Aviation Goals for 2021

Primary goal is to be a safe and proficient pilot.
Finish up my PPL and fly at least 2 hours a week.
My Children , Grand children and Great Grand children are looking forward to their first plane ride.
This area has some beautiful and varied topographical areas to be flown.
The triple divide area needs some exploration . Hikers in Glacier Park see it on foot , My wish is to over fly it.
 
mandm said:
I did a solo xc to Oshkosh. Hehe. Let’s say I want to go to Oshkosh this year, can you just fly in and park there or do you need to reserve a parking spot. I’m a newbie.
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No reservations needed, but it could be that field is full or flooded and they’ll close to new arrivals. You need to pay to park and camp and you’ll need to pay to attend also. Take a look at airventure.com.

Also, review 2019’s NOTAM so you’ll have and idea on what to expect when the 2021 version comes out and be sure to follow it when you arrive. Take a look at YouTube for arrival tutorials.

Take a look at old threads here under Cool Places to Fly for other’s experiences. We’d love to see you at the parties. Oshkosh is one-off the coolest things you can do as an aviator!!
 
Meet up with some PoA’ers/BT’ers!
Fly more (I just saw my trailing 12 months and it seems I barely flew)
Fly into/camp @ Oshkosh
Hit up the Rockies or West Coast (was postponed due to COVID and fires)
Start my Commercial
Get one step closer to ownership
 
Enjoy a year without any obligations to fly. Maybe do my tailwheel endorsement or SES rating if I feel like it. Both are things I’ve wanted to do since getting my private nearly 13 years ago but then I got distracted with shiny twins and flying dogs.
 
Cover Super Cub project
Fly more than 132.6 hours
Regain instrument proficiency
Fly to Oshkosh
Fly Lance to MN to pickup engine for Super Cub
Fly some Angel Flights
 
Ted said:
Enjoy a year without any obligations to fly. Maybe do my tailwheel endorsement or SES rating if I feel like it. Both are things I’ve wanted to do since getting my private nearly 13 years ago but then I got distracted with shiny twins and flying dogs.
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Still got tailwheel to do. SES was a blast!
 
Hoping to stay healthy and continue flying. Might finally do tailwheel. And to do sun n fun ,and osh.
 
MEI, keep building time

ASES for fun if I have the money laying around to pay cash (well, credit card for the reward points, but you get the idea)
 
Find a heated hangar thats reasonability priced. How can people handle unheated hangars...
Have an annual that doesnt turn into a decent used car price range
Finally fly to the east coast. I bought the plane in Cali and flew it back, so I want to hit the other coast in it.
 
Finally take my instrument and commercial test
Purchase our first airplane
Fly to each coast
 
Now that my archer has passed annual and been deemed to be in excellent condition, it is time to do the avionics. Move the GTN 530 over, make room for the 750xi, remove vacuum system and install two GI-275's, convert to all LED lighting. Upgrade transponder to GTX345, and install GMA35c remote audio panel. By spring she will be one sweet bird!
 
Joe_B1 said:
Now that my archer has passed annual and been deemed to be in excellent condition, it is time to do the avionics. Move the GTN 530 over, make room for the 750xi, remove vacuum system and install two GI-275's, convert to all LED lighting. Upgrade transponder to GTX345, and install GMA35c remote audio panel. By spring she will be one sweet bird!
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That sounds like it is going to be one sweet Archer when it is all said and done. Be sure to post before/after photos!
 
midwestpa24 said:
Didn't do a whole lot of flying in the last year since my job no longer allows me to instruct on the side. My CFI expires in 2021, so I'll have to find a way to renew it somehow.
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My CFI is doing his renewal online .
 
I got 112 hours in 2020, mostly in the Sonerai. For 2021, I want to match that, and get the fuselage finished and engine hung on the RV-8. The new Superior crankshaft AD means I’ll have to tear down my engine and put it back together before I can hang it. That’s assuming I can even get parts.
 
Flying-
Try and get back to more normal flight hours. At least get back to 100 or so. It's been a good start to 2021 so far with a trip to Florida to visit family and look for a winter home. We have trips planned, now to see them through. Like @wayne, we are also planning a trip west. We have a few routes we are working through depending where we want to visit and what shape the destinations are in as far as safety and security. Ultimate destination is Albuquerque for the balloon fest. Stops will include Laurel MS, Waco TX, El Paso TX, Pawhuska OK, Paris KY and maybe a few others.

Home
Finish up the guest bathroom since we have all the flooring, vanity and fixtures. The two guest bedrooms were recently painted so I can cross that off. Plan for our Master bathroom remodel after we get back from the west swing.

