I crossed a milestone today...

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Ryan Smith
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:26 am

I crossed a milestone today...

Post by Ryan Smith »

Zenda Liess, my DPE friend that I allow to fly my (actually her) 170 from time to time wanted to fly today. Zenda is very cold natured and doesn't do too well below about 90°. It was in the upper 30s today and she hasn't flown the 170 since September, so she asked me to pull the airplane, warm it up and taxi it up to the FBO so she could get current again since I've had the airplane all over North Carolina and most of the southeastern US in the last few months. I was all too happy to oblige her request. If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't be flying today...at least at the level I am currently.

She only flew for about a half hour; got a half-dozen landings, then quickly scurried home. I was totaling my logbook and saw that I was .1 hour shy of the ATP minimum total time requirement of 1500 hours. Since that's been on my radar for the past few years, I could think of no better way to cross over than to do it in style in the only object of my affection since I was a baby. I didn't fly long; another half hour on the Hobbs, but it was a pretty neat experience that I was able to share with my friend and Cessna 180 owner, Chris Redhouse. Chris is an Oregon transplant that learned to fly about the time I was born and then put aviation on hold to pursue a career and family. He was in the accounting department at Daimler Benz and was promoted to CFO of Thomas Built Busses a few years ago, which is headquartered just south of town. He got a flight review in a Cherokee at another airport and then came out to Air Harbor to rent for a few months because he lives almost across the street. He earned his tailwheel endorsement in the 170 before I moved back home and promptly bought a museum-quality 1947 Taylorcraft BC-12D off of eBay. After flying it for about 100 hours in the span of 8 months, he upgraded to an (almost brand new) Citabria and then bought a "rustic" 1953 Cessna 180. He sold the Citabria to Dave Grohl's (of Foo Fighters fame) uncle after about a year and kept the 180.

After I flew the 170, my freelance student I've been working with showed back up at Air Harbor and I was able to solo him this afternoon. I've honestly lost count of how many first solos I've endorsed and proctored, and how many checkride recommendations I've given since February.

This past year has been a blast, and I'm looking forward to more flying adventures in 2018.
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I promise I was happier than this picture would lead you to believe.
I promise I was happier than this picture would lead you to believe.
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gfeher
Posts: 571
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 9:19 pm

Re: I crossed a milestone today...

Post by gfeher »

That is a nice way to cross the line. Congratulations Ryan.
Gene Feher
Argyle (1C3), NY
'52 170B N2315D s/n 20467 C-145-2
Experimental J3 Cub Copy N7GW O-200
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KG
Posts: 493
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:14 pm

Re: I crossed a milestone today...

Post by KG »

That's great Ryan! You have been busy! Congrats!
53 170B
hilltop170
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: I crossed a milestone today...

Post by hilltop170 »

Congratulations! Definitely a milestone in a pilot's career.

So Ryan, when is the check ride? I assume you have already taken the written?
Last edited by hilltop170 on Wed Dec 27, 2017 3:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
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c170b53
Posts: 2527
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 8:01 pm

Re: I crossed a milestone today...

Post by c170b53 »

Good smiles in that photo, and here's to whole bunch more. Great one Ryan!
Jim McIntosh..
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
n3833v
Posts: 857
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 6:02 pm

Re: I crossed a milestone today...

Post by n3833v »

Congratulations on that milestone. I know what it feels like when a special milestone is met.

John
John Hess
Past President 2018-2021
President 2016-2018, TIC170A
Vice President 2014-2016, TIC170A
Director 2005-2014, TIC170A
N3833V Flying for Fun
'67 XLH 900 Harley Sportster
EAA Chapter 390 Pres since 2006
K3KNT
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