AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023 - 56

" But, no, there were mountains, and evergreens, and snow as far as
the eye could see; no sign of civilization anywhere, and I thought
to myself, What have I gotten myself into? "
But, in the back of his mind he reminded himself that he had
good coaching, expert instruction, and safety items on board so
people could track him. " Now it was just up to me to fly the airplane
and do what I know how to do and just be a pilot, " he said.
He was doing what Dave T is guilty of doing-
too much at one time-trying to take photos and
shoot video, fiddle with his instruments, and
slowly getting overwhelmed (I cannot drive in a
car with him for this reason). So, he finally told
himself, " Dave T, stop trying to do so much and
just fly the airplane. "
Landing at Mountain Home Airport (U76),
he had to chain down the Tri-Pacer because
the winds were still so strong. Airport Manager
Tom Hoegg suggested a change to his route to take him through
Medicine Bow and on into Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mountains
loomed but he was feeling confident. " I had good advice from
my colleagues, from people I met, and people at home cheering
me on, and I knew I'd be OK, " he said.
Then ATC contacted him and asked if he realized the minimum
safe altitude was 14,000 feet; he was at 11,500 feet. " What is your
intention? " ATC asked. The mountain right in front of him, Tulis
Travels with Dave T
Rolling out after landing at
Frederick, Maryland (FDK),
a towered field at sunset.
I turned on the landing
lights, strobes-basically
everything to light me up
for a busy early evening at
the home drome. Then, just
like that, all electrical power
died. Dang it, Al was right. I
flipped the auxiliary master
Stopped in Lancaster, Ohio,
(LHQ). While there, veteran
aviator Al Moyer walked
out to admire the Tri-Pacer.
Al said, " Son, you gotta
choose. " Choose what? " You
have to choose either the
landing lights or the radio
...the radio or the landing
lights when you come in for
a night landing, but not both.
Remember, son, you're going
to have to choose. "
for me to request taxiing to
the AOPA ramp.
An informal greeting
party included colleagues
Kollin Stagnito, Michelle
switch, which is under the
pilot seat, down, and the
radio came alive just in time
responded he was planning to fly to the left or right of that mountain.
" I was almost out of the hard part; I could see the valley on the
other side. I stayed high and that big mountain went by on the right. "
Along the way he met other pilots, a young pilot about to take
his checkride (he passed), and helpful FBO personnel. He had a
flat tire in Indiana, lost a fuel cap, and learned the quirky attributes
of his Tri-Pacer. Arriving at FDK, he approached the busy
airport and turned on all his lights to announce
his arrival and called the tower. Because the airplane
relies on a generator, powering all that at
once shut down the electrical system upon landing.
He'd been warned of that possibility at his
last stop and knew to turn it all off. Laughing
to himself that the pilot who'd warned him had
been right, Tulis told the tower now he'd be taxiing
to the AOPA ramp. Friends and colleagues
awaited him, but he said, " Hold on a second; and
I knelt down and kissed the ground, " he recalled.
He had thought this aircraft would be something he'd keep
for a bit and then sell. " But it has become a keeper, " he said. " And
I have come to be fascinated with it. It's a little quirky but it has a
deeper meaning because I shared this with friends who believed
in me, and I would like to keep that connection. It's a fine flying
airplane. It's not the fastest, but it's economical. And it's got
four seats. "
julie.walker@aopa.org
and Patrick Walker (top,
inset). I jumped for joy.
Noted some buy-in from
Lisa-she wanted to see the
smiling Piper. Went out for
a celebratory dinner and
drinks.
56
AOPA PILOT / August 2023
AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2023

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