Some "plane language" for those of you who are interested.

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FAQ's:

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1. Tell me more about the plane? Make, model, etc.

 

2007 Cirrus SR22 TN G3 GTS

310 HP Continental IO-550-N engine

Tornado Alley turbonormalizer (retains full sea level HP to 25,000 feet)

Built in O2

3,400 pounds max takeoff weight

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2. How long have you been flying? Are you also a commercial pilot?

 

My first flight was in a helicopter at the Kentucky State Fair in the late 60s or early 70s. My first airplane flight was in the early 70s with Eddie Collins, a friend of the family and an Air Force pilot, in his Cessna 150 (think “tiny”).

 

I started flight training in 1980, and did my first solo flight after 4.0 hours of instruction. It was probably the most terrifying moment in my life. I stopped flight training a couple of years later when other activities became the priority. Life does that.

 

I restarted flight training in earnest when my wife got me a discovery flight for my 50th birthday in 2012. It only took a few months in Cessna 152 and 172 aircraft to earn my Private Pilot certificate from the FAA, and I immediately transitioned to the Cirrus airplanes (SR20 and SR22) and started working on my Instrument Rating. After a few years, commercial travel for a long period was required (too far and too long of a trip to fly a rented plane), and there you have it… life happened, again.

 

Renting long-term just didn’t make sense, as you have to pay for the plane even on days when you’re not flying (fair, since that’s lost revenue for the plane owners), so I basically stopped flying for several years.

 

Melissa and I talked it over and decided to change the equation and buy a plane. This allows us to travel on our schedule (weather permitting) and not worry about the costs associated with a plane sitting on the ground somewhere for a few days while we travel or visit with family.

 

I don't (yet) have a Commercial Rating, but I am studying for the test and plan to do that. Getting the Commercial Rating ensures adherence to the tighter FAA standards for all things related to aviation; flight planning, flight maneuvers, and everything else related. It also means you can charge for flight-related services under certain circumstances. Watch for blog posts about this as the journey continues.

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3. Where are you based out of?

 

Clark Regional Airport in Jeffersonville, Indiana (KJVY; just North of Louisville, Kentucky) is where N539SR calls home. It’s conveniently located less than 20 minutes from home, and is far enough away from Muhammed Ali Louisville International Airport (KSDF) that it’s easy to get into and out of without waiting for IFR clearance; something that happens more often at Louisville Bowman Field (KLOU) where I did my flight training.

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