While I love 1ES and 17J, there is not much sadder than a flight school with no aircraft, which is what we've been for the last 3 weeks.
Imagine our surprise, then, when we were out canoodling with our fuel truck, and 68U lands on runway 25 -- and a peek at the pattern showed 20U on base, and 739 on late downwind.
Cool!
For those unaware, 5 pilots took our planes across the entire country for a 3-week tour, while simultaneously building a pile of cross-country time. Apparently nobody told them that 50 miles was far enough to qualify, but my goodness, this is a stylish way to achieve some time-building.
Some details about our Fab-Five:
Trip time: 24 days, 100 (near exactly) hours flight time across 5 pilots. I am guessing approximately 11,000 air miles.
Major highlights: Scenic loop around San Francisco Bay, Vancouver Island in Seattle, Billings, Niagara Falls, a landing at Kennedy International Airport, Nashville, Dallas, Grand Canyon, Vegas, and back home to Corona.
Whew!
As you might expect, however, there was a casualty. One of the crew, Dan, could not bring himself to leave our Sodom in the Sand, and he was left behind in Las Vegas, presumably to start a new life as a blackjack dealer. Fare well, Dan! :)
We are going to ask if we can get access to their photos, and add them to our facebook page. They're fantastic. Also, we are going to take the boys out for a final dinner and celebration tomorrow evening, and if they are agreeable, I will post up the destination for anyone who wants to swing by and hang out with the FlyC/Fab5 crew. Details TBD.
In some other news...
(deep breath)
Cessna 630 has her engine power section and cylinders assembled. We expect that she will return to service late next week. Finally!
Cessna 68U has begun her 100-hour inspection. Return is not expected until next week.
Cessna 20U will begin her 100-hour inspection tomorrow. Return may be as soon as Friday (knock wood)
Cessna 739 will begin her Annual inspection tomorrow. Downtime is estimated at one week.
Cessna 1ES is cruising.
Cessna 17J is also cruising. She has two checkrides this weekend, so schedule shuffles may be afoot. We appreciate your patience.
Cessna 25R's engine will likely be the week after Cessna 630's. (aka last week of August) for an early September return. Dang! 25R will have a fresh motor, prop governor, and propeller, and we are hoping to get her up to 140kts. I think it's possible.
Piper 85Y (who?) has her engines re-mounted and will be undergoing proving this week on her new fuel cells.
Anyone want some time in a Cherokee Six...?
Friend of the school Bill J. has just completed his restoration of a beautiful Piper PA32-260, known as the "Cherokee Six" for its six seats -- a flying living-room, the Six was made famous for the aircraft ads featuring a baby-grand piano in the back seats of the plane, which not only fit -- the pictures were taken of the plane FLYING the piano around.
With a gargantuan 1,550 pound useful load, and 84 gallons of fuel across 4 tanks, the Six is a great way to take all of your friends to vegas for the weekend. Rates are being nailed down, and this will NOT be a flight-school offering, but more of a club arrangement, where pilots who will utilize the plane frequently are sought.
Current thinking is in the $105/hr dry range. Give me a shout if you might be interested in a spin. We are also working out details for using the Six for high-performance endorsements... to give my poor Bonanza a break :)
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There is much more going on, but that's all I can remember at the moment. The weather has been downright temperate lately -- let's hope it continues!
Blue Skies,
- Mike
