Health, age, and uncooperative FAA medicos have spoken, and after 53 wonderful years, including 1,400 hours in my four RVs, it’s time to quit flying. The RV-9A has been sold, although the money is yet to be transferred, the hangar is cleaned out, and the garage shop has been sold, right down to the walls.
The last (planned) flight was today, a maintenance test flight, and a chance to enjoy the handling and the avionics of my wonderful RV-9A. I flew with a satisfyingly high degree of skill, including a 360° turn at 58° of bank, easily holding altitude only by stick force and seat of the pants G plus, of course, occasional peaks at the altimeter. On the other hand, there were a few times I got distracted by what I was doing and SA lapsed, reinforcing the timeliness of the decision to quit flying.
“Better to quit flying a year too soon than a day too late.”
But even with no medical, I’m still current: flight review, 90 day landings, IPC, CFI, TSA/CFI, and UAS. And my wallet will lose four plastic FAA licenses plus an ancient radio operator certificate.
My CFI is friends with all the tower folks and knows their voices, and they had very kind things to say about my flying with them over the last 8 or more years. Much appreciated.
The other FAA was uncooperative in getting my medical back when I should have qualified. BasicMed is not available to me at this point, but even if it was… it’s time.
Many know that “FAA” is the public abbreviation for that agency, not realizing that the actual abbreviation has four letters – the second being a “U.”
I’ll also be backing away from reading aviation content. FireCrown media, EAA, and AOPA each have only one writer that I regularly applaud. I’ll miss tidbits of interesting news, of course, but none will affect my non-aviation future. I will however continue to track the very impressive RV-15.
I’ll also miss VAF but the group is so strong that only sometimes have I been able to add unique value. I’ve got back more than I’ve given – but it’s been frustrating to see so many of my posts get relegated to backwater forums. Outside of VAF, I’ve got maybe three safety articles yet to write for AirFactsJournal.com, with no articles planned beyond that.
So here comes a major change in lifestyle. But during prolonged recoveries and transitions after two extremely invasive surgeries and the heart attack, God was with me.
“Trust God. As if you had a choice.”
The last (planned) flight was today, a maintenance test flight, and a chance to enjoy the handling and the avionics of my wonderful RV-9A. I flew with a satisfyingly high degree of skill, including a 360° turn at 58° of bank, easily holding altitude only by stick force and seat of the pants G plus, of course, occasional peaks at the altimeter. On the other hand, there were a few times I got distracted by what I was doing and SA lapsed, reinforcing the timeliness of the decision to quit flying.
“Better to quit flying a year too soon than a day too late.”
But even with no medical, I’m still current: flight review, 90 day landings, IPC, CFI, TSA/CFI, and UAS. And my wallet will lose four plastic FAA licenses plus an ancient radio operator certificate.
My CFI is friends with all the tower folks and knows their voices, and they had very kind things to say about my flying with them over the last 8 or more years. Much appreciated.
The other FAA was uncooperative in getting my medical back when I should have qualified. BasicMed is not available to me at this point, but even if it was… it’s time.
Many know that “FAA” is the public abbreviation for that agency, not realizing that the actual abbreviation has four letters – the second being a “U.”
I’ll also be backing away from reading aviation content. FireCrown media, EAA, and AOPA each have only one writer that I regularly applaud. I’ll miss tidbits of interesting news, of course, but none will affect my non-aviation future. I will however continue to track the very impressive RV-15.
I’ll also miss VAF but the group is so strong that only sometimes have I been able to add unique value. I’ve got back more than I’ve given – but it’s been frustrating to see so many of my posts get relegated to backwater forums. Outside of VAF, I’ve got maybe three safety articles yet to write for AirFactsJournal.com, with no articles planned beyond that.
So here comes a major change in lifestyle. But during prolonged recoveries and transitions after two extremely invasive surgeries and the heart attack, God was with me.
“Trust God. As if you had a choice.”
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