the love of flying/simming with our fellow man

Favorite Plane: This may change week-by-week but call it the 757 for now

Favorite Commuter: Dash-8

Favorite Sound: A-320

Favorite Sim Airport: Bangkok, Thailand

Favorite Sim Airport of Historical Significance: Guadalcanal

Favorite Sim ILS: Innsbruck, Austria

Busiest Sim Approach: Old Hong Kong - Kai Tak

Favorite non-ILS: Arequipa, Peru

Most Challenging Sim Approach: Aspen / Gunnison, CO

Favorite Sim Area: Mediterranean or Canary Islands

Worst Real-Weather download: I downloaded weather for central Florida WHILE a hurricane was hitting once!

The place closest to my heart: Central Africa

The place I’d most like to see again: Victoria Falls

The places I’d most like to see that I haven’t: Beirut, Baghdad Dubai, Jerusalem, Karachi, Athens, Cairo, Geneva, Canary Islands ………

Photos:

Engine 13

Maybe me (ventilating a fire)

            Not me (UCLA Volleyball)

            Not me again (A baby Baboon)

            Not my cat (A Leopard)

            A great 757 (Love the paint too!)

            A great 735 (not my photo)

            A quiz (name the movie)

            Me with Chuck Yeager