On this day in 2013 the first post on this blog, which has become ReviewBeforeFlight, was made… It was a simple “launch post” but that’s led to more than 230 posts on a variety of aviation related, thought-provoking topics!

Runway 6 at HYA.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 6 years. Since joining the HYA team in 2018, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the ability to utilize my “Runway 6” picture. One of the challenges of this annual post is having the right “runway number” picture. This post brings the split to three of my own pictures I’ve been able to use versus three numbers I’ve had to use the internet to find. Runway 2 (KEEN), Runway 5 (KEWB) and Runway 6 (KHYA) are my own pictures whereas Runway 1, Runway 3 and Runway 4 came from Google Earth screenshots.

So let’s take a look at the 2019 highlights:

• I was invited back to America’s Seaplane City to serve as the emcee for the City of Tavares’ SEAPLANE-A-PALOOZA event that partnered with Sun ‘n Fun as their official seaplane splash-in component.
• Helped to form EAA Chapter 51 – Cape Cod based at HYA. Elected Founding Vice President for 2019 on 2/2/19 at the first chapter meeting. On 11/20/19 elected Chapter President for the 2020-21 term.
• Elected to Massachusetts Airport Management Association (MAMA) Board of Directors during October 2019.
• We passed 30,000 page views during 2019, our best year ever!

Some of the highlight pictures from 2019:

Sunset in Naples, FL

Got to meet a former Blue Angel, Corrie Mays (#7), at HYA.

Line up of seaplanes on the Wooton West apron at FA1 during SEAPLANE-A-PALOOZA!

Back to back pancake champion at SEAPLANE-A-PALOOZA!

A special thank you for helping to organize and host ‘A Night at the Terminal” at HYA for some local Cub Scouts.

Emily and I spent many weekend days hiking Cape Cod during 2019.

JetBlue’s “Blueprint” E-190 visited HYA this summer.

Spent time getting back into fishing this summer, one of my catches…

EAA Chapter 51 on the morning of our first Young Eagles event!

Something’s missing here…

Emily and me with the EAA B-17, Aluminum Overcast, during the tour stop at HYA.

In the cabin of EAA’s Aluminum Overcast B-17.

Pete and me after being elected the new Vice President & President of EAA Chapter 51 for the 2020-2021 term.

What I continue to be the most proud of over the past six years is our reach:

The global reach of ReviewBeforeFlight during 2019!

The all-time global reach of ReviewBeforeFlight since launching on December 30, 2014!

It really is amazing to see how ReviewBeforeFlight has evolved over the years. It’s been a lot of fun and now it’s time to think about how I can get a “Runway 7” image for next year!

Thank you for visiting ReviewBeforeFlight and reading our content – I hope you enjoy it!

-Fly Safe, @MTElia1B9