Congrats Gary! Money well spent I say!
You're right on about Sheble's, if you can do you're part and show the desire, they will do what needs to be done to make it happen. I've gotten 4 add-on ratings through them, 3 of those were over a 5 day period
It's funny how they juggle different airplanes solely based on what, and who's available at the time. I had to get a few hours in a complex airplane to get the commercial requirements satisfied, but their 172 RG was down for MX. So we hopped in the Lake Buccaneer Amphib to get the time, then a couple hours later, hop back in with Joe Sr. and took the checkride! Tried to convince them to do some T&G's on the water but they wouldn't, or couldn't because of some MX isssue.
A couple years later I went back for my CFI add-on. I was finishing up some training in the 172 and asked the instructor about what airplane we would use for the Complex portion of the ride. He said, "no problem we'll just use the Mooney". Not having noticed one on the ramp I asked him, "what Mooney?" "Oh shit, the Mooney is still over at Sun Valley". Of course nobody could go get the airplane, so he turns to look at my buddy Randy who was in the back seat observing (he was there for the same reason) and asks him:
Instructor: "you ever flown a Mooney"?
Randy: "Nope"
Instructor: "got any retract time"?
Randy: "A little" ( he didn't but he needed to take the checkride too
)
Insructor: "Ok, we'll head over to Sun Valley, and you can fly the Mooney back to Kingman"
Worked out perfect for Randy, cause his checkride was later that day, and passsed. I went after him in the 172 and started the checkride, again with Joe Sr., but was getting too late to finish so we would finish up in the morning. with the mooney.
Next morning comes and , as usual, people are running around figuring out who needs to fly what, to where, with who, and for how long. Randy and I were standing outside having some coffee, watching the ensuing madness unfold before us. The Mooney had to go out for one flight before it was my turn. As we were waiting, the instructor and student managed to start the airplane with the tow bar still securely attached to the nosewheel and, of course, the propeller had hit it good.
Now what?!?! The Mooney was down for MX (seeing a trend here??) and I had a checkride to finish up so we could get the heck outta there!! The only complex airplane left was the Beech 55 Travelair twin. I suggested that we could finish in the Travelair and they kinda laughed, until I reminded them that I had taken my MEL checkride just two years earlier in the very same airplane!!! So I hopped in with Sr., sat there worried for a few minutes as he tried feverishly to get the airplane started, taxied out, took off and did ONE whole pattern, during which I "demonstrated an effective teaching method for an emergency gear extension" to satisfy and pass my checkride.
And what a ride it had been
Despite all this, they still do the best they can with what they got, and I know I can go there, pay the money, get it done, and get on with my life.... I do have plans to go back again.
Now it's time to finish up the commercial.
