Page 34 - Aug23T

On Final
by David Miller
HSay It Ain’t So
ave you ever come to the realization that you are flying too much airplane? There’s probably a fair number of us in that situation. But what happens if you realize
that you have more airplane than you can afford? This spring, I came to that realization. Citations are fantastic airplanes. My 2010
Citation Mustang is one of the best examples out there. New paint, interior, avionics upgrades, you name it.
I had no intention of selling it, but my thinking went something like this:
• Continuing economic slowdown
• Topsy turvy world events
• Resale market just peaking after historic highs
• Nice profit in the Mustang
• Desire to leave a little something for my
kids and grandkids
I read my friend Dick Karl’s emotional farewell to
flying his Citation Jet single pilot due to astronomical insurance costs. Luckily, I still have underwriter interest, but for how long?
The hardest part was telling Patty. “You will just buy something else, you always do,” she said. “But this is probably the last jet for us,” I answered.
And so, without a resolution to the next airplane dilemma, I decided to sell N396DM.
Cody Honeyman and the fine folks at Textron Aviation had a buyer within days. Jon Bradford, the new owner, arrived in Dallas with an aviation entourage and fell in love with the Mustang just like I did. “I won’t sell it unless you join Citation Jet Pilots,” I told him. “Okay, if that’s what it takes, you have a deal.”
The folks at Galaxy FBO in Addison helped me
pack all of our accumulated stuff. “I’ll be back with another airplane someday,” I yelled over the whine of a Citation X on the ramp.
I made the delivery flight to the San Antonio service center for the pre-buy knowing it might be my last time in the left seat as PIC. I kept hoping for a call from the buyer’s rep telling me they had found something very unusual in the aft baggage compartment and were calling off the closing. No such luck. It was the smoothest process of any airplane I have owned.
So, what’s next?
I went straight from single-engine piston aircraft to twins early in my aviation career. Back in the early 80s, there were almost no single-engine turbine options. Right or wrong I am partial to two engines, albeit realizing that often the second engine just gets you closer to the accident site.
I called my insurance broker to ask about downsizing to a Baron or a Duke. “Expect a 25 percent premium increase,” they said. “You’re kidding. The Mustang
is faster, flies at FL410 and has a much higher hull value,” I argued.
“We just like you flying the Mustang. It’s something you are familiar with and God knows you’ve had plenty of them,” came the response.
Now, I need to find something I can easily afford. In the meantime, I’m off to Wichita for another recurrent in the Mustang simulator.
‘Cause you never know what’s just past that next cloud. Fly safe.
David Miller has owned and flown a variety of air- craft from light twins to midsize jets for more than 50 years. With 6,000 plus hours in his logbook, David is the Director of Programs and Safety Education for the Citation Jet Pilot’s Safety Foundation. You can contact David at davidmiller1@sbcglobal.net.
32 • TWIN & TURBINE / August 2023