Hangar 131 |
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My enjoyment of flight has increased even more with the addition of my new co-pilot. After several years of inactivity, Sue is putting on her private pilot wings again. Whether Sue and I are flying Two Niner Juliet somewhere together, or the Cherokee is taking me home to her, both the flight and the arrival at our destination are a joy. Having an aircraft to fly serves us in many ways. In addition to taking us on vacations or to visit family, it takes us to locations where I am working or to retrieve purchases for Sue's Doughboy collection. Our Cherokee 180, N9529J, is a four-place airplane that was manufactured in 1966, the year that Merriam-Webster claims the term "general aviation" originated, and is powered by a 180 horsepower Lycoming O-360 engine. It cruises at 125+ miles per hour and carries 800 pounds in addition to 50 gallons of fuel. It has a STOL kit and the basic IFR equipment, though a handheld GPS is our usual method of navigation. She was an oil burner, but got an engine replacement in 2005. My first airplane was a Piper Tri-Pacer, N8943D. It was purchased in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1980 and I flew it until a taxi accident in April of 2000. We spent over 1600 hours in the air together and had some great adventures, many of which are included in my book, Confessions of a Pilot. |
--Author unknown-- |
Flying into Oshkosh 1997.A trip to Philadelphia, Atlantic City and Washington, D.C.
Numerous beautiful flights across the plains of the Midwest.
Flights to the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans and Dauphin Island.
Numerous flights around the state of New Mexico with its mountains and deserts.
A trip down the east coast of Mexico, to Tampico, Puebla, Acapulco and up the west coast to Guaymas and back home to Albuquerque.
Click here to read about more flight adventures!
-- Charles Lindbergh -- |
Some other neat flights in rented aircraft have been:
Flying between Maui and HonoluluAs you can see flying has been a fabulous experience. | Savoring a beautiful night flight as I wait for my ride. |
Cherokee Sites
Piper Forum Cherokee Pilots' Association Piper Owner Society New Piper Aircraft Piper Parts Cherokee Pilot.com The Cherokee Checkout Cherokee Group Cherokee Gallery |
Livin' by the Airport Home Sweet Homm The Airport Guy |
St. Louis Regional Airport
(Bethalto, Illinois - ALN)
St. Louis Regional |
-- Richard Bach, 'Nothing by Chance,' 1963. |
To those concerned about small planes and terrorism: The hangar is surrounded by chain link fence with card controlled entry. No one gets to our aircraft unless they are known by us. Our aircraft carries only 1/10 as much payload as a Ryder Truck. Our aircraft weighs only 1/100 as much as a Boeing 747. Our aircraft holds only 1/1000 as much fuel as a Boeing 747. |
Aviation Links - Tri-Pacer Book Page - E-mail Gene |