The Two Happiest Days

[rpadula]

You know the story: the two happiest days of an airplane owner’s life are the day he buys it and the day he sells it. Today was the latter for me.

I’ve been quietly mulling it over since, well, opening up the wallet for the last annual in August, but finally decided to get serious in December. I didn’t want to post it for sale here and get lots of well-meaning “awww, keep it.” Once I make up my mind to do something, I do it. I have no regrets, just some different priorities in life now.

Some of the highlights:

• My first flight as owner was to go visit my best friend in Orlando, just because I could.
  
• Lots of trips to Jacksonville to see my parents and stay as long as I wanted.
  
• I’ve flown all around the southeast and had nifty flying vacations in Savannah, Hilton Head, and Amelia Island.
  
• I flew to Alabama to visit the guy who got me hooked on flying. When he asked what time I had to be back to the FBO, I told him, “I have a confession to make.” The look on his face was priceless.
  
• Numerous $100 hamburger runs and fly-ins where I’ve met other POA’ers. (includes picking up William in Greenville to head to one of the Raleigh BBQ’s)
  
• Flying to the Commander Owner’s Group Fly-Ins and seeing the factory (and later getting an annual done there) in Cape Girardeau, MO.
  
• Lots of pretty pictures in my iPhoto Library.

But the best memory is one of the last. When I bought the plane, I didn’t tell anyone of my plans, but this time, I mentioned to my mom I was thinking about it. Then she got all guilty on me – “oh, I can’t believe you’re going to sell it and I haven’t had a ride in it!” Well, my mom is fairly claustrophobic, and even commercial planes bother her, so I always told her it was no big deal. I didn’t ever want to make her uncomfortable. But the idea of selling it got her going.

I put her in the passenger seat this past Christmas vacation and closed the door. I walked around to the pilot’s side door (thank you, Rockwell) and asked her how she felt. “Great,” she said. “Just like a car, right?” I had just flown a demo flight to a prospective buyer, so I knew the skies were completely calm. We took off into a perfectly cloudless sky and headed towards the St. Johns river. I found my parents' house and we circled it. She even spotted my sister’s house. And then we went back for a greaser landing. 20 minutes total. When we got out, she said, “now I know why you love flying so much.”

I think the look on her face shows more than just tolerating the flight. I’d say she actually enjoyed it! And that, as they say in the commercials, was priceless.

 

[wsuffa]

Rich, congrats and condolences.

Glad it sold quickly.

I'm still mulling. Biz travel is heavy, hardly flying privately at all, and I can use the money for other stuff.

The fact yours sold quickly gives me some encouragement should I decide to part with mine.

Decisions, decisions.

 

[PittsDriver]

I've never understood that aphorism about boats and airplanes. If selling it is the second happiest day to buying it, it just means you bought the wrong plane/boat or shouldn't have bought one to begin with. I've sold 5 aircraft and the only thing that made it not the saddest day in my ownership was the knowledge that I was rolling into the next plane that I couldn't wait to be flying.

I'm just guessing here but I'd say for both of the guys that posted here ahead of me that selling was/is a sad thing too.

EDIT: I didn't notice that you had just sold a Commander. The first 3 aircraft I owned/bought/sold where Commanders and I'd probably own that 115 TC today if the factory hadn't gone tango uniform. I've never flown a more comfortable 4 place piston than that Commander. Best seats ever put in a bug smasher and my wife and put many hundreds of hours on them.

 

[JOhnH]

Awwww, you shoulda kept it.

But I'm glad your mom got a chance to fly. I wish mine did.

 

[Trapper John]

It's always better to sell because you want to, not because you have to. Glad you got to sell on your terms.

And it's cool you took your mom up. Mine is an extremely nervous passenger, even when my dad (ex-USAF) was flying.


Trapper John

 

[flyersfan31]

They can have my plane when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

Or when I trade up.:smile:

I'm glad it sold easily. This is a tough market, and selling a Commander ain't easy in a good market (nice as they are). Congrats.

