The Mooney is sold

[RJBrown]

 Must be something going around here in Denver. Just read Joe Z's goodby, sort of, post. I too am getting ready to retire before I'm too old to enjoy it. The big house is sold and we are moving into a rental till I sell the business. We are heading down to the Phoenix area. Sold the MSE to a guy in Texas. He will fly up to take it on the 12th. Tomorrow morning I will take my 11 year old Boy Scouts up to get their Aviation Merit badges. It will be my last flight in N1079V.

 We bought a lot on Pegasus Airpark in Queen Creek Arizona 3 years ago. As soon as things get sorted out with the business and the commercial real estate here we will buy a temporary house near Pegasus to live in while we build on our lot. Once I have the house and hanger built I have promised myself another Rocket. 3 to 5 years seems like a conservative timetable to get it all done. After running my business for over 32 years I am ready for some time off. Looking forward to never seeing a snowflake again. We just need to take a Scuba trip, we were going twice a year for a while but work has got in the way for over 2 years now. I think it is time to enjoy what life has to offer while we are still relativly young. 60 plus hour work weeks just don't cut it anymore.

 Not so much a "Good By" as a "see you again soon"

Of course I will still have to pop in to talk Mooneys and whine about the liberal slide into socialism from time to time.

 

Later

Randy

 

 PS good luck in the future Joe.

[Joe Zuffoletto]

Randy,

 

Congratulations on your impending retirement to Arizona. Ironic that you wrote it on our first day of snowfall here in Denver!

 

I think the people on this board, several of my friends and even my employees have "talked me off the ledge" when it comes to giving up flying. I'm going to keep my Mooney at a minimum. We'll see about the RV-8.

 

For me, thinking about giving up flying wasn't about paring the expenses, it was about wanting to do other stuff. What I didn't mention in my previous post was that if my wife and I were to retire to CA, where we both have families, I'd definitely get another Mooney. It's the only way to travel up and down the west coast. But I already have an awesome Mooney, so I might as well keep it. Part of the reason I put up my "goodbye" post was that I was pretty damn conflicted and wanted to hear some other opinions. I'm not so conflicted any more!

 

I think airpark living will be a blast for you once you get settled and find another Rocket. I'd love to fly down and visit you at that time, and see what Pegasus is all about.

 

All the best to you as you move into this next chapter of your life!

 

Joe

[AlexR]

Fair winds and following seas...enjoy your retirement!

[KSMooniac]

Best of luck to both of you, and I'm happy to hear Mooneys continue to be in your retirement plans!  I gave up flying for 5 years before purchasing my J, and I don't EVER want to go without one again!  They're such practical traveling machines that I think retirement might be the best time to own one, unless you get into the RV lifestyle and hit the road for weeks/months at a time.

 

Rockets seem to be very under-valued in the market today and I'm sure you'll find a good buy on one when you're ready.

[carqwik]

Another Rocket will be be useful for getting out of AZ in the summer to go to CO....or San Diego or....anywhere cooler than here which is just about everywhere except Vegas!

[John Pleisse]

Randy....will miss your "like-mindedness". Be careful out there.

[RJBrown]

Congratulations, Randy. I know that selling the J gets you one step closer to that Rocket that you are trying to get back into.

I have a question if you don't mind. If I recall correctly you overhauled the J's engine at 1850 hours, or thereabouts, just to make the plane more marketable. For the benefit of others here who might consider the same sales strategy, would you do it again? Now, in retrospect, do you feel that the plane sold faster than it would have otherwise and/or that you came out ahead financially by doing so?

Thanks,

Jim

The first broker failed to bring me an offer he thought was too low before the engine was done. It would have netted me about $5,000.00 more and saved me a years insurance , storage, etc.

[Alan Fox]

I dream of the day I retire my wrenches.......

[KSMooniac]

I dream of the day I retire my wrenches.......

 

Car wrenches or airplane wrenches?  

[Alan Fox]

Car wrenches or airplane wrenches?  

YES................     

[fantom]

Very happy that it's all working out for you Randy, and best of luck in the future.

[RJBrown]

Thanks Guys.