Work
I'm retired!! Quit the rat race six years ago. I do take care of a friends construction books two days a week from home and that pays for hangar rent most months.
 
Alaska.

Maybe Hawaii in 2022.

Yes, in a PA24
 
Make my first flight up to Maine to visit my son.
Maybe also make my first flight to North Carolina, to visit First Flight.
Make at least one of these an overnight trip. I'm such a lightweight--all of my flights to date have been day trips.
 
IR. Again. But this time I've got an 8 day intensive scheduled with check ride at CRAFT so I'm hopeful...

Beyond that, I'm not sure. MEI? SES? Buy a plane?
 
Same as before, get my seaplane rating and log some time in a DC-3. Probably won’t happen again this year. :(
 
  1. Log 400 productive hours on the RV-10 build.
  2. Log at least 100 hours flying
  3. Keep current and proficient in IFR
  4. Stretch goal - commercial rating.
 
My big 2021 goal is to fly to Florida with the family. Until now the boss has always been a bit skittish about a 4 hour flight and possible weather delays screwing up the vacation. She is fine with 2 hour vacation flights as she rationalizes that we could always drive if needed.

I also have a stretch goal to fly to the Bahamas.
 
Initial Fix said:
My big 2021 goal is to fly to Florida with the family. Until now the boss has always been a bit skittish about a 4 hour flight and possible weather delays screwing up the vacation. She is fine with 2 hour vacation flights as she rationalizes that we could always drive if needed.

I also have a stretch goal to fly to the Bahamas.
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We have been back and forth to Florida a few times, from Wilmington DE and Ocean City MD. My bride is always game for a vacation getaway so its a bit easier for me. We keep it to three hour legs. On our recent flight I decided to take on fuel having flown from Ocean city to Charleston, the bride didn't even feel like getting out. She said lets gas and go.....I still get a chuckle just thinking about it. I fueled, paid, started up and taxied out. just under three hours later we were in Ft. Pierce. We also want to make the jump to the Bahamas....first we want to lock in on a winter home in the port st lucie area.

If its only four hours for you to Florida, break it up, two and two, if that helps get over the longer trips. After awhile the other half will want to make the nonstop. As a friend of mine (@The Old Man) told us when we started traveling.....it's like eating a pizza, one bite at a time.

Good luck!
 
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I like to make the last leg a bit shorter, so maybe 2.5 and 1.5 for a 4 hour trip. The last leg still seems longest, but it’s not as bad.
 
A few days ago, I found out that I’d be back at Delta by October. So my goal is to finally complete my type rating. I’m also, as of yesterday, off of probation and on year 2 pay without even touching a plane:eek2:
 
NealRomeoGolf said:
You need a timeout.
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I found two partners to buy in. Still leaves me with plenty of access to the aircraft plus the ability to improve the aircraft at 1/3 the cost. Plus now I have cash in the bank and less financial exposure in retirement.
The question now becomes what to do with the cash. Thinking Starduster Too maybe.
 
I think my biggest goal will be to keep the shiny side up. I prefer to keep my goals modest as to not brook disappointment.
 
Well, I'm posting one of the first goal reviews of the year. Today marks my 365th day in GA. I took my first flight a year ago tomorrow (Oct. 1, 2020). During that year I accomplished:
  • 70.9 hours total time
  • Purchased fractional ownership of a 172M 180hp
  • Private Pilot Checkride begun at 40.5 hrs tt (Part 61)
  • Instrument Rating and Instrument Instructor Written tests passed
  • Halfway to the Actual/Simulated hours for Instrument Rating (hope to finish before the end of the year)
  • Flew with my wife a couple times
  • Flew with my grandfather (a lapsed private pilot who will likely pass away by the end of the year)
  • Flew into a presidential TFR (on purpose, just the outer ring)
  • Joined the Pilots of America community!

Here's to finishing 2021 strong and then I'll let you guys know about my goals for 2022!
 
GeorgeC said:
Comm ride.
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2021 saw a lot going on but wasn't without a silver lining. The comm ride didn't happen. My plane continues to be rebuilt one piece at a time, went on a couple or three XCs, took my 4yo on his first flights, plus took an old friend on a demo flight.
 
jsstevens said:
IR. Again. But this time I've got an 8 day intensive scheduled with check ride at CRAFT so I'm hopeful...

Beyond that, I'm not sure. MEI? SES? Buy a plane?
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Updated elsewhere but IR done. Working on SE commercial then to multi commercial with instrument.
 
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