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Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 3