bnicolette Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 I came out to the airport today after a week and a half of straight work. I fixed my tractor (tug), needed a spark plug, took the Mooney out for an hour long ride, came back and cleaned all the bugs off, swept the hangar, and still don't want to leave!!!!! I have so much fun not only flying the Mooney but everything else that goes along with it. It led me to start thinking of what I "really" enjoy more. Flying or just bumming around my hangar and tinkering? One thing is for certain.........having this Mooney in front of me while playing around the hangar definitely increases the fun level. I absolutely love this airplane!!!! Quote
John Pleisse Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 It's the Mooney Brett. (I hope you can keep it). Quote
Hank Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Airplanes make everything fun. Mooney airplanes make everything funner. Quote
MooneyMitch Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Hank Airplanes make everything fun. Mooney airplanes make everything funner. Quote
Shadrach Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Bnicolette I came out to the airport today after a week and a half of straight work. I fixed my tractor (tug), needed a spark plug, took the Mooney out for an hour long ride, came back and cleaned all the bugs off, swept the hangar, and still don't want to leave!!!!! I have so much fun not only flying the Mooney but everything else that goes along with it. It led me to start thinking of what I "really" enjoy more. Flying or just bumming around my hangar and tinkering? One thing is for certain.........having this Mooney in front of me while playing around the hangar definitely increases the fun level. I absolutely love this airplane!!!! Quote
FlyDave Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 I spent the last 2 nights replacing the starter in my 201. What great evenings! I took my time and enjoyed every minute spent in my hangar. A friend came over to help Tuesday night and last night I worked by myself. I enjoyed every minute of it and left each evening feeling great! My mechanic is checking all my work today and I should be in the air this evening - tasty icing on that cake! The airport is my "eco-system". Almost all my friends are pilots (glider and/or power) and even if we just sit around and tell lies, I can't think of any place else I'd rather spend time. Brett - I hope you can manage to keep your plane and hangar! Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Most everything about airplanes is fun. It sounds like you need to find a way to keep that plane of yours! Quote
rbridges Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Parker_Woodruff Most everything about airplanes is fun. Quote
thinwing Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Afterwork hanger sessions are my most important therapy...a great stress reliever,and there is always friends nearby doing the same thing...the guy 2 hangers down rebuilding a 65 bonanza,across the row cowling off the FAA maintance guys 172...thats why I really dont mind doing my own annuals..I have a 30 year old collection of tools,a good compressor,good lighting,100000btu heater for winters and a giant swamp cooler for summers...at least 4 ap/ai close by for help...my home away from home .sinc kpc Quote
Seth Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Whenever I drive anywhere near the airport, I try to stop by, just to say hello to my Mooney - I'll tell you, when between planes I didn't stop by the hanger as much, and I did miss it. Even if you don't take her flying, simply swinging by to say hello, and doing the little things, puts a smile on your face. Just sitting in a chair next to your plane watching the other planes fly - very relaxing. I hope you work out a way to keep your Mooney. -Seth Quote
bnicolette Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Posted October 6, 2011 Thanks all. I do have the support of the Mrs and in fact she has been the voice of reason to keep it around even if I'm not commuting to work. It's days like today also that really make me think twice about selling it. I have dumped a lot of money into it getting it to an even higher level of reliability than it was and have it just where I want it. My mind is pretty much made up to hang on to it for now! We need a Mooney fly in for those of us in the Northeast before the weather turns really cold. I am more than willing to lend my hangar for such an event. Of course I will have to take the plane out, fly around and back in so it seemed like I flew in for the day! Or there is a great building (empty all the time) at KVVS which is brand new and a great facility for meeting with a huge ramp out front. Quote
KSMooniac Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Working as a line rat in college was a very fun job for me. I too enjoy hangar time cleaning or wrenchin, but not so much cleaning up after birds. My airport is fairly sterile, unfortunately, but it is still fun. I miss the small airport experience that I enjoyed while growing up and during my flight training...hopefully plenty of kids today still get to enjoy such an environment.I wish I could make a living as an airport bum! Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: KSMooniac hopefully plenty of kids today still get to enjoy such an environment. Quote
John Pleisse Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Shadrach I can totally relate. I was out at the hangar a few weeks back and got the same feeling. I took the the plane up for a quick spin with my bestfriend/girlfriend (one in the same) and then did some scheduled mx on the car followed by some non-scheduled mx on my old Triumph Daytona. Folks drift in and out to say hello. I Helped my 82yr old hanger neighbor with a difficult to remove part on the Comanche that he's parting out. I felt completed surrounded by good and worthwhile things all day long. Great way to spend a Sunday. Quote
PTK Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Bnicolette I came out to the airport today after a week and a half of straight work. I fixed my tractor (tug), needed a spark plug, took the Mooney out for an hour long ride, came back and cleaned all the bugs off, swept the hangar, and still don't want to leave!!!!! I have so much fun not only flying the Mooney but everything else that goes along with it. It led me to start thinking of what I "really" enjoy more. Flying or just bumming around my hangar and tinkering? One thing is for certain.........having this Mooney in front of me while playing around the hangar definitely increases the fun level. I absolutely love this airplane!!!! Quote
bnicolette Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: allsmiles I feel the same way about my airplane. I just sit on a chair sometimes have a beer and admire the machine! Quote
Shadrach Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: N4352H I used to be based HGR. It has the most "lived-in" and usually "active" pilot's lounge anywhere. Is it still there? Quote
John Pleisse Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Shadrach Most definitely! Most of the weekend coffee clubers are still around. Cokes are still 50 cents out of the vending machine and Fred Krumpe often drops off a few dozen of his finest donuts on Saturday mornings. It has been my great pleasure to hang out there get to know most of the "seasoned" gents and listen to their tales (some a bit on the tall side) sometimes more than once. They've all been quite good to me (lending specialty tools, hoists, torches, etc...) and I try and return the favor whenever I can. It's a nice community of guys from diverse backgrounds with diverse machines. Last weekend, I saw no less than 4 aircraft take off that were manufactured prior to 1945, all based on field. We enjoy the sound of round engines and supersonic prop tips quite often at HGR... Unfortunately, the fact that I'm one of the youngest (at 37) on the field does not portend the same experience for the next generation... Quote
bnicolette Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Posted October 6, 2011 Is there a restaurant on the field at HGR? Anybody up for a Saturday morning flight and a donut? Couldn't ask for nicer weather. Quote
jlunseth Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 I have a new dream flight. I am going to fill the Mooney up with gas and O2. Then I am going to take off from a grass strip, fly to FL240, run a tank dry during the trip just to see what happens, and then do an ILS to minimums for full stop landing at Leadville, on the asphalt. I hope they have an ILS at Leadville, I guess I will find out when I get there. I am planning on running LOP all the way. Anyone want to come along? Maybe we could do it all in formation. Quote
Shadrach Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: Bnicolette Is there a restaurant on the field at HGR? Anybody up for a Saturday morning flight and a donut? Couldn't ask for nicer weather. Quote
FlyDave Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Quote: jlunseth I have a new dream flight. I am going to fill the Mooney up with gas and O2. Then I am going to take off from a grass strip, fly to FL240, run a tank dry during the trip just to see what happens, and then do an ILS to minimums for full stop landing at Leadville, on the asphalt. I hope they have an ILS at Leadville, I guess I will find out when I get there. I am planning on running LOP all the way. Anyone want to come along? Maybe we could do it all in formation. Quote
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