This still makes me smile…
This whole “aircraft ownership” thing still puts a big grin on my face. Sure, the straight financial numbers are appealing–I can fly for less than half of what other people are paying to rent a comparable plane. But what really gets me is the complete and total freedom to do whatever I want with a plane because I own it.
There are no annoying dispatch procedures, no “currency checkouts” for the FBO, no scheduling conflicts, no doubt over if the plane will be fueled up and ready to go when I am, no question over the quality of the maintenance…I could go on and on. There are too many intangible benefits to list.
I was reminded of all this when I took a friend flying last night. It turned out to be one of those perfect flights that pilots dream about. You know what I’m talking about–the kind of flight that makes one forget about all the stress of the day behind them…a sun sinking low on the horizon, calm winds, smooth, cool air, a quiet radio, the engine purring along flawlessly, landings to be proud of, and a good friend to share it all with.
No rushing, no hassles, no pressure, no real point to going up even…a flight to just cruise around because it’s fun. It’s fun to drift over the mountains, talking about the best trails to go four wheeling on, or look down at a ridge line and imagine what a great camping spot it would make. It’s fun to take a few laps around the pattern, pushing to make the wheels roll on to the pavement a little smoother than the last time around. It’s fun in a way words can’t totally express.
Here I am, getting the aircraft cover pulled off and stuffed in its bag:
My friend, Brooke, and I motored along over the Blue Mountain Range:
Brooke is a private pilot but has only been in a tailwheel plane once before this flight, so I went around the pattern a few times and showed her the difference between “three point” and “wheel” landings. Here we are, rolling on to final at the Walla Walla Regional Airport:
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On a slightly different subject now, I’m pleased to say I’ve started lining up “commercial operation” insurance for my plane so that I can start teaching tailwheel endorsements in it. I’ve found there’s a huge demand in southest Washington for tailwheel instruction and nobody to teach it. I have five students already lined up and I’ve heard there’s more out there if I ask around. All I’m waiting on is proper insurance coverage, then I’ll start flying with them. Exciting!