As long as I can remember I have always wanted to fly. I enlisted in the Air
Force in 1955 at the age of 19 and was told I could become a pilot. After
being introduced to basic training I learned I had to be 21. That’s the way
they did things then to get you in.
After discharge in 1959 I was saving money for school and
then got married in 1960. Within 6 years we had 4 kids and there went my
flying dreams. I never considered it again until I retired in 1996 and 2
years later finally looked into it as I thought this would be my last chance
since I was turning 62. It took me two weeks to get up enough nerve to talk
with Charlotte and she readily gave her consent. She is the greatest.
I started lessons in July of 1998 and found out that at
the ripe ole age of 62 it’s not so easy learning new tricks. My lessons were
interrupted when Charlotte retired and we took a 4 month trip around the
U.S. with our 5th wheel. I brought along my study material and
log book and every couple of weeks I would pull into an airport and ask for
an instructor to fly with. I had a lot of crazy experiences with that idea.
In Nampa, ID I flew a C-150 with half the instruments hanging by their
wires. The instructor said he was rebuilding the panel and I had nothing to
worry about, the instruments I needed were there. That was just the start of
more to come. He wanted me to do a soft field take off so I’m going down the
runway 2 feet off the ground and watching the airspeed indicator and realize
it’s in MPH and I’m used to knots so I’m trying to figure out what airspeed
I need to rotate so I don’t stall and at that time a yellow jacket comes out
of the air vent and starts to bite me on the knee. I swat him off and the
instructor is stomping his feet on the floor trying to kill him, I see this
building at the end of the runway getting closer and I’m watching where the
yellow jacket is and I’m trying to decided when to start climbing. The
yellow jacket lands on my knee again and this time I smashed him. The
instructor looks at me and says “are you OK, don’t worry I’ll not charge you
extra for this”. Then in Baton Rouge, Louisiana I’m flying with an
instructor and he’s asking me why I’m zigging this way and zagging that way.
Now those of you who have flown in the south know about clouds. I told him I
was staying clear of the clouds. He says why, you’re on radar and they’ll
tell you if anyone is in your way. I’m just a student pilot but I’m
thinking, WHAT??
On my check ride, I’m flying over San
Francisco Bay and the examiner dials in the SFO VOR and tells me to fly
direct to it. I dial it in, make my turn and then proceed to do a series of
S turns to stay on the original radial I had dialed in instead of redialing
the OBS. Then I hear him say “Bob you don’t know what your doing do you.” Of
course at that point I’m thinking I’m through. But I did pass and was told
I’m now a pilot. Yea, my dream finally came true.
I joined a flying club at Livermore, CA and
proceeded to get checked out in all their planes. C-152, C-172, C-182, and a
Piper Archer. They also had a C172 RG Cutlass but I had no desire to spend
an additional 10 hours dual with an instructor to get checked out in a
Cutlass for insurance purposes. The club picked up a lease on a 1966 Mooney
M20E and I thought, now that’s worth it. I put in my 10 hours and proceeded
to quickly accumulate 100 hours in that Mooney. I thought, that’s the plane
to own. I called a local insurance broker that my CFI uses and talked with
them about what it might cost me to insure a Mooney. They told me they were
not interested unless I was IFR rated. So after flying for 4 years I went
ahead and got my instrument rating.
TURNING OVER THE KEYS AND REGISTRATION
I began thinking of purchasing my own plane but Charlotte was really
against it. We could afford to fly one but the initial purchase price
was beyond our means. We had 5 acres in the foothills east of Jackson,
CA, which we were no longer going to build and retire on so I suggested
we sell it and use that cash for the purchase. She relented and I began
the search. I found N7183V, a 1975 M20F in Tucson, AZ in August 2003 and
made an offer, which was excepted. Remember now, this is after 9-11 and
all the new airport security! Charlotte and I had one small suitcase for
our luggage and my flight bag with a one way ticket. I wanted to check
the flight bag so I wouldn’t get hassled but they wouldn’t let me. I had
to take it through the carry on line. You can imagine what they were
wondering. A one way ticket and carrying on a flight bag containing two
headsets, a GPS, WAC charts, Flight Guide and a portable radio. I had to
show them the paper work for the plane purchase before they finally let
us board. I wouldn’t doubt that a US Marshall was probably sitting
behind us just to make sure.
FIRST ANNUAL
Since this was our first plane purchase we found out when
we got home that I was in for some major repairs. I started right away doing
my own work and have an IA friend who helps me with
owner assist annuals. I started an annual and it took me three months
and $20,000 in parts. The fuel tanks leaked badly and I had O & N Bladders
installed, had to replace a cylinder and piston, all hoses had to be
replaced and many other things that added up. The next year’s annual was 1
month and $1,000. Since then my annuals haven’t cost me anything except for
the inspection. In 2006 I decided to replace the engine and also ended up
installing a new prop and that new hub along with a JPI 700 engine analyzer.
This past winter I had a Garmin 430W and Stec auto pilot installed. I feel
now that I have N7183V at a place that’s complete. Until they come out with
some new toys.
NEW ENGINE
We fly often to Salem, OR to visit relatives and also
to Phoenix to visit friends and we usually stop in at N. Las Vegas on
the way home to visit my Sister. In May of 2005 we flew to the east
coast. We were gone for two months with stops and visits at Phoenix,
Baton Rouge, LA, Lawrenceburg, TN, Hanover County, VA. Gaithersburg, MD.
I flew an IFR flight plan thru the DC ADIZ a week after a C 152 with a
student pilot and instructor busted the air space. And on the way home
from Gaithersburg to Baton Rouge we flew in the clouds for a total of 5
hours one day with an instrument approach and landing at Knoxville, TN
for fuel and a rest before departing into the clouds again. During the
entire 2 month trip we never had one weather delay day. Not at all like
our trip in Oct of 2006 when we flew back to Kerrville for the Mooney
convention. We had two days delay for weather getting to Kerrville and
three weather delay days trying to get home. It’s a good chance to rent
a car and do some local sight seeing.
NEW 430W & STEC AUTO PILOT
MOONEY OVER SACRAMENTO FLYING TO LUNCH
We have tried to fly out at least once a week for
breakfast or lunch with any other pilots who care to join us alternating one
time to the Sierra’s and then next time along the coast. It’s a dream come
true and I often will just smile while thinking, I’m retired, flying, own a
Mooney and my Wife enjoys flying with me.
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