Meet the Dragonfly

After many weeks of contemplating the pros and cons of aircraft ownership my wife and I finally decided that it may be something worth pursuing.  Having trained mostly in Cessna airplanes, it seemed a logical choice to pursue one of the fine models produced by Cessna. Then one day, a pilot at the local FBO offered me a ride in his Mooney.  Eager to get some new experience, I agreed and we twisted our bodies into the cockpit of his 65’ M20E. It took only a couple more flights with Mike and I was hooked on Mooneys.  I was concerned about how will my wife respond to a low-wing plane with a race-car sized cockpit when she was used to the spacious Cardinal. It turned out that this was nothing to worry about. 

One day, after Wilma saw a 1970 Mooney M20E advertised for sale without any photos attached, I e-mailed the seller requesting some details.  The photographs revealed a decent aircraft with recently upgraded interior and modest avionics package in the panel.  Nothing remarkable, but a nice looking plane.  The price did not appear excessive and the plane was in Phoenix, only few hours away. So we made a plan to go see it. 

Not really knowing much about Mooneys, I picked Mike’s brain about what to look for and what maintenance trouble could be expected from a 40 year old Mooney. The information kept coming in and the picture started forming that a Mooney can be a very nice, yet very expensive toy. Trying to justify plane ownership was not easy, considering all the expenses and risks. Then, during a lunch with my instructor, Jim, he told me about his first airplane and the positive effect it had on his life and that he never regretted doing so. That moment, I knew that buying an airplane is as much emotional as business decision. 

And so Wilma and I took the trip to Phoenix to see the aircraft. After a test flight and inspection, the moment of decision came when Wilma said to me: “I think this is our airplane.”  At that moment, I knew that we were moving into the uncharted territory of aircraft ownership. After a pre-purchase inspection and some maintenance done by LASAR, N9338V was finally home and ready to fly. Well, not so fast. The day after the plane was delivered, I pulled it out of the hangar, completed pre-flight inspection, and off we go into the wild blue yonder, or so I thought. I turned the key and instead the familiar sound of a Lycoming engine coming to life a horrible grinding sound filled the cabin, followed by a series of expletives from me. Houston, we have a problem.  Mechanic on the field confirmed my diagnosis of a broken starter, replaced it and, couple of days and a few hundred dollars later, the plane was ready to fly. 

Since then, we had our ups and downs with maintenance and avionics, but the overall experience of owning N9338V is that of a great satisfaction and joy. The ability to wake up on a beautiful day and say “Let’s fly somewhere” is priceless. Just as is the privilege to watch a sunset from ten thousand feet while flying across the mountains and valleys of California.  A sight to behold and cherish, for there is no better view of our world that that from above. 

One evening, after returning from a nice trip, the question of name came up.  I am not certain if people name their aircraft like boat owners do, but given the emotional attachment we have developed, Wilma and I decided that our plane will be named Dragonfly.  Since then the Dragonfly has carried us safely to many places, including Mexico, and we have met many new friends at the VMG fly-ins.  Opening the doors of the hangar and seeing the Dragonfly there, ready to go wherever we choose without the constraints of schedules or roads always brings smiles to our faces. 

Ivan & Wilma Petrzelka
Red Bluff, CA