AircraftOwner Online

    Last summer I took a non-pilot friend of mine, Paul Hodap, for a ride in my Fairchild PT-23. We departed ANE [Anoka, MN Airport] in the Minneapolis area, flying down the nearby St. Croix river, briefly crossing into Wisconsin. We continued past the locks on the Mississippi and on about 15 miles to one of the nicest grass airports in America, Stanton Field [SYN]. There we shot a couple of landings before taxiing in for a bottle of Coke out of an ancient vending machine and an ice cream sandwich from the honor system freezer, payment received in a used coffee can.

    The weather could not have been nicer. We continued our flight along the southern reaches of the Twin Cities metro area, reached the corner of the southwest metro near Flying Cloud Field then turned north along the western edge of “The Cities.” In doing so we passed over Lake Minnetonka which is actually a series of interconnected lakes with plush homes, beautiful beaches and lots of bars and boats. Staying quite safely under the MSP TCA, everything was visible. It was one of those flying carpet flights.

    When we landed back at Anoka County, Paul asked me, “What’s involved in getting your pilot’s license anyway?” I knew the flight had struck a cord. In a way I felt like missionaries from any religion must feel when they sense they have a convert. With a little more gentle preaching, just maybe we could win one more over.

    You can’t imagine how happy I felt when, just a few weeks ago, Paul called me to ask where he should go and whom he should talk to about taking flying lessons. As his office is very near Flying Cloud in the SW metro area I gave him several options. I went out with him for dinner last evening and he informed me that he now has 3.5 hours of flight time and is scheduled to fly two or three times a week until he is ready for his check ride.

    At our dinner, Paul asked me about airplane prices and what it would take should he ultimately decide to buy an airplane. I went through quite a few options with him, from LSAs to used 182s. He said his dream was to have a four-place airplane to fly on overnight trips “Up North,” as Minnesotan’s are want to say about weekend excursions to the state’s lake country. If I know my friend as well as I think I do, he will be finished with his license by late summer and will have a good idea of what aircraft he is going to purchase The whole process brings a smile to my face.

    This is why I am so pleased with the new EAA program that gives Young Eagles their first log book after their Young Eagles flight. Finally, after 1,000,000 kids, there is a plan to leverage that first flight experience into a first step for young aviators. The plan is a good one.

    After a Young Eagle gets their log book they also receive an invitation to take an online Private Pilot Ground School course free of charge. To keep them engaged, after they finish their first 10 hours of study, the EAA pays for a one hour flight lesson as a reward for sticking with it. The program is phenomenal. The very first Young Eagle to get a Private Pilots license will have received it by the time you read these words. This, my friends, is what aviation needs.

    I love what the wonderful people at the EAA and EAA chapters do for all of us. Introducing potential new pilots to flying is one of their greatest endeavors. So is bringing us all together at EAA chapters and fly-ins at the local level and the World Class event that is AirVenture Oshkosh every summer.

    As a member of the Young Eagles Committee I work with many others in an effort to raise funds to support the EAA’s outreach programs. After attending two airplane auctions in Arizona in the past two years I suggested reviving that tradition within the EAA, specifically at AirVenture. It makes a lot of sense. Where else could you find so many aircraft and so many potential buyers and sellers in one place? AirVenture is it and the EAA has announced that a First Class Auction, called The Spirit of Aviation Aircraft Auction, will be held at AirVenture this summer. Everybody loves an auction and pilots absolutely love aircraft auctions.

    The EAA has set up a very detailed Web Site, www.airventure.org/auction/ for those interested in buying and/or selling an aircraft at the auction.

    The Spirit of Aviation Aircraft Auction makes sense for everyone involved. The cost for participating as a buyer or a seller is very reasonable. And who could imagine a better venue than AirVenture? Even if you just go to watch it will be lots of fun. Plus it should give us some real idea of aircraft valuations. In addition transactions at the auction will help add liquidity to the aircraft marketplace. When planes sell, buyers often invest in upgrading their purchase with everything from pilot paraphernalia to engines and paint jobs. When the sellers sell their aircraft, they may well decide to invest in another. In all of this, the transaction fees benefit aviation and critical outreach programs like the Young Eagles Flight. It’s a win-win-win for everyone.

    If you are interested in buying or selling an aircraft this summer, I stongly suggest you visit the EAA Web site. And don’t forget, if you are looking to buy or sell an aircraft, you can do it here at AircraftOwnerClassifieds.com. All classified listings are FREE!