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N7183V

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.