AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 52

I think David Tulis is just great, as do most people who
meet him.
But there is another word that describes him, and is important
to this tale I am about to share with you: tenacious. " Dave T, "
as he refers to himself in the third person, is not a man who gives
up or in-ever.
He came to AOPA after a storied career in photojournalism,
having covered sporting events and more for such media giants as
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Associated Press, UPI, NASCAR,
the PGA, and the NFL, as well as producing a Pulitzer-nominated
photo. He learned to fly, and owned first an Ercoupe then a couple
Mooneys. When the economic downturn and changes in
the media landscape plummeted his newspaper career
and an accident destroyed his beloved Mooney, Tulis
had to restart. Considering his love of aviation and
his burgeoning writing skills, he turned to an opportunity
with AOPA as an associate writer, stepping
away from photos and into a role that would challenge
him financially, professionally, and personally.
He uprooted his family and moved to AOPA headquarters
in Frederick, Maryland. Here he has become an
integral part of the media department and a colleague everyone
knows they can count on for any assignment or chore.
Tulis earned his right to return to what he does best-photography-and
he was named an AOPA senior photographer in
2021. His family has settled comfortably here with wife Lisa a key
administrator at a local college and his daughter, Lauren, starting
college in the South. That's where this tale begins: Dave T wanted
an airplane to visit " the daughter. "
Kismet
While on assignment in Hood River, Oregon, Tulis joined me
Travels with Dave T
Day 1:
Breakfast at Best Western
before leaving on the journey
of a lifetime was coffee,
smoked salmon and cream
cheese, field greens, and
capers, on multigrain bagel.
(Just in case it was my
last meal.)
Set up for arrival at
nontowered Mountain Home
Airport (U76). The right fuel
gauge showed 1/4 tank and
the left showed ?? I forgot
to look at it until now. The
Tri-Pacer requires takeoff
and landings on the left tank
because of a fuel line dip on
the right side, so I made the
switch.
Stunning views of the
9,000-foot Blue Mountains
near the North Fork John Day
Wilderness.
52
AOPA PILOT / August 2023
Met Tom Hoegg (above),
airport manager. He lent me
2 quarts of oil. I determined
the oil burn is about 1 quart
per 4 hours.
Crew car is a Dodge van; Tom
handed me keys (great guy!).
Stay at Mountain Home Inn,
$125, discounted from $135.
Day 2:
Snow en route to high
plains. Flew over Medicine
Bow @ 12,000 feet. Snow
showers near Laramie, carb
heat on, right turn to skirt
most of them, then back
on track for I-80 toward
Cheyenne.
Wind picked up immediately
after Laramie. Cheyenne
winds are 18 gusting 34.
When I landed it was 18
gusting 30. Damn! But a fine
landing and super helpful
ATC and FBO. Airplane parked
in hangar overnight. $85.
and Chris Rose, AOPA director of photography, to cover a local
flight school and FBO (see " TacAero: Off the Grid, " January
2023 AOPA Pilot). As often happens on assignment, we discovered
a hidden jewel: the Western Antique Aeroplane and
Automobile Museum (WAAAM), adjacent to the Ken Jernstedt
Memorial Airport. Touring the massive museum, we ended up in
the renovation facility where several aircraft were in restoration,
and a few of them had " For Sale " signs hanging from their propellers.
I snapped a photo of a sleek Rotec Panther ultralight and
sent it to colleague Dave Hirschman, who like many in our association,
buys airplanes like I buy wine (often and a lot). There was
a beautiful de Havilland Beaver, a Cessna 206, and a Travel
Air, and we asked museum founder Terry Brandt why
these gorgeous aircraft were for sale. I mean, when
you have 315 assorted vehicles and more than 130 flying
antique aircraft, what's a couple more? Well, you
need to house them, and he's building a new hangar,
so he handpicked a couple that had to go to raise
money for the build.
What I've learned in 25 years of aviation is little
compared to the expansive knowledge of my colleagues,
but I know a gem when I see one. There, amid the luxurious and
dynamic and expensive aircraft was a little cream puff. Shiny red
wings, cream belly, sleek wheel pants and-truly-a smile on its
face. " Here's your next airplane, " I said to Tulis, pointing to the
1953 Piper Tri-Pacer PA-22, which was sporting a For Sale sign
that said $40,000.
It wasn't the fast, sleek Mooney he'd once had, nor was it the
long hauler he'd been thinking about, but it did have four seats
and its restoration was cherry-just picture perfect. We all stood
around it and smiled. Brandt said it was for sale for not a penny
more, not a penny less.
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

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