Looking to the skies... It has been 2 years now since I have been behind the controls of my own airplane. I am still saving every penny possible toward that next plane but it isn't going nearly as fast as I would like. A friend who was a pilot and gave it up once told me he didn't miss it. He said he thought he would look to the skies every time he heard a plane and long to be up in the clouds but that just wasn't the case for him..... Well, it is for me. I still peruse the listings on Barnstormers.com, ebay, controller.com, and any other aviation site out there looking for that next bargain. Fortunately for my marriage I haven't found a deal I couldn't pass up yet. I have to be careful. I am still entertaining the idea of a powered parachute. I really like the Destiny powered chute. The advantage to a chute would be putting it on a trailer and storing it in my garage. Not only do powered parachutes have a low fuel burn but hanger fees are avoided resulting in much less expense to hit the skies. The disadvantage, of course, is the powered parachutes are not "go places" aircraft. I fear I would miss getting in the airplane and flying somewhere new and exciting. So in the mean time, pennies are still dropping in the jar toward the next airplane. For those of you out there still able to soar....Happy Flying!

Fund

I was recently motivated to post here again. I guess its about time anyway. I have to apologize for crying about not having an airplane in the last entry...dont get me wrong, Im still crying, I just wont cry to you guys.
I have a new goal! I have decided I am going to pinch pennies, pick up pennies, or do whatever necessary (ethical and legal of course) to save enough to get another airplane. I know, I know, you are thinking Its a really rough life not to know where you are going to get the money for your next airplane...
Well, it may take me a while but it will happen. I have opened a savings account and I am stashing everything possible in it.
I am NOT pulling from the "family" income, just in case someone is wondering...
Here are just a few of the things that I am doing:

I found a site called Varolo. It is another MLM out of the MLM capital of the world (Utah). I am usually against MLM's but this one is totally free. The way one makes money is to build a "village" and income is made by the ads that those in you village watch. I have been involved in this a few weeks and now have a village of 17. It has been SLOW to start but I am seeing small amounts build up.

http://www.varolo.com/village/pa22colt

Inboxdollars is another one that I have been using a while. It pays very little but it all adds up. I have probably only made a few hundred dollars on this site over the last couple years.

Opinion Outpost is a survey site. This is the best survey site I have found so far...They dont make promises to make you rich but you can make a few buck here and there.

http://OpinionOutpost.com/join/9442056


And I have posted hundreds of photos on BigStockPhoto. I have almost made my first $50 commission there.

These are just a few of the sites out there that will pay you to participate. I am open to suggestions and of course always open to donations....I gotta fly!!!!

I have added banners to these sites along the right here...check them out.

Without again....poor poor me....

Okay, I sold my Colt in August, last year. I'd rather not go into the circumstances but Kenny got a heck of a deal on it. I hear he is thoroughly enjoying flying the little plane. I'm glad its still being flown.

Now I have relocated from Southern Alabama to Southwest South Dakota (Rapid City). I have been here only a few weeks but have already started checking out the General Aviation airports around the area.

GA doesn't seem to be as active here. I have only seen one small aircraft flying in the few weeks I have been here. Last week I happened to pass by the Hot Springs airport on my way back to the office from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. It was completely snowed in but the road leading to the FBO was plowed. The gentleman running the FBO wasn't in due to health problems but his brother-in-law was sitting in for him. He said GA isn't extremely active out here to the best of his knowledge. They hadn't bothered plowing the runway.

I checked the bulletin board as I do at every FBO and found only two aircraft for sale. One that was WAY out of my price range and a 172 that was beyond TBO and priced like it had a fresh overhaul. A flight instructor had an advertisement on the board suggesting he would come to Hot Springs to instruct if he could get three students there.

I have considered a powered parachute. I have been checked out in one but I just don't think it is going to satisfy what I really like about flying. Besides, the winds here would likely keep it parked in my garage more than not.

I thought I could give it up for a while but the desire just wont go away. I thought of hiking the Black Hills, taking up trout fishing, biking more, maybe skiing, or any of the other outdoor activities available to us out here. I will likely do some of these things, BUT I gotta fly! Seeing the one airplane flying low over the prairie the other day did me in...

"Betty"

Well, it finally happened!

N4617Z, also affectionately known by many as "Ugly Betty," has trumped N4608Z and become the better looking of the two aircraft.

Nice Job Steve!

Lets go flying!

There are two days a year I get my family to focus on me. I know, it sounds selfish but on my birthday and Fathers day I want to have their undivided attention and enjoy their company while doing what I enjoy most. I am obsessed with flying and the girls in the family dont share my enthusiasm. Me and the boys fly all the time.
My wife, that's another story. She has flown one time, (ONE time!!!), with me since I got my license seven years ago. Of my 600+ hours, Michelle has shared approximately .50 hours with me.
Shelby, my daughter, flew with me fairly regularly when we lived in New York. Last year she flew with me in our Cessna from Brewton, Alabama to Rome, Georgia, a 3 hour flight. When we landed in Rome, Shelby stumbled out of the airplane and practically kissed the ground. Besides the flight home, Shelby politely refused to fly with me again. She said, "I have seen enough trees."
Well, yesterday was my birthday and I told my wife and kids I really didnt want a gift from a store. I wanted them to hang out with me at the airport and fly with me. They all came out with good attitudes and pretended they were enjoying my favorite pass-time!!! It was a GREAT day!

Michelle was the last to fly with me and we watched the sunset from 2500 feet. I think it made the flight more interesting for Michelle. She flew with a friend on a date in college and found it BORING.
When the flying was over we headed home for ice cream and birthday cake. I got some really cool gifts. Not only did Shelby fly with me and pretend she enjoyed it but check out the photo of the 10 coupons she gave me! Grant drew a picture of my Colt and gave me some more junk food so I can take up more of my useful load...
Geoffrey gave me a gift I asked for. He said I am hard to shop for. I guess I am. I have everything I want! I made Michelle promise not to buy me anything but to fly to Foley, Alabama with me later for lunch. The best gift was having them all with me doing what I enjoy the most.