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Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

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jimhefner

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 91
Location: Tucson, AZ

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

For those of you that know me well, you know how much I enjoy low and slow flying and photography in my little yellow Firefly.  Well, believe it or not, I am in the process of buying 1/2 of a Cessna 150 and am starting work on my GA ticket.   I have a new wife and daughter that I brought to the US from China 3 months ago.  When we were in MV in May, Dave Rains took us all up in his C-175 and we had a great time.   I now find I don't go up to the airport much and when I do go up there I don't fly very far.  I don't see any long trips with plane and trailer like last year in the future, so I've decided to go the GA route and later I can fall back to the Sport Pilot rating if desired.  I think I will learn alot getting my GA ticket, which will be inexpensive since all the lessons are part of the deal on the plane, making it too good a deal to pass up.... the plane is also 10 min's from my house, compared to 50 min's to the airport where I keep the FF.  



After one flight in the 150, I can see I have a lot of adjustments to make and get used to.  The most striking difference is the glide slope approaching the airstrip!    



Eventually I will probably sell the Firefly and trailer, but am in no hurry on that until I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. 



Am I totally crazy or what?

_________________
Jim Hefner
Tucson, AZ
Do Not Archive

George Alexander

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 245
Location: SW Florida

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

 	  jimhefner wrote: 	
		  <<<<SNIP>>>>



Am I totally crazy or what?   	




Kind of like being partially pregnant.  Some people would say that you can't be any more crazy than you already are.  Needs change.  Not many people stick with the same "stuff" forever.  The guy that I bought my Original FS from was selling it because he didn't like leaving his wife sitting at the airport while he went out and bored holes.



My only comment would be to remind you that there is a world of difference in the payload of a C175 and C150.  Make sure that a C150 will serve your "new" needs.  Unless the 3 of you are all below average in weight, you could be out of, or at least, marginally close to the edge of the envelope of a C150.  Particularly if you have to deal with density altitude.



Like they say..... advice and comments.... get what you paid for it.

_________________
George Alexander
FS II R503
E-LSA N709FS
http://www.oh2fly.net

jimhefner

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 91
Location: Tucson, AZ

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Thanks George.  Yeah, the 150 is definitely not a 175 and is just a 2 seater, so I am not buying it, intending to fly all of us together.   We're all on the small side, so any two of us won't be pushing the limits on the 150 much, but we do get lots of high DA in AZ in midday.  I prefer to fly mornings, so hopefully that will not be much of a problem.  I'm looking at this as a good way to get started in GA for little investment and a few years later I may decide to sell my 1/2 interest when it no longer fits our needs.  The price and prime location should make it an easy sell later on.  It's a real solid little airplane.

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Jim Hefner
Tucson, AZ
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JetPilot

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1246

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:26 am Post subject: Re: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

I would get a Kolb MK-III Xtra instead of a 150.  The visibility of the 150 sucks compared to the Kolb, and the expenses of general aviation will add much faster than you think.  You will be pretty much stuck inside a aluminum shell with small portholes to look out of, and confined to longer well developed runways.  I have owned 2 Cessna 150's and have no desire to own another one.  



I also have a wife that likes to fly and I would not even consider a single seat plane, thats why I got the MK-III.  It carrys two people without all the disadvantages and drawbacks of the Cessna 150...



JettPilot

_________________
"NO FEAR" - If you have no fear you did not go as fast as you could have !!!

Kolb MK-III Xtra, 912-S

biglar

Joined: 14 Jan 2006
Posts: 457

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:30 am Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

I'll second all that, and ask one more, Jim.  The C-150 is a 2 seater, and 

there are 3 of you.............??



Good Luck on your new venture.  I think you'll enjoy it.             Lar. 

Do not Archive.



---

_________________
Larry Bourne
Palm Springs, CA
Building Kolb Mk IIIC
"Vamoose"

rp3420(at)freescale.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 10:38 am Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Jim,



No mistake in the additional flight training in obtaining your pilots

license.  The more training, dicipline and experience in this sport is

always a good thing.  



