Paul Kimberling
am a 52 year-old retiree (retired at 48) who has nothing better
to do than ruin his eyes on a computer terminal. My interest in
aviation started with the "Colby" airplane books in the early
1950's, which may reveal my penchant for Korean War aircraft. I
became addicted to plastic model airplanes at an early age and used
to spend my weekly allowance on them like a junkie does drugs.I started building planes for the Microsoft Flight Simulator when AAF first came out. I converted most of them to FS5/FSFS and built many new ones too. I have just recently become a net person which is why so many of my planes have been showing up recently.
I entered the U.S. Army immediately after graduation from college (Colorado State University) and served in Korea (not the war) and Vietnam (the war). I spent 10 years in the Army where I managed to get my Master's degree in economics (University of Colorado), get shot, and attain the exalted rank of Captain. I was both an airborne-infantry platoon leader and company commander in the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.
After leaving the Army, I went to work for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as an economist and program analyst. I spent most of the time in Washington, D.C. while working for BLM. While I'm originally from Denver, Colorado, I settled in Tallahassee, Florida, after retirement. Interests other than flight sims include Roman history (I like to read the ancient writers) and astronomy.
As for my flying experience, I offer the following.