 

[rpadula]

Thanks for the notes everybody.

I can't say I'm "happy." It had been such a whirlwind of activity, I wasn't sure what to feel. Probably more "relief" that the transaction was over. Ask me again in August when I would've been paying for another annual.

As far as selling it quickly, there is one thing that solves that: the right price. I had studied the market and seen what planes were not selling for (i.e. 200 hp retracts are not selling for $70k-$80k anymore) and priced it appropriately. We fielded 26 calls. Ultimately, it went to two guys in the Atlanta area, so at least I might get to visit once in a while.

PittsDriver - which Commanders did you have? Were you on the owners board? PM me if you like...

 

[Ted]

Well, if you decided that you were going to sell it, I'm glad that it sold quickly and that you're happy with how things came out. Maintenance is always the most difficult time for an aircraft owner. Still, if it's what you wanted to do and made sense, then it sounds like you made the right call.

Most importantly, glad you took your mom up flying and that she had a great time. My mom... well, she won't be happy until I get a pressurized twin with an air stair door.

 

[tdager]

Rich I know you did what was right for you.....but man all I can say is that yesterday was one of the happiest in my ownership days.

You might know of the partial ceiling collapse in my hangar that had some drywall hit my prop. Most believed it would be OK, with a local A&P concurring. However I had not been able to start it up in the past two weeks since due to work/weather.

So yesterday I get home, pull the plane out of the hangar, pre-flight and start her up...and she fired up right away.

I did not have time for a flight before company was coming over...but I say there for 20 minutes, did a good runup, with a HUGE grin on my face.

I have not flown since December 24th, 2009 due to work/weather/other responsibilities....and it looks like I will not fly for another two weeks at least, but man I just do not know what I would do if I did not have my plane.

 

[rpadula]

You might know of the partial ceiling collapse in my hangar that had some drywall hit my prop. Most believed it would be OK, with a local A&P concurring. However I had not been able to start it up in the past two weeks since due to work/weather.

So yesterday I get home, pull the plane out of the hangar, pre-flight and start her up...and she fired up right away.

Well, yeah, you're really livin' the dream having your house with your own hangar on an airstrip. Glad to hear no damage was done.

I did not have time for a flight before company was coming over...but I say there for 20 minutes, did a good runup, with a HUGE grin on my face.

I have not flown since December 24th, 2009 due to work/weather/other responsibilities....and it looks like I will not fly for another two weeks at least, but man I just do not know what I would do if I did not have my plane.

Too bad you didn't get to fly. Yesterday was so pretty.

Sounds like your wife needs to take lessons. Just to, you know, keep the rust off the engine while you're so busy.

 

[Ted]

Last weekend was the first weekend I haven't flown a plane since sometime in 2009. It may have even been November 2009. It just felt odd.

It gets in you, that's for sure.

 

[Dean]

The only time I have been happy to see mine go was when I was upgrading and when I owned two at one time. But I have been lucky on the selling part, the longest I have ever had one on the market was two weeks, the shortest was three days.

 

[Anthony]

Rich,

I know that is a tough one. I think we all get there at one time or another. Often, its just damn hard to justify, especially when you get hit with that HUGE maintenance/repair bill.

If I sell my Tiger, which is a possiblity, I'd like to get into a three way partnership on a newer Mooney. The plane has become a travel tool for me and I'd like something more equipped with modern IR radios and such. Its still fun, but I like to go places, not just burn 100LL and holes in the sky anymore.

Again condolences sir, or congrats depending how you look at it!

 

[bsdunek]

They can have my plane when they pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

My feelings exactly. In 1985 I sold my Cherokee 180 because Dad quit flying, and I wanted the 170 I grew up with. Even though I really wanted to do that, I still had a hard time with the new buyer flying MY plane away, never to be seen again. I still check it on the FAA registry once in a while just to see that it's still registered and who owns it.

