There wasn't a trip I made where some pilot wouldn't come running up and asking about the plane, retelling their first lessons in it. On the flip side there wasn't a controller or tower on the east coast that didn't throw darts at that tail number until they got used to me.
I caused the cracks. I used to go in and out of class B airports that would only deal with 90 knots on the glideslope. Shock cooling was hard on the engine. It was pretty funny on finals when on the left was a 737 and on the right side was a cherokee on the same approach and speed. I could stick it down at 75KTS and make the first high speed turnoff. I worked at Charlotte Int'l. I would fly to and from work. I'd depart in 1000 feet, bank a hard turnout and be gone from their departures in a heartbeat. Good o'l days!
I've gotta do a new panel in it now to be legal and don't have the money until my middle daughter finishes college.
I used to think owning an airplane was expensive until my daughter went off to college. Airplanes are cheap!
I started out with a $5,500 Cessna 150. A lot of my flying was in an MOA and I had the pleasure of getting passed on the right and level by a B-52. And of all things, after he passed me, he slid right back over into my lane!
That's the truth palmer ...