Looking for a Champ Mentor in Mid-Michigan (MBS Area)
Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 17:05
Hello All......
I'm hoping to find an Aeronca Champ mentor in Michigan - particularly in the Saginaw, Bay City, Midland or surrounding area. I'm hoping to find someone who is interested in passing down what they know about their Champ. Someone who can show me personally the tips, tricks, foibles, of the 7AC, and can honestly educate me on the advantages and disadvantages of 7AC flight, handling, and eventual ownership.
What/who I'm hoping to find is someone that looks at their Champ and remembers all of the years of love they've both given and received from it who wants to SHARE that feeling and knowledge with others. Other than that, I'm looking for someone skinny - I'm 5'8" and 260# - so in most cases with me in the plane, you'll have about an hour or a little more of gas before you're overweight.
What I'm not looking for is someone like a guy I ran into at an EAA fly in in northern Michigan - when asked questions about his Champ, he was uninterested in answering - when I asked him if he thought I'd fit in a champ he excused himself for a minute and returned chatting with another guy - he asked me if I wanted to hop in his champ. "WOW....could I?" (As anyone who gets in and out of a small plane knows.....every plane has its own "SPECIAL" way....that series of procedures...put your left foot here, your right hand here etc.) I asked him what the proper way to enter a champ was and he smiled and said "just hop in." I got about half way in and was essentially stuck - my legs were crossed up, my head was stuck.....I then turned to the owner and asked what the best way in was. He was in tears laughing with his buddy because my big arse was stuck half in and half out. THIS is not the kind of person I'm hoping to find.
What can I offer in exchange? Well, I'm good with a broom, I'm highly computer literate, am extremely good with a digital camera, have enough disposable income to pay for gas if you're looking to go for a flight. My all day barbecue is to die for. I have a degree in History and am close to 100% Irish - so I can tell a tale like few others can and can also record your stories and memories so that others will experience the joy of reliving them. These are the things I love, it's not what I do. I'm a business professional that from 8-4 leads a pretty boring life.
What I cant offer in exchange - I can screw in a light bulb, but could not tell you how they work....my tools consist of duct tape, vice grips and lots of big hammers - admittedly, I've got a BIG list of people to call for help. Heavy, heavy lifting is out due to an unfortunate episode involving a very tall ladder, a couple of vertebrae in my back, and gravity.
The obvious end goal of all of this is a Champ of my own. I would certainly entertain a partial ownership with my mentor should they desire to eventually defray/share the costs of ownership - if they felt that I was worthy to carry on the ownership of their beloved airplane.
Cub owners need not apply - I sat in one once.....my shoulders hung out the windows on either side.
Any help would be appreciated.
Respects and Safe Flight!!!!
I'm hoping to find an Aeronca Champ mentor in Michigan - particularly in the Saginaw, Bay City, Midland or surrounding area. I'm hoping to find someone who is interested in passing down what they know about their Champ. Someone who can show me personally the tips, tricks, foibles, of the 7AC, and can honestly educate me on the advantages and disadvantages of 7AC flight, handling, and eventual ownership.
What/who I'm hoping to find is someone that looks at their Champ and remembers all of the years of love they've both given and received from it who wants to SHARE that feeling and knowledge with others. Other than that, I'm looking for someone skinny - I'm 5'8" and 260# - so in most cases with me in the plane, you'll have about an hour or a little more of gas before you're overweight.
What I'm not looking for is someone like a guy I ran into at an EAA fly in in northern Michigan - when asked questions about his Champ, he was uninterested in answering - when I asked him if he thought I'd fit in a champ he excused himself for a minute and returned chatting with another guy - he asked me if I wanted to hop in his champ. "WOW....could I?" (As anyone who gets in and out of a small plane knows.....every plane has its own "SPECIAL" way....that series of procedures...put your left foot here, your right hand here etc.) I asked him what the proper way to enter a champ was and he smiled and said "just hop in." I got about half way in and was essentially stuck - my legs were crossed up, my head was stuck.....I then turned to the owner and asked what the best way in was. He was in tears laughing with his buddy because my big arse was stuck half in and half out. THIS is not the kind of person I'm hoping to find.
What can I offer in exchange? Well, I'm good with a broom, I'm highly computer literate, am extremely good with a digital camera, have enough disposable income to pay for gas if you're looking to go for a flight. My all day barbecue is to die for. I have a degree in History and am close to 100% Irish - so I can tell a tale like few others can and can also record your stories and memories so that others will experience the joy of reliving them. These are the things I love, it's not what I do. I'm a business professional that from 8-4 leads a pretty boring life.
What I cant offer in exchange - I can screw in a light bulb, but could not tell you how they work....my tools consist of duct tape, vice grips and lots of big hammers - admittedly, I've got a BIG list of people to call for help. Heavy, heavy lifting is out due to an unfortunate episode involving a very tall ladder, a couple of vertebrae in my back, and gravity.
The obvious end goal of all of this is a Champ of my own. I would certainly entertain a partial ownership with my mentor should they desire to eventually defray/share the costs of ownership - if they felt that I was worthy to carry on the ownership of their beloved airplane.
Cub owners need not apply - I sat in one once.....my shoulders hung out the windows on either side.
Any help would be appreciated.
Respects and Safe Flight!!!!