TARAN'S TAKING OFF!
The "Home Improvement" star is learning to fly on his own
by Dick Knapinski
[From EAA Sport Aviation for Kids Magazine May/June 1995, photos by David Smith / Touchstone Television; reprinted with permission of EAA. For more information on the magazine contact the EAA at 1-800-843-3612]
Nearly two years ago (September/October 1993) in Sport Aviation for Kids, we told you about Taran Noah Smith, who plays Mark Taylor on ABC-TV's top-rated series "Home Improvement." Taran loves to go flying withg his dad in their homebuilt "Quickie 2." In fact, Taran and his dad, David, were on the cover of that issue of the magazine!
Taran isn't statisfied with just riding along in an airplane, however. He's now 11 years old and decided to start taking some flying lessons.
"I've been flying a lot with my dad," Taran told SA For Kids. "I've actually done takeoffs and landings. But with an instructor I can officially log time and work toward a license."
David has taught Taran a lot about flying, but Taran said it's good to work with an instructor, too, just to get a different way of learning things.
Taran has even done a cross-country flight, taking off from his home near San Francisco and landing near Los Angeles. That's three hours of flying time! He takes his lessons in a Cessna 150 - a type of airplane that lots of people use when they learn how to fly. Taran says he still likes his dad's Quickie 2 better, but he's not quite tall enough to reach the rudder pedals on the floor.
What's the best part of flight lessons for Taran?
"Taking off and landing," he said. "Especially taking off. You can really punch the throttle!"
"I also like doing stalls and getting out of spins. That's what we'll work on after we finish taping the show for the season and I go back home on hiatus (which means a break or vacation). Just controllable spins, though. No flat spins!"
Taran says he also has an interest in ultralight airplanes, which don't
require a license to fly. He is definately thinking about making his
first solo flight in a regular airplane at age 16, though (that's the
youngest age you can make a solo flight).
Between taping Home Improvement episodes, going to school (there are teachers right on the set of the show) and flying, you'd think that Taran would hardly have time to sleep or eat. He still finds enough time, however, to use his in-line skates, play roller hockey and take fencing lessons!
So, Taran, can you tell us what's ahead for Mark Taylor on the show?
"Mark's going to go through quite a few changes," he said. "You'll have
to stay tuned!"
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