I am a wreck.
It’s been several months since I sold my Mustang. Now, I have no legitimate reason to go to the airport. No reason to perseverate over tomorrow’s weather forecast. I took a commercial airline flight recently and actually enjoyed the little nuts in first class. The ones you eat, that is.
My irrational behavior must stop. I need to start looking for an airplane. Here’s an update on my reasons for selling in the first place:
- Continuing economic slowdown. Now, the Federal Reserve is slowing the interest rate hikes, and Congress avoided the national debt debacle. Two reasons to start looking.
- Topsy-turvy world events. The near collapse of the Soviet Union. Oops, not good news.
- Re-sale market peaking. This is a positive for potential buyers like me. Prices are likely to be softening.
- Nice profit in the Mustang. I invested that profit, but if I use those dollars to buy an airplane, I lose that interest income.
- Desire to leave something for my kids and grandkids. What kids and grandkids?
Sitting on my couch after one glass of wine, I fathom that I don’t really need to own an airplane. This is a great time to hang it up. Fifty years of flying has been a wonderful experience.
After the second glass of wine, I re-think my ideas. At my age, I may only have a few years left to fly. My high school buddies are dying left and right. Patty is only buying ripe bananas for us. I may not have another chance to own the next best airplane.
And night after night, the same thought process. Sometimes with white wine, sometimes red.
I peruse “Controller” daily, envisioning myself in the cockpit of all sorts of airplanes. A Turbine Duke, providing the safety of two turbine engines in a package small enough to afford. My insurance guy suggests I switch to drinking iced tea. Perhaps a pressurized Baron. But Patty needs a full-size display on her side of the cockpit in case she has to take over after banana poisoning.
Another call to my agent. How much would insurance cost on this airplane? What about this one?
He starts to refuse my calls.
How about a nice B58 Baron? Have you noticed how much Barons cost these days? Well, over a million dollars for a well-used edition. You could buy a King Air for that kind of money. I have owned several, but that’s a big airplane. Do I really want a big airplane?
We take a Sunday car trip to Austin to look at a beautiful 1993 C90B. Along the road, we see two auto crashes complete with airbag deployments. Driving is way too dangerous. Flying is much safer, or so I rationalize.
We return home feeling unfulfilled. I have a decision to make.
White wine or red?
Fly safe.
Great one David!! I would go with the red!
I have a 1979 BE58P that has served me well. I have a medical issue that must be resolved before the FAA in OKC will sign off for me again. It has Colemill wing tips and is a good looking airplane. It is on Trade a Plane.
I have a picture of a Turbine Duke on my wall that I have lusted after for more years than I can count nearly. I seriously tried to buy one once and missed out on the deal of a lifetime by one day. Performance wise, the Turbine Duke is the zippiest propeller driven airplane that has ever been put on the market. Climb, decent, TO & L distances are absolutely amazing. King Airs are big airplanes and can not touch the performance of the T-Duke.
Good look with your choices. I have enjoyed your articles over the years very much. Please keep them coming.