This week has been a tour de force for me. Monday I got the insurance on my Stinson, Tuesday I got keys from the previous owner, and Friday I finished my tailwheel endorsement.

Yesterday was a beautiful warm sunny day here in the Northeast, and I think it was the best day of my life so far. Flying the Stinson for the first time as my own... a hanger party with my uncles (also pilots) and some of the local tailwheel community... so many new friends met.

WOW. I was afraid I'd either wake up, or die in my sleep last night. I love that plane.

Good for you Justine. I've had days like that and they make it all worthwhile.

Congratulations Justine! You got a lot more good days coming now that you have your own plane!!!

Head: Outta the cockpit but not in the clouds.
Livin' the Dream Justine!

Hey, I think I just hit on the title of a new song for CU!

That's awesome! I can't wait to experience the same thing!

Congratulations Justine!! I had a similar experience on my first plane. New plane, new endorsement, perfect morning flight. That night, I went back to the hangar and I didn't want to leave. I just stared at it...smiling.

Get out and fly! Flying season is here just in time for you -Congrats.

Send us pics!

Awesome Justine! All of my best days involve airplanes as well.

Occasionally I will fly over the mountains, rivers, cities and coastline of the gorgeous country in which I reside, land, go mountain biking, fish a while, camp, and fly back home. On these occasions I am able to remind my self that nobody on Earth has it any better... That's absolutely worth all of the burdens of ownership.

Justine, congratulations on your new airplane and your TW sign-off. You have a beautiful airplane. I hope you have many, many hours of happy flying in it.

Congratulations.

Tailwheel aircraft are like owning a pet rattlesnake. You might love it but it will still bite you one day when you aren't looking. I've got a few fang marks already from mine, mostly emotional.

Be safe!

1SeventyZ wrote:Tailwheel aircraft are like owning a pet rattlesnake. You might love it but it will still bite you one day when you aren't looking.

It's all fun, and all good... Until you have your own airplane and have the ability to just fly the s**t out of it, where you want, and when you want, it's hard to really gain a feel and true proficiency.

Though, give it some time and you will understand the 3F rule of owning anything expensive. And the saying, "Be careful what you wish for, as wishes do sometimes come true," will take on whole new meaning when it comes time for an engine overhaul.

Gump

Justine..congrats on having your own plane! Many of us on the site have experienced your jubilation. This is an experience that is hard to describe but I know exactly how you feel. Please be careful and I wish you many more days when you hate to see the sunset on beautiful days of flying. Don't worry too much about the fang marks...I think there are those of us who become even more enthusiatic fliers once bitten.
HC

Good for you Justine! Way to persevere & grab that ring. The warning heads up you are hearing you might have heard before but they are with good intentions. Wishing you Straight landings, with your reflexes at the ready to apply the correct breaking at the correct time.

Justine - Where's the photos of your new pet!!! Show her off, we want-ta see her.

Justine,

A huge conrats to you on your tailwheel endorsement and owning your own plane. Now the real fun begins. There is nothing like being able to just show up at the airport any time you like and pull your own plane out and go flying.

Fantastic. You're going to love it. Nothing like having your own airplane and you have a beauty.

Craig.

Congrats on the new purchase!

How about some pictures of the new Stinson?

Justine mentioned to us that she posted some pictures in her gallery a while back. I am assuming this is her new bird.

Looking forward to some new pictures soon.

Love those Stinsons... Pretty Bird.

Gump

justine wrote: WOW. I was afraid I'd either wake up, or die in my sleep last night. I love that plane.

Justine, that feeling just doesn't go away, I still feel the same damn way 45 years later...

Congratulations Justine. You'll find that owning a bird is a wonderful thing, except for annual time, when the IA finds a spendy squawk. Just fly it now and enjoy. Couldn't have happened at a better time of the year as Spring just arrived....go and soar.

pat