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As a kid, I was obsessed with flying: I rode my Schwinn Stingray to the John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA) every day after school to "hang out" near the bulletin board at the north tiedowns. I would wash planes for the chance of a ride. It was a different world then: no security fencing, no paranoia, just camaraderie and fun. To no ones great surprise, I earned my Private as soon as the law allowed.

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, March 21, 2007 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The author developed a lifelong passion for aviation from a young age, earning his pilot's license early and even profitably buying and selling planes during college.
A cost-saving, unauthorized DIY vacuum pump installation on his Mooney led to an in-flight emergency with an oil leak and dropping oil pressure, necessitating an emergency landing.
The near-fatal incident, caused by improperly torqued nuts, taught him the critical importance of professional aircraft maintenance, leading him to prioritize safety over cost for all subsequent repairs.

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As a kid, I was obsessed with flying: I rode my Schwinn Stingray to the John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA) every day after school to “hang out” near the bulletin board at the north tiedowns. I would wash planes for the

chance of a ride. It was a different world then: no security fencing, no paranoia, just camaraderie and fun. To no ones great surprise, I earned my Private as soon as the law allowed.