CONTENTS 07.15 flighttraining.aopa.org VOLUME.27 / NUMBER.7 FEATURES 32 MINE, ALL MINE How to survive buying an airplane. Purchasing the machine that will take you to places you only dreamed about. By Jill W. Tallman 38 STAYING SKILLED, HAVING FUN Sharpening skills after the checkride. How to keep your skills hot after getting that pilot certificate. By Alton K. Marsh 42 27 SEIZE THE SKY The many ways to celebrate your freedom to fly. You've earned it-all those hours in training have given you a license to fly. See how much awaits you. By AOPA staff TECHNIQUE Passenger briefing. This is your captain speaking. By Ian J. Twombly See page 38 "HE MADE HIS GRASS LANDINGS AN ART, DRAGGING THE WHEELS IN JUST THE TOP OF THE GRASS FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. YOU HEARD THE BLADES OF GRASS HITTING THE TIRES LONG BEFORE TOUCHDOWN." -ALTON K. MARSH SPECIAL ISSUE CELEBRATE YOUR FREEDO M TO FLY! 07.15 flighttraining.aopa.org Free to Roam ABOUT THE COVER » Mike Fizer photographed this Piper Super Cub in eastern Montana. Use your ticket to fly SEIZE THE SKY UNIQUE OPPORTUNIT IES ONLY A PILOT CAN HAVE p. 27 BUY YOUR OWN BIRD IT'S ALL YOURS p. 32 GO BEYOND THE CHECKRIDE TRAINING NEVER STOPS p. 38 JULY 2015 FLIGHT TRAINING /1http://flighttraining.aopa.org http://flighttraining.aopa.org