 

[DutchessFlier]

Rich:
I am glad on one hand that you enjoyed the plane for as long as you did, and I share the condolences about selling it as well. I think that my mom, who is celebrating her 80th this spring, will go up for a ride with me when she visits from Florida in May..she said she wants to!
I guess my main thing now is to try to complete the instrument rating and continue flying for the Animal Rescue Flights organization. The strangest thing was once I got the PPL, and bought the plane, I almost regretted that decision. Too much $$$$$, too much MX cost, my wife won't get in the plane under any circumstances, etc. etc...alot of self doubt about the whole ownership thing. But, everytime I get in, leave the earth and prove to myself that I can do this, I let myself enjoy the experience. I guess you will always have the joy of owning the plane, and you will always be able to fly. It does get in you, as Ted says, but I think that for most of uis, it always was in us for the longest time! Good Luck!

 

[TangoWhiskey]

Really REALLY cool that you got Mom in the air!

 

[Frank Browne]

Great story Rich!

 

[Ken Ibold]

I have never regretted selling any of my airplanes except my Pitts. I kick myself darn near every day over that. I can't buy another one like it for anything near what I sold it for.

 

[wsuffa]

Welcome back, Ken....

 

[PittsDriver]

I have never regretted selling any of my airplanes except my Pitts. I kick myself darn near every day over that. I can't buy another one like it for anything near what I sold it for.

Hence, my assertion that if you buy the right plane, you'll never be happier selling it than any day you spend flying it. And, a Pitts is always the right plane

 

[wbarnhill]

Rich, my condolences. I still have a dream to one day own a Commander, and yours was indeed a nice looking bird. But in the end, you got to experience it. You owned a plane, you flew where you wanted, and you enjoyed it. As you pointed out, those memories are permanent and don't cost a dime. Glad I was able to be a part of the trip!

 

[rpadula]

Rich, my condolences. I still have a dream to one day own a Commander, and yours was indeed a nice looking bird. But in the end, you got to experience it. You owned a plane, you flew where you wanted, and you enjoyed it.

Yes, that all was completely awesome. And if I ever have the combination of more $, fewer IQ points, and no willpower, there'll be plenty available to buy again.

As you pointed out, those memories are permanent and don't cost a dime.

I wouldn't say that, exactly.

Glad I was able to be a part of the trip!

Sure, me too. BTW, I think you owe me a few pictures of that trip out of the thousands you shot. Do you have any good ones?

 

[wbarnhill]

BTW, I think you owe me a few pictures of that trip out of the thousands you shot. Do you have any good ones?

I'll dig through my archives and see. I tend to take lots of pictures and never upload them.

 

[wbarnhill]

Here ya go Rich

 

[ScottM]

Rich how did you did you sell your plane? Did you get good responses through one of the online selling facilities or a Trade-a-Plane, or hanging little flyers in the airports, etc.?

 

[rpadula]

Here ya go Rich

Thanks William! Boof, I look like some kind of grouchy hunchback in that middle picture. I really like the last one, though. Looks like it's our RDU departure?

 

[wsuffa]

Looks like you sold at the right time....

 

[rpadula]

Rich how did you did you sell your plane? Did you get good responses through one of the online selling facilities or a Trade-a-Plane, or hanging little flyers in the airports, etc.?

Scott,

I had Judi Anderson @ Suncoast Aviation list it. She's the go-to person for single-engine Commanders. Tell her almost any N-number, and you'll get some story -- "oh, I sold that one 15 years ago when I lived in San Diego..." She's incredible.

A full ad with pictures was posted on both the ASO and Controller websites, and Judi runs a permanent generic ad for her business in TAP. No printed flyers or even "for sale" propeller tassles. Checking my notes here: we got 25 calls total, but only 6 were from Controller.

 

[wbarnhill]

Thanks William! Boof, I look like some kind of grouchy hunchback in that middle picture. I really like the last one, though. Looks like it's our RDU departure?

Indeed it was