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
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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.
Key Takeaways:
- Driven by a youthful passion for aviation, the author once performed an unauthorized, DIY vacuum pump installation on his Mooney to save money while in college.
- This improper maintenance led to an inflight oil leak and emergency, which the author skillfully resolved with a safe landing at a small, now-defunct airport.
- The near-fatal experience taught the author the critical importance of professional maintenance, a lesson that has guided his safety practices for over three decades.
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