The big mistake is selling your great little Firefly.  ;o) 

Tim Gherkins

FSII



--

WillUribe(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:02 pm Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Hi Jim,

After building my FireStar II I stopped flying my Cessna 172 after owning it

for almost 20 years. I then eventually sold it to Dave Rains.  A Kolb is so

much more fun to fly then a Cessna.  Last Sunday Dave and I were landing at

Dell City in the 175 when the case on one of the mags broke. We had to leave

the Cessna there until he can get a replacement. To replace the part it is

going to cost him about $600.  Can you imagine how much it will cost if you

bent your Cessna gear in an off airport landing? Dave now has the 172 up for

sell so we can build a Kolbra.  I would buy a MK-III then a C-150.



Regards,

Will Uribe

El Paso, TX

FireStar II N4GU

http://home.elp.rr.com/airplane/

dhkey(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:27 pm Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Jim,

I did something similar. I drove an hour to fly my Kolb Mark III with a 582 

every weekend, then got my pilots license, then sold my Mark III, flew 

various airplanes 150, Katana, 172, 182, 182 turbo RG. Then spent a bunch 

more money getting my instrument rating. Then it occured to me watching 

instruments, making calculations, and reading approach plates wasn't why I 

started flying and wasn't what I enjoyed about it.



I cant imagine what you found fun about a 175 compared to a Kolb. A Kolb 

isn't a family plane and it's not a plane you can load up with your luggage 

and go skiing. But it does fun really well.



I'm back to Kolbs because I realized I don't want to travel, I just want to 

fly. In GA flying if you ever notice you never go to the airport unless you 

want to go somewhere then you'll know it's time to come back to a Kolb.



I bought my a house on an airport and I'm building a Mark III Xtra with a 

912. I haven't flown GA in 5 months.



You're not making a mistake, just a curve in your jorney. See you back in 

five years. Don't do the instrument training!! They estimate it low so 

you'll do it, it ends up being really expensive.



Dave

 	  Quote: 	
		  From: "jimhefner" <hefner_jim(at)msn.com>

Reply-To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2006 08:15:41 -0700






For those of you that know me well, you know how much I enjoy low and slow 

flying and photography in my little yellow Firefly.  Well, believe it or 

not, I am in the process of buying 1/2 of a Cessna 150 and am starting work 

on my GA ticket.   I have a new wife and daughter that I brought to the US 

from China 3 months ago.  When we were in MV in May, Dave Rains took us all 

up in his C-175 and we had a great time.   I now find I don't go up to the 

airport much and when I do go up there I don't fly very far.  I don't see 

any long trips with plane and trailer like last year in the future, so I've 

decided to go the GA route and later I can fall back to the Sport Pilot 

rating if desired.  I think I will learn alot getting my GA ticket, which 

will be inexpensive since all the lessons are part of the deal on the 

plane, making it too good a deal to pass up.... the plane is also 10 min's 

from my house, compared to 50 min's to the airport where I keep the FF.



After one flight in the 150, I can see I have a lot of adjustments to make 

and get used to.  The most striking difference is the glide slope 

approaching the airstrip!   [Shocked]



Eventually I will probably sell the Firefly and trailer, but am in no hurry 

on that until I'm sure I'm doing the right thing.



Am I totally crazy or what?   



--------

Jim Hefner

Tucson, AZ

Firefly #022  447, 2 blade IVO, BRS-750

Do Not Archive





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=43365#43365

jeepacro(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 4:52 pm Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

YES!  You are crazy but GO FOR IT!  I can tell you that I started flying in 1975 and in that time I wonted more.  I had several airplanes, and even a glider and still wonted more.  So I got a pitt's and did the acrobatic competitions, won a few and wonted more so then I started doing air shows with the smoke in front of crowds and peeked out as far as I'm concerned.  There was nothing better than that!  I loved every day of it and still do.  But then I couldnâ€™t justify the cost of fuel burn, hanger,insurance,etc.  So I found myself looking to get back into flying stick and rudder seat of you're pant flying FOR PENNY"S ON THE THOUSANDS and I found myself right back into ultraLIGHT.  I picked the Firefly so that I don't have to jump through anymore FAA hoops.  I can fold the wing's put it into my garage (no hanger) badabig.  So I just wonted to tell you my story so that you can apply or compare to you're own someday.  And to tell you not to sell you're Firefly because you might do the same circle I did.

--

Rob.



