End of an Era

Greg Bockelman

Greg Bockelman

Touchdown! Greaser!
PoA Supporter
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
11,346
Location
Lone Jack, MO
Display Name
Greg Bockelman
Home Airfield
KLXT KLRY 87MO
I started my flying "career" in 1977. Since then, I/we have owned 5 airplanes. The first was a Cessna 170 that I owned while I was in college. I owned it for 5 years and flew it for about 300 hours. The other planes were an Aeronca Chief that we owned for not quite a year, a Fairchild 24 that we owned for about 5 years but only got to fly it for about 2 because of fabric issues, a Taylorcraft we owned for a few years, and our current Cessna 195. (Ok, it is really a 190, but in name only.)

We closed on the sale of the 190 today. After 11 years it was time to say goodbye to it. I put out a handwritten flyer with a very brief description of the plane at Oshkosh and got a call from some guys from Australia a day or so later. They were very interested in talking about it. I was not able to fly the plane to Oshkosh this year but I had a descriptive variety of pictures on my computer that they could look at. After looking at the pictures and talking a bit, they asked to be left alone for a few minutes. We then negotiated a price agreeable to both parties and we shook hands. Bottom line is they are happy and we are happy.

They say the two happiest days in a pilot's life are the day he purchases a plane and the day he sells that plane. Well, that is sort of true in our case. It was a happy day to sell that particular airplane, but not so happy that we had to sell to begin with. Kind of bittersweet.

One chapter closes as another opens. Stay tuned for the next chapter. :yes::)
 
Congrats and bummer at the same time. That is a SWEET plane. That is my first (and only) time behind a radial engine. ;)

Can't wait to see what's coming next...
 
Congrats on the sale and also the good luck of that opportunity coming your way so quickly.

Sad to see you part ways but life will go on.

And here I thought you were changing jobs.

David
 
Well, look at the bright side, you don't have to store 55 gallon drums of oil in your garage anymore!
 
I know you aren't supposed to get attached to anything with a spark plug, but 11 years is a long time. I hope you find something even better, soon.
 
Congrats, I think. Good luck on next chapter.
 
FWIW, I've sold several airplanes that I really liked, some of which had served faithfully and well for many years. I somewhat wistfully watched them taxi away with the new owners aboard, but knew that it was time for a change and one that should be made. I've never regretted any of them.
 
us AAirways said:
How could a college student afford an airplane?;)
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I suspect that when Greg went to college that BOTH college and airplanes ( as well as Avgas ) were affordable!


Greg, I'll congratulate you on the sale and say that I am fortunate to have flown that plane and gotten some stick time at Gastons! Thank you again for that great opportuinty. On to the next chapter!
 
Greg, my congrats (:yes:) or condolences (:no:)...whichever is appropriate...
 
Congrats on the quick sale now it's time for someone else to enjoy the plane.
 
AdamZ said:
Greg, I'll congratulate you on the sale and say that I am fortunate to have flown that plane and gotten some stick time at Gastons! Thank you again for that great opportuinty. On to the next chapter!
Click to expand...

Ditto, I really enjoyed my ride in the plane she's a classy girl.
 
Greg, glad to hear you were finally able to sell the plane. It's been a while trying. Hopefully the new owners will enjoy the plane as much as you have and you'll end up with a replacement plane that will serve your needs better and use less oil.
 
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