corefile wrote:

RC5280 wrote:sorry to see it for sale, but I'm sure there is a good reason

Just wanted to close this out - yes I sold my 180.

Plane was great - hated to sell it, but I stopped flying so I had to sell it.

I'll be selling a few things - that didn't go with the plane

1) Muffler for 0470R that has 5hrs flight time (I upgraded my exhaust when I upgraded engine and engine mount)
2) Bose A20 and LightSpeed Zulu 2 headsets
3) Nicest set of Yokes you will find - completely refurbished, re-chromed, and then wrapped in leather.
4) Height adjustable seats (pilot and co-pilot)
5) White Lightening GPU
6) EarthX battery charger

I'll be doing a separate for sale post - but just wanted to give a heads up.

Paul congrats on the sale. I am sure this is bitter sweet for you. Said you stopped flying which I always hate to hear. Hoping your health is okay - and just made a decision to pursue other interests.


Josh

Dog is my Copilot wrote:
Paul congrats on the sale. I am sure this is bitter sweet for you. Said you stopped flying which I always hate to hear. Hoping your health is okay - and just made a decision to pursue other interests.

Josh

Thanks Josh - Thank goodness I'm healthy.... and just from dumb luck still alive.


My direction of flight here was I was coming in from the top right side of the picture

I made the classic mistake of inadvertently doing a VFR into IMC. That big circle you see there - I had no idea I was in a turn. I circled that mountain/hill (my altitude was below the top of it) and didn't even know I was even turning, or that that mountain was there - thought I was flying straight - so as crazy at that is - I also was not in the spot that I thought I was in - so if I hand't done that big turn (which I didn't know I was doing) - I would have flown straight into that other ridge (I thought I had cleared those already when got into the clouds)... I used up about 5 of my 9 lives on that one. After looking at my family the next day, and thinking about me not being there for them. Mentally I was not able to enjoy it any more.. Cougar from Top Gun. The full story is even crazier than it looks at first glance.

corefile wrote:

Dog is my Copilot wrote:
Paul congrats on the sale. I am sure this is bitter sweet for you. Said you stopped flying which I always hate to hear. Hoping your health is okay - and just made a decision to pursue other interests.

Josh

Thanks Josh - Thank goodness I'm healthy.... and just from dumb luck still alive.


My direction of flight here was I was coming in from the top right side of the picture

I made the classic mistake of inadvertently doing a VFR into IMC. That big circle you see there - I had no idea I was in a turn. I circled that mountain/hill (my attitude was below the top of it) and didn't even know I was even turning, or that that mountain was there - thought I was flying straight - so as crazy at that is - I also was not in the spot that I thought I was in - so if I hand't done that big turn (which I didn't know I was doing) - I would have flown straight into that other ridge (I thought I had cleared those already when got into the clouds)... I used up about 5 of my 9 lives on that one. After looking at my family the next day, and thinking about me not being there for them. Mentally I was not able to enjoy it any more.. Cougar from Top Gun. The full story is even crazy then it looks at first glance.

Paul,

Thanks for sharing this story. It made no sense why you were selling the C180 until reading your post. I was worried you lost your medical or had a major health issue. I have had a few moments in my aviation life that would count toward one or two of my 9 lives. After each instance - I reflected on whether I should quit. So I understand and I think this is a decision each aviator has to make for himself regarding risk. Glad you made it safely on the ground and have your health and family. Priceless commodities.



Josh

corefile wrote:Thanks Josh - Thank goodness I'm healthy.... and just from dumb luck still alive.
...
The full story is even crazier then it looks at first glance.

First and foremost glad you made it and have the chance to reflect. Bummed to see the sale and that you hung it up, had hoped to randomly run into you flying Baja sometime - but understood and no second guessing from me.
Thanks for sharing the story, I've been lucky my scares have been tamer but I've no doubt used up a life or two in my past.

I think every one of us that has a wit about themselves has had this thought at one time or another. I have had it many times, and I don't think I have had an experience quite like the one you described above.

Total respect to you for making the hard decision and for sharing the rationale behind it.

corefile wrote:

hotrod180 wrote:Paul, I'm curious when you modified it to the three-side-window configuration?
I don't recall that you mentioned doing that,
and some pics from early in this thread show it as it is now.

The 3 window mod was actually the reason I took it up there in the first place (that and newer style doors) - it was the first thing I did - before I ended up going the full rebuild route.



.

Corefile / Paul, I dunno if you're still on board here,
but someone recently asked about paperwork required to convert their early 180 to a 3 window configuration--
logbook entry, 337, field approval, ??
How was yours handled?