What do I do now?

rpadula

rpadula

En-Route
Joined
Mar 8, 2005
Messages
4,731
Location
Suwanee, GA
Display Name
PancakeBunny
Home Airfield
LZU
I just got word back from my doctor. According to the scan, there's a large void where the common sense area of my brain should be. That would probably explain why I bought my first plane yesterday!

:eek:

[font=Verdana, Arial, Helv]I think it's a great story: I first saw 94J for sale at my home field about 3 years ago and took a test flight, but I couldn't bring myself to spend all that money. As I kept renting, I noticed that beautiful Commander still on the ramp in front of the FBO, wondering why it hadn't sold yet. One day my curiosity got to me and I checked the FAA database. Lo and behold, it had sold to a fellow who lives in the next town over from me.

So I dropped him a postcard to compare notes. We had lunch and had fun talking Commanders. We kept in touch, went flying and he even invited me along to the owner's group fly-in. A real nice guy!

The last straw came when he mentioned in an e-mail recently that he'd be selling 94J after his son passed his CFII ride, because he'd need to get a twin. Knowing that he's taken good care of her, it took me, oh, about 2 milliseconds to ask "how much?" All this happened in March (remember my poll on "How did you find your airplane?")


So, besides a bunch of flying, what should I do? I figure I need to put together a kit of handy stuff to keep in the plane. Oil & funnel, plexiglas cleaner for the windshield, etc. What else should go in the kit?

Thanks to everyone here and at the old AOPA board for all the great info. I'd been quietly soaking it up like a sponge all this time!


-Rich


P.S. Bob G: we really need to go have that beer now!!:D
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Congratulations Rich! Beautiful airplane. :)

rpadula said:
So, besides a bunch of flying, what should I do?
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Fly it to Gaston's so we can admire it up close. ;)
 
rpadula said:
So, besides a bunch of flying, what should I do? I figure I need to put together a kit of handy stuff to keep in the plane. Oil & funnel, plexiglas cleaner for the windshield, etc. What else should go in the kit?
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It depends on YOU. Are you a hands-on maintenance guy? Do you travel with schedule constraints? If so, you might think about a tool box and a few parts -- spark plugs or vac pump or whatever you think you might need, based on where you go and what you plan to be doing.

Mostly, you'll figure out your own combination of stuff that gives you piece of mind. For some it's a survival kit, for others a raft and EPIRB, for others it's nothing at all that might eat into useful load.

Most of all, prepare for your life to change.
 
Oh man, those are such beautiful planes, and yours appears to be a beautiful example of the breed. I'm massively jealous. Congrats!!!
 
Maybe you can spend some time practicing holding back the big grin on your face :D You could also pack some extra towels to clean up the drool from Commander admirers...like me. Enjoy the ride!
 
Congrats! (Where are the pics? :D ).

For the plane, tie downs? Something even as a renter I'm gonna start carrying....

Oh, and maybe a rabbits foot for luck? :rofl:
 
Hope you enjoy your airplane. Does this mean the bunny with the pancake hat will be replaced with a picture of the ship? What the bleep is the story with the bunny? Anyway. :dunno:
 
Really nice plane, Rich!

You'll enjoy flying it.....

bill
N112LB
 
Rich: Congrats! Its is a beautiful plane. So now that you have a Commander I suppose you are going to withdraw your name from contention for the AOPA Commander. That way the rest of us will have a better chance to win. You may also want to carry a check book in your on board kit! Enjoy and Fly Safe!!
 
rpadula said:
I [font=Verdana, Arial, Helv]P.S. Bob G: we really need to go have that beer now!!:D
[/font]
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Yes we do! And it will be on me!!

That is one SWEET looking plane! I don't know much about them except that I've always admired the way they look.

We need to trade rides. What are the specs on it? How high, fast, far, how much fuel?

Congrats!
 
Very beautiful, I remember Gary Miesch showing me his 114 back when I first joined the AOPA boards. Very nice lookin planes, I still want a ride in one ;)
 
rpadula[font=Verdana said:
So, besides a bunch of flying, what should I do? I figure I need to put together a kit of handy stuff to keep in the plane. Oil & funnel, plexiglas cleaner for the windshield, etc. What else should go in the kit?[/font]
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Kaydry wipes for cleaning the plexiglass (never, never use paper towels).
Towbar (probably has one)
Water to drink in emergency.
Space blanket.
Leatherman.
Four headsets.
Cockpit cover or window shields.
A rag to wipe off the drool left by any of us that get close.

From the picture it looks real nice, and almost a twin to Gary's. I know you're gonna love it. Are you coming to Gaston's now?
 
lancefisher said:
Kaydry wipes for cleaning the plexiglass (never, never use paper towels).
Towbar (probably has one)
Water to drink in emergency.
Space blanket.
Leatherman.
Four headsets.
Cockpit cover or window shields.
A rag to wipe off the drool left by any of us that get close.

From the picture it looks real nice, and almost a twin to Gary's. I know you're gonna love it. Are you coming to Gaston's now?
Click to expand...

I'd add an appropriate collection of spare parts to the list..... At the very least, carry a copy of the service & parts manuals in .pdf format on a CDROM in the back of the plane. Cheap, light, and almost any shop can read them.
 
wow - I don't think I've ever noticed just how pretty the commander is. Now I am excited about the possibility of winning one from AOPA. Time to start sending in a bunch of entries.
 
Congratulations and enjoy your new airplane, Rich! And don't change your avatar. :)
 
NickDBrennan said:
wow - I don't think I've ever noticed just how pretty the commander is. Now I am excited about the possibility of winning one from AOPA. Time to start sending in a bunch of entries.
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I got to look at the AOPA Commander at Sun n Fun last month. I want, I want!!! The 112 isn't the fastest thing in the sky, but it sure looks nice. And they've put a nice panel in it, too.
 
Thank you everyone for the encouragement and cyber high-fives!:yes:

In response to the questions,

Adam:
I would love to withdraw from the AOPA sweeps, but you realize this only increases my chances of winning. Ha! I do like your idea of adding the checkbook to my kit. I just got the detailed bill from the pre-buy/annual :eek: Why did I do this again?

Ken:
Hell no, I am not mechanically inclined. There's good reason I'm a EE. But I thought some simple tools might be in order.

Bob G:
It's a 112A, normally aspirated IO360. I'm not sure what the service ceiling is, but it'll hold 68 gallons of fuel and cruises at 130kts. As Ghery said, not all that fast -- I will have to worry about bird strikes from behind!

William:
Greenwood is not all that far from me. I have occasionally thought it would be fun to also go over to Greenville to check out a Braves game.


When is the Gaston's thingy?

Finally, I am keeping Pancake Bunny as my avatar. B) I originally found it on Fark, with a caption that said "I have no idea what you're talking about, so here's a bunny with a pancake on its head." Yes, I know pancakes and bunnies make no sense together, but that's precisely why it cracks me up.


-Rich
 
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