During the initial research phase of aircraft ownership, we seek out justifications for making the purchase. Whether we have to convince ourselves, a significant other, or both, we diligently list each and every one that comes to mind. Vacation transport, training platform, sightseeing machine, commuting solution…no matter how unrealistic, we look for ways in which an airplane can potentially earn its keep.
After the purchase, some of these reasons vaporize into thin air, tenuous from the start and wholly unrealistic in practice. But others that we perhaps never anticipated soon emerge. As I approached a long holiday weekend feeling worn out by life and very much in need of a mental boost, I discovered how an airplane can provide its own unique form of therapy, allowing an owner to escape everyday life and emerge mentally refreshed and reset.
