Because it does this: Hauls me + 2 employees to a trade show, along with the ENTIRE trade show display, samples, etc. Gets me home after the show in time for dinner when 98% of the other exhibitors and visitors were still stuck in Vegas due to flight cancellations. Priceless.

That's just great! Your story about the champ brought tears to my eyes.

That's just great! Your story about the champ brought tears to my eyes.

Ha! Even my 50% of my plane cost more than I paid for my house....... I spent my whole career working on other peoples nice planes, I never thought I would own and fly one as nice as the TBM.

Loving it!

Many were once vehicles of escape and fantastic flying adventures; loved by their owners. Then something turned... money, divorce, finances, or whatever grievances makes men lose their love and lust for life. Perhaps something or someone that inflicts major wounds on their confidence and self-esteem. Then the once glorious steeds that spirited their larger-than-life owners aloft become imprisoned, by ropes, dust, and rot. And the heartbreak of abandonment is seen time and again, like junkyard dogs garroted by chains... and left to die of sadness and neglect.

Life is short: love your airplanes.... love yourselves.

Why do I love my airplane?
Its a get away from reality. I love the fact I can leave at 7am, and fly from socal to norcal for a day trip. I love the people I meet flying it, and i'll love the memories I have once I get older. Its taken me places I never could have imagined. I love the speed, and I love nearly everything about it. my marvelous Mooney.

Now my favorite plane I've flown was the one I learned to fly in. a 38 J-3 Cub. nothing says fun time like popping the door open, pushing 75MPH at 1000Ft and just coasting along the coastline. the fact it only took me 2 and a half minutes to get to cruising altitude. Hopefully I'll find a cub I can rent down in socal. not very many available, but hopefully one day I'll get to fly one again.

Because stuff like this happens when I fly it:

In order of priority, I love my plane because:

1) it’s my form of therapy. I am a bit embarrassed to say it, but I like flying by myself for serenity and alone time quite often more than flying with others.

2) it takes me quickly to the ones I love and to the places I love.

3) it’s a pride thing....I love that both aviators and lay people ogle over my plane, its Beech quality, it’s cleanliness, and its overall top notch condition. Again, a bit embarrassed to admit being prideful.

4) it has introduced me to (and continues to do so) some wonderful people including many from BT.

5) knowing it’s there, and usually with full tanks, it’s my go to for WTSHTF. It provides a sense of security.

Because its a Bonanza And Because of this Fellow Thanks Dad

Your airplane is your companion for endless adventures, your opportunity to travel to far away places, to experience great beauty along the way, to dance among the clouds and the source of pride when you fly it well. It is the link to fond memories of flying buddies, family, other airplanes and aviation places long gone. It is the tangible reminder of our lives, our pasts, our very being.

When you sign that Bill of Sale and hand over your airplane’s keys, that part of your life draws to a close. One cannot describe but only experience the hurt and emptiness of watching your airplane fly away forever. When it is over, it really is over. Nothing can ever fix that hurt, except another airplane.

I figured my lowly Cherokee would make the most sense as my first plane, with a pretty minimal overall mission. Just get up an fly. As I do that more and more, I'm finding that my plane is not the limiting factor in my flying. Time to do so is . But having my own plane allows me to maximize my available time, and overall expand my flying mission.

So overall - I love the fact that I can justify my own plane

Because together we slip the surly bonds of earth.

and touch the face of God...

Because she makes me smile when the hangar door opens and I cant wait to see her again when it closes. Oh, and my wife and I share her so ya could say the three of us have a "thing" going on

[quote="Bob Newell"]It’s hard to beat the Baron as far as speed, utility, and economy for what we want.

We’d need pressurization and turbocharging to step up from it, and I don’t really care to do so.



My thoughts exactly!!!!!

I’ve owned nine planes, the Baron found me. It’s the only one I’ve wanted to keep!