---- jimhefner <hefner_jim(at)msn.com> wrote: 

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 For those of you that know me well, you know how much I enjoy low and slow flying and photography in my little yellow Firefly.  Well, believe it or not, I am in the process of buying 1/2 of a Cessna 150 and am starting work on my GA ticket.   I have a new wife and daughter that I brought to the US from China 3 months ago.  When we were in MV in May, Dave Rains took us all up in his C-175 and we had a great time.   I now find I don't go up to the airport much and when I do go up there I don't fly very far.  I don't see any long trips with plane and trailer like last year in the future, so I've decided to go the GA route and later I can fall back to the Sport Pilot rating if desired.  I think I will learn alot getting my GA ticket, which will be inexpensive since all the lessons are part of the deal on the plane, making it too good a deal to pass up.... the plane is also 10 min's from my house, compared to 50 min's to the airport where I keep the FF.  

 

 After one flight in the 150, I can see I have a lot of adjustments to make and get used to.  The most striking difference is the glide slope approaching the airstrip!   [Shocked] 

 

 Eventually I will probably sell the Firefly and trailer, but am in no hurry on that until I'm sure I'm doing the right thing. 

 

 Am I totally crazy or what?   

 

 --------

 Jim Hefner

 Tucson, AZ

 Firefly #022  447, 2 blade IVO, BRS-750 

 Do Not Archive

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=43365#43365

jimhefner

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 91
Location: Tucson, AZ

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2006 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement.  I like to think this is just a detour in my flying journey.   I know a C-150 is not a Kolb, but this deal presented itself and is too good to pass up.   It is based in La Cholla airpark where lots of folks have hangars at their houses and is very hard to get in unless you own million dollar property there... must be nice!  The co-owner flies a 300hp Maule, so the 150 doesn't fly much.  He recently sold half interest in a beautiful Piper Arrow that is also parked in the hangar with the Maule.  The owner is very resourceful and can get stuff fixed for minimal cost, so I'm hoping it will work out well and cost cost me an arm and a leg over the next few years.  After that we'll see what the future holds.... maybe a 2 place Kolb, we'll see.  I know my 1 seat flying days are numbered so it's time to take the next step and there aren't any great deals like this one around here on a 2 place Kolb.

_________________
Jim Hefner
Tucson, AZ
Do Not Archive

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 3:22 am Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

Jim,



I started out in GA with a private ticket in 1966 went up to Mooneys 

and quit flying for 30+ years while raising a family. When I got back 

into flying after retirement I went from a CH701 --> Cherokee 140 --> 

Early FIrestar --> Titan Tornado --> Allegro LSA. Of all these, the 

FireStar and the Titan were the most fun because of the great 

visibility, the Cherokee 140 the least fun and by far the most 

expensive. Last annual inspection was over $5k and there was nothing 

big wrong with it. Sold it immediately after that.



Sharing overhead and up front costs with one or more owners can be 

great. I'm now in my second such deal. One thing no one else has 

mentioned that is worth considering. What will be the "partnership" 

deal with you and the other 150 owner. Our Allegro is owned by a 

corporation we formed to limit each owner/pilot's liability if one of 

the other pilots does something stupid and gets someone killed. The PIC 

and all owners of an airplane will definitely be named in the lawsuit 

that results from a bad accident. If you have any assets you'd like to 

keep, like say your house, then you are risking it if you do not have 

some sort of limited liability ownership form. An LLC is supposed to 

offer this sort of protection as well as a corporation, I'm told. If a 

corporation or LLC owns the airplane then the non-PIC 

pilots/shareholders do not risk their personal assets, only their share 

in the corp/LLC. Another advantage of a corporation is that if any of 

the shareholders want to sell their share it is not a sales tax 

event.... just like selling shares of Wal-Mart stock. I am not a lawyer 

and this is not legal advice just something to consider  when sharing 

ownership of an airplane with others.



Thom in Buffalo

do not archive

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

richardbutlers(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:50 am Post subject: Hope I'm not making a big mistake....

<?xml:namespace prefix="v" /><?xml:namespace prefix="o" /><![endif]-->  Jim...while I am considering the FF in Texas....and have the inspection  report back on same...it sure makes sense to consider yours here on a more local  level as well.

 If you decide you are really happy with the concept of letting go of it  then maybe we should get together.

  

 R Butler

 Rimrock

 [quote]   ---

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