Some planes you just never forget

[RitterKreuz]

Today, i flew up to a paint shop in Arkansas to help get our plane back (together we own 1/3 share of it now used to be full ownership though) and it looks fantastic. ill post pics when i can, but it got me to thinking....

There are some airplanes you just will never forget.

That airplane and i have been through a lot of things together. I did my first solo cross country in that airplane, i got lost in that airplane  :-[ , i got found in that airplane  ;)

i have seen her go from a crappy radio stack to a great radio stack. I have seen her get broke, and seen her get fixed, ive seen her eat transponder after transponder, i was there when we found out the little electrical glitch that gave her such a huge appetite for transponders!

I watched her start peeling paint, she revealed to me that the last owner painted her but never primed her  >:(

we have both been in the air together wishing we were on the ground

we have been on the ground together wishing we were in the air

She gave me my first emergency but thats o.k.

every time i would taxi by in another airplane she would just sit there and patiently wait her turn

but she would always fly whenever i was ready.

Its amazing how a pilot can personify an airplane so much. its like a cowboy and his horse, or a kid and his dog i guess.

Im glad she got the paint job, as costly as it was... she deserves it more than any airplane i can think of.

[beaky]

Oho, so you're one of those types who thinks they're not merely machines, eh?


... so am I.

I'd love to see some pics whenever you're ready... what is it again?

[TSC.]

Nice post Ritter, I enjoyed that - can't wait to see some piccies.



TSC.

[RitterKreuz]

in keeping with forum guidelines there are 2 pics are here...

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb2 ... 954144/0#0

hope you enjoy

edit: Its a Grumman Cheetah

[beaky]

Nicey-nice... never flown a Cheetah but I hear they are real sweet. Just a little taste of fighter-like qualities for those of us without Swiss bank accounts.

[RitterKreuz]

yea they are sporty little airplanes thats for sure. and depending on the options can be had at a cost of anywhere from as low as $30K to sometimes over $65K

average cruise is about 135 knots if she isn't baggage laden. i flight plan on about 8 gallons per hour when i get the chance to fly it. now that i have this job of mine and my dad and I have partnered in with a couple of other guys i dont get much chance... not that i would probably spend a day off flying much  ::)

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Thanks for posting your thoughts and sharing them with us.