Hi everyone. I'm new to the site here and just wanted to introduce myself. I've been an aviation addict since I was 2... still remember my first airshow, being pushed around in my blue stroller, watching the F-14's shoot their guns and the Blue Angels fly (they were A-4 Skyhawks back then). Anyway, I started working on my pilot's license in the early-to-mid 90's and only finished about 23 hours until my log book got destroyed. This was before the internet took off so the effect was basically to zero my time. Bummer, because back then, it was only $35/hour for a Cessna 172 and $15/hour for an instructor. I was married in the mid 90's and started a family - which became quite large (5 kids) - so flying was put on the back burner... for a LOOOONG time, in fact. I did, however, get my A&P license (or, as the FAA wants me to call it, my Mechanic's Certificate with Airframe and Powerplant Ratings... LOL), and also my Remote Pilot Certificate.
Fast-forward to this past year (2024). In January, I finally had the funds to finally get my license and so I began flying again last January (2024), but after buying a house, closing in April, buying an airplane (Quad City Challenger 1 Special Clip Wing, also in April), suffering roof damage from a nearby tornado in May, and then more roof damage in July no thanks to Hurricane Beryl (only a tropical storm when it hit us, but it went right over the top of my neighborhood... I've got radar pics from the Windy app), my flying funds had to be redirected to a roof replacement, leaving me only half-way done with my flight training... again. SMH. Anyway, I'm working on building the flight training funds again (a bit of a time crunch because I need to finish before I have to take the written again) but in the meantime, I am going to remove the fabric from my plane, clean it up, lighten it up (AKA remove all the extra unnecessary junk installed by the previous owner), re-cover it (I've got an AWESOME paint scheme in mind... inspiration from the Canadian F-18 Demo team), rebuild the engine and get it ready for when I finally get my license. Let's hope that will be soon.
Fast-forward to this past year (2024). In January, I finally had the funds to finally get my license and so I began flying again last January (2024), but after buying a house, closing in April, buying an airplane (Quad City Challenger 1 Special Clip Wing, also in April), suffering roof damage from a nearby tornado in May, and then more roof damage in July no thanks to Hurricane Beryl (only a tropical storm when it hit us, but it went right over the top of my neighborhood... I've got radar pics from the Windy app), my flying funds had to be redirected to a roof replacement, leaving me only half-way done with my flight training... again. SMH. Anyway, I'm working on building the flight training funds again (a bit of a time crunch because I need to finish before I have to take the written again) but in the meantime, I am going to remove the fabric from my plane, clean it up, lighten it up (AKA remove all the extra unnecessary junk installed by the previous owner), re-cover it (I've got an AWESOME paint scheme in mind... inspiration from the Canadian F-18 Demo team), rebuild the engine and get it ready for when I finally get my license. Let's hope that will be soon.
