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Gear Up: She’s Gone

It took seven months to sell the Cheyenne, and then, just like that, it was over. The airplane that meant more to me than any other was a memory. Dick Karl
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The author recounts the bittersweet and emotional experience of selling his beloved Cheyenne airplane, an event he had planned but found deeply challenging, likening the final departure to a "divorce."
  • The selling process was lengthy and difficult, taking seven months to navigate a "soft" market for the 37-year-old aircraft, with the help of a patient and expert friend as a broker, after an initial sale fell through.
  • The airplane held immense personal and sentimental value for the author, serving as the defining aircraft of his 50-year flying career, facilitating countless family adventures, and providing reliable performance and personal solace.
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With a quick handshake and a soft thank you, Lyle and Kurt pulled up the airstair and started up my airplane. I watched in the rain as the props came up out of feather and the nav lights blinked on.

Dick Karl

Dick Karl is a cancer surgeon who appreciates the beauty and science involved in both surgery and flying. Dick’s monthly Gear Up celebrates the human side of flying. He writes about his enthusiasm for both the machines and the people who fly and maintain them.

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