Frustration and Satisfaction

Jeb and I took possession of the Yankee over a week ago, and I have yet to fly it. The insurance company placed restrictions on us - we have to get checked out by a qualified instructor before we can solo in it. The instructor has to have at least 300 hours total time and 15 hours in Yankees. We called all over the place trying to find someone qualified. We thought we were going to have to travel to San Diego where a flight school has a Yankee trainer. Finally we found a guy right here in Tucson at Ryan Field, but he can't instruct us until this Thursday - day after tomorrow.

Airplane ownership is not different from what I expected, though. I never expected that plane ownership would be like automobile ownership, because you don't just jump in a plane and fly into the sky without lots of preparation first. I figured there would be delays while all the pieces were put into place... the hangar, the purchase, the FAA paperwork, the aircraft registration, hull and liability insurance, and now training requirements.

But you know what? I own an airplane, and it is a good feeling to know that I have achieved another life dream.

Inch By Inch

Jeb and I have taken possession of a hangar at KAVQ. We even have keys to the restrooms in the hangar building! Insurance coverage for the aircraft has been arranged. All of the FAA documentation has been obtained (Jeb drove to Scottsdale yesterday to pick it up). We are still arranging a CFI to fly the Grumman back for us. Looks like Monday is the day.

Scared Spitless

We're going to pull the trigger, Jeb and I. As of this morning, the bank account is fully funded. Jeb has notified the seller of our intentions, and has received a prospective sales contract in return. I have inquired anew about insurance for the aircraft. I have also initiated a title & lien search. I will go to TUS (Tuscon International Airport) General Aviation Terminal and pick up a copy of FAA Form 8050-1 (Application for Registration) and FAA Form 8050-2 (Bill of Sale) to fill out at closing. Jeb is arranging the closing and will find a CFI or other knowledgable pilot to fly the plane back to AVQ (Marana Regional Airport) where we have a hangar waiting.

The price is right... hangar cost is affordable... insurance is affordable... everything is falling neatly into place...

Why am I scared?

It must be because it is An Airplane. There is something mysterious and awesome about that. I am shocked and awed that I will be half owner of An Airplane.

I just have to remember to breathe...

Hurry And Wait

The mechanic advised us that the AA-1B we looked at would require a more expensive annual inspection the first time we had it done, in his opinion. We asked the owner to either reduce the price of the plane, or take care of the more important items we found during the inspection. He indicated a desire to do the latter.

Meanwhile, he has another prospective buyer flying up from Oklahoma today to inspect the plane. I do not think this new buyer will be allowed the unrestricted access that Jeb and I enjoyed. We learned a lot about the AA-1, but it was an extreme inconvenience for the owner. I truly appreciate that he let us do that, but I know that he really gained nothing from it.

Jeb and I are okay if the Oklahoma guy writes the owner a check. We are okay if he doesn't. We are content to wait patiently. The ability to wait patiently is a powerful negotiating tool.

Filthy and Exhausted

Jeb and I performed our pre-purchase inspection with the help of an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic. We all agreed that the minor deficiencies we found were reasonable for a plane that age. The most remarkable item we found was a pack rat nest in the wing. How the hell could a rodent get into the wing of an airplane? I'm guessing that it happened some time ago, maybe when the plane was sitting for a while, as it waited for the new engine. Anyway, the inspection took eight hours of hard work - some of it rolling around on the dirty concrete floor of a hangar - to inspect everything we needed to look at. Airplane inspection panels have a lot of screws in them. There are a lot of tight places that need to be inspected. But now I am confident that the wings aren't about to fall off, and all of the controls are in airworthy condition.

I'm going to shower and go to bed. It has been a long time since I was this filthy and exhausted.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

Looks like we are taking the plane purchasing process to the next level - the pre-purchase inspection. Jeb found a mechanic who is familiar with the Grumman AA-1 series. The owner has agreed to fly the plane to the mechanic's site. Jeb and I will meet them there Monday and spend the whole day pulling panels off and inspecting the plane inside and out. This is exciting - scary, but exciting.

Loading the gun

My partner in aviation (Jeb) and I just returned from opening a joint account to fund our airplane purchase and to act as a clearinghouse for financial transactions related to aircraft ownership. It's a big step, and one that has me a little nervous, much like I was when I bought my first house. Actually, this plane is going to cost just about as much as my first house!

We're looking at that Grumman AA-1B in the Phoenix area. Jeb found a mechanic who is familiar with the AA-1's to do our pre-purchase inspection. He wants to do it Monday. We all need to be there to help and to see for ourselves what the condition of the plane is.

Jeb already had his share of the funds to contribute. I have to accumulate mine from various accounts I have scattered around. We think of this as Loading the Gun. When we write the check for the plane, that is Pulling the Trigger. You can't pull the trigger if the gun isn't loaded.

Wish us luck.