Flight Training - July 2011 - 25
friend, Ed Powell. It took nine hours going, and six coming back. “Nearing Dunkirk, New York, I noticed thunderstorms on my portable GPS’s datalink weather. I thought we’d beat ’em to Chautauqua County Airport, but then I saw a big black wall of rain and thought, ‘I’m not flying into that!’ We landed at the first place I could find—Gowanda Airport, a grass strip in the middle of a cornfield. Seeking lunch, we found a place called Mikey’s Smokin’ Cafe. However, they sold only cigarettes, marijuana-smoking paraphernalia, and fireworks. “‘I didn’t realize you could sell fireworks in New York state,’ I said to the woman inside. ‘This isn’t New York state,’ she replied. ‘It’s a sovereign nation.’ We were on the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. We
across Lake Michigan. Oshkosh’s Wittman Field was closed because of flooding, so they landed at a nearby private strip. “Were you nervous crossing the Great Lakes?” I asked. “Not really, Greg. Each time the airplane purred like a kitten, the weather was perfect, and it seemed like we were only over water for a few minutes.” We discussed how many pilots can afford their own airplanes if they shop within their budgets. “Sometimes I wish I had something bigger and faster—for example, to fly both my daughters to lunch together. But I’ve learned to adjust my flying to match my plane. After all, I can always rent a four-place.” Matt’s 150 burns just five to seven gallons of fuel per hour. By assisting a freelance mechanic he keeps his annual
"SURE, THE COSTS ADD UP WHEN YOU TALLY THEM ON PAPER, BUT IT'S STILL CHEAP AND CONVENIENT TO FLY MY OWN PLANE."
refueled at Dunkirk and flew across Lake Erie to Port Huron, Michigan. En route I received my first Canadian flight following, from Toronto Center. “After landing at St. Clair County Airport too late to buy fuel, we hopped over to Marine City Airport, which has a self-serve pump. By now it was getting dark, and after fueling I couldn’t find anyone to pay. The office door was wide open, but inside were only two dozing cats. So I walked to the house next door, where I woke up a lady who’d fallen asleep in a chair watching Jeopardy.” “I’m the person to pay,” she said, accepting Matt’s money. “Stop by again on your way home!” Matt and Ed then enjoyed a beautiful 45-minute night flight to Saginaw. “The land was so flat there compared to home I couldn’t believe it! The tallest points around were microwave towers.” The next morning they flew from Saginaw inspections at $600 to $700. “Not much goes wrong between annuals. Anyway, it’s simple to work on this plane, and any A&P can fix it.” Matt’s insurance runs under $600 per year, and his hangar is $185 per month. “Sure, the costs add up when you tally them on paper, but it’s still cheap and convenient to fly my own plane. Besides, where I live there’s only one rental plane, so having my own offers more utility. Next I plan to master instrument flying. I traded Kurt my old pickup for IFR lessons—and I need to get started because he’s already driving the truck!” Laurie enjoys flying with Matt, and may someday become a pilot, too. She especially enjoys the social aspects of flying. (They’ve already booked rooms for this September’s AOPA Summit in Hartford, Connecticut.) “Some people look at pilots as an elitist group,” says Matt, “but once becoming one you realize that lots of regular people, just like you, fly. Who’d have guessed a nurse could own his own plane?”
Visit Greg Brown’s website (www.gregbrown flyingcarpet.com).
THINK ABOUT BUYING
Buying an airplane when learning to fly can save you money. But it can also be a daunting prospect. AOPA has numerous resources. Go to www.aopa.org/aircraft to learn more.
JULY 2011 FLIGHT TRAINING
/ 25
http://www.AirSafetyInstitute.org/fircs
http://www.cfirenewalonline.com
http://www.gregbrownflyingcarpet.com
http://www.aopa.org/aircraft
http://www.gregbrownflyingcarpet.com
Flight Training - July 2011
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - July 2011
Flight Training - July 2011
Contents
President’s Perspective
Right Seat
Letters
The Wind in Your Hair
This Weekend
Success Story What It Looks Like
ASI News Member Products
Tech Tip
Since You Asked
AOPA Action
Final Exam
AOPA Action
News
Insights
Flying Carpet
Emergency Practice
I Love Low and Slow
Technique
Weather
Checkride
Flight Lesson
Rotorworld
Career Advisor
Tech Talk
Get Inside the Checklist
Nothing to See Here
Ultimate Communicators
Advertiser Index
Debrief
Flight Training - July 2011 - Flight Training - July 2011
Flight Training - July 2011 - Cover2
Flight Training - July 2011 - Contents
Flight Training - July 2011 - 2
Flight Training - July 2011 - 3
Flight Training - July 2011 - President’s Perspective
Flight Training - July 2011 - 5
Flight Training - July 2011 - Right Seat
Flight Training - July 2011 - 7
Flight Training - July 2011 - Letters
Flight Training - July 2011 - 9
Flight Training - July 2011 - The Wind in Your Hair
Flight Training - July 2011 - 11
Flight Training - July 2011 - This Weekend
Flight Training - July 2011 - Success Story What It Looks Like
Flight Training - July 2011 - ASI News Member Products
Flight Training - July 2011 - Tech Tip
Flight Training - July 2011 - Since You Asked
Flight Training - July 2011 - 17
Flight Training - July 2011 - AOPA Action
Flight Training - July 2011 - Final Exam
Flight Training - July 2011 - AOPA Action
Flight Training - July 2011 - 21
Flight Training - July 2011 - News
Flight Training - July 2011 - Insights
Flight Training - July 2011 - Flying Carpet
Flight Training - July 2011 - 25
Flight Training - July 2011 - Emergency Practice
Flight Training - July 2011 - 27
Flight Training - July 2011 - 28
Flight Training - July 2011 - 29
Flight Training - July 2011 - 30
Flight Training - July 2011 - 31
Flight Training - July 2011 - I Love Low and Slow
Flight Training - July 2011 - 33
Flight Training - July 2011 - 34
Flight Training - July 2011 - 35
Flight Training - July 2011 - Technique
Flight Training - July 2011 - 37
Flight Training - July 2011 - Weather
Flight Training - July 2011 - 39
Flight Training - July 2011 - 40
Flight Training - July 2011 - Checkride
Flight Training - July 2011 - 42
Flight Training - July 2011 - 43
Flight Training - July 2011 - Flight Lesson
Flight Training - July 2011 - Rotorworld
Flight Training - July 2011 - Career Advisor
Flight Training - July 2011 - 47
Flight Training - July 2011 - Tech Talk
Flight Training - July 2011 - Get Inside the Checklist
Flight Training - July 2011 - Nothing to See Here
Flight Training - July 2011 - Ultimate Communicators
Flight Training - July 2011 - Advertiser Index
Flight Training - July 2011 - 53
Flight Training - July 2011 - 54
Flight Training - July 2011 - 55
Flight Training - July 2011 - Debrief
Flight Training - July 2011 - Cover3
Flight Training - July 2011 - Cover4
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