Have always enjoyed Dick Karl's "Gear Up" as he has a great writing style. His August "Grounded by Fuel Prices" really hit a nerve, as a TBM 700 driver with a serious real estate problem here on the East coast of Florida. Like Dick, I have worked hard and never been affected by the current World Crisis or Economic Crisis. I started a successful business in 1975 and was not even affected by Jimmy Carter's Economic Meltdown.

Now those 1,000 mile hops to Chicago and other places occur only after much deliberation and even soul-searching over the costs. Fill-ups are well North $1,200 (always checking Air-Nav or negotiating pricing in advance) which takes away a lot of the spontenaity of owning and flying your own turbine. I too had a position on a Mustang and after realizing that I was not going to be able to afford it, and accepting the fact that I have probably "Peaked out" on my aircraft ownership experience, I was fortunate to be able to sell my Mustang position at a nice profit, which is being thrown into a "black hole" mortgage.

The good news and a suggestion for Karl; I bought an A-26 Vulcan (Russian built experiemental) from a friend in St. Pete 2 years ago. It has 2 65hp Rotax engines that burn about 5-7 gph of high test auto fuel. It is low and slow and a ball to fly! Perfect way to relieve Aviation Angst, take people up for sight seeing rides, fly young eagles etc. Dick - take a look in this arena, better yet fly over to SUA and I'll take you up for a ride.

Message Edited by asadmin on 08-18-2008 10:26 AM