tinerj
Cleared for Takeoff
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2012
- Messages
- 1,350
- Display Name
- tinerj
This week marks 10 years as a pilot. I soloed December 11, 2003 for the second time. (The first time was in 1970, but after the solo, I did no more flying until a restart during the summer of 2002.) Of course, the solo in 2003 then required another six months to get my PPL, and then another six months of rental aircraft until I bought a Cessna 150
The first half of the remaining time was flying the Cessna 150, and the last half flying the Ercoupe. Here are the statistics:
Cessna 150 N8526J
January 25, 2005 to June 9, 2009 -- about 4 1/2 years.
Flight = 253
Landings = 601
Total Hours = 752
Ercoupe N93880
October 24, 2009 to October 17, 2013 -- about 4 years
Flights = 52
Landings = 185
Total Hours = 150
I think there two main reasons for the differences. First, the Cessna had fewer problems, and by working with the mechanic, it was down for only a few days at a time. For instance, I would monitor what needed done, and during the oil changes, he would look it over, too. Then when it came time for the annual, he would pre-order what needed replaced. It was seldom down more than three days at a time. We did make a lot of changes -- new tires, new attitude indicator, new tach, installed shoulder harness, etc.
The second reason is me. I've been down more often and for longer periods of time in the last five years. I've just about given up flying in cold weather and exceptionally hot weather, too.
But when I do fly, I enjoy it as much as I ever did!
The first half of the remaining time was flying the Cessna 150, and the last half flying the Ercoupe. Here are the statistics:
Cessna 150 N8526J
January 25, 2005 to June 9, 2009 -- about 4 1/2 years.
Flight = 253
Landings = 601
Total Hours = 752
Ercoupe N93880
October 24, 2009 to October 17, 2013 -- about 4 years
Flights = 52
Landings = 185
Total Hours = 150
I think there two main reasons for the differences. First, the Cessna had fewer problems, and by working with the mechanic, it was down for only a few days at a time. For instance, I would monitor what needed done, and during the oil changes, he would look it over, too. Then when it came time for the annual, he would pre-order what needed replaced. It was seldom down more than three days at a time. We did make a lot of changes -- new tires, new attitude indicator, new tach, installed shoulder harness, etc.
The second reason is me. I've been down more often and for longer periods of time in the last five years. I've just about given up flying in cold weather and exceptionally hot weather, too.
But when I do fly, I enjoy it as much as I ever did!
