The title of this article is a bit strange, so I will explain. For six years I was “engaged” to an Eclipse VLJ, but the romance dissolved when the originally promised range did not materialize. I sold my delivery position (see the July 2008 Flying article “My Torrid Affair with a VLJ”). I continued to fly my MU-2 Solitaire for the next couple of years but ultimately could not resist the siren song of a jet at 50 cents on the dollar, thanks to the great recession. I proposed and the bride’s father accepted my offer. A beautiful young thing in the form of a 1996 CitationJet appeared on my ramp. It was love at first sight and first flight!
Just 30 miles from my home lived Jim Loranger, an FAA-designated pilot examiner for the CJ. He agreed to train me at night and on weekends until I was ready for the type rating exam.
