I found myself nearing 50 years old, and having dreamed of flying with Budd since the first time I read one of his pireps, I had a sudden unexpected clear week in my calendar. Equally unexpected, Budd had a clear week in the middle of a full calendar.
After a few exchanges he told me that if I flew a Pitts I would end up spending money on one. At the time I was a twin comanche driver with a few hundred hours of Citabria / Decathlon time and one RV-7 build.
The flying was everything you might imagine, from exhilarating to embarrassing. Budd also helped me get a 30 minute visit with Pete at the Pitts Flying Museum. Afterward he offered great counsel as I searched for a plane. I looked long and hard at a beautiful S-2B locally. In the end, though, I chose a simple lightweight S-1S that had been owned and maintained by Andy Ernewein. It was originally an experimental amateur aircraft before it went to Canada.
My friends Stein and Jed at Steinair agreed to let me use their hangar to disassemble, and inspect the plane when it was re-imported. Finally, the great Mel Asberry (Ask a DAR) came to inspect the newly re-named N27TU. So, it is great to meet all of you.
After a few exchanges he told me that if I flew a Pitts I would end up spending money on one. At the time I was a twin comanche driver with a few hundred hours of Citabria / Decathlon time and one RV-7 build.
The flying was everything you might imagine, from exhilarating to embarrassing. Budd also helped me get a 30 minute visit with Pete at the Pitts Flying Museum. Afterward he offered great counsel as I searched for a plane. I looked long and hard at a beautiful S-2B locally. In the end, though, I chose a simple lightweight S-1S that had been owned and maintained by Andy Ernewein. It was originally an experimental amateur aircraft before it went to Canada.
My friends Stein and Jed at Steinair agreed to let me use their hangar to disassemble, and inspect the plane when it was re-imported. Finally, the great Mel Asberry (Ask a DAR) came to inspect the newly re-named N27TU. So, it is great to meet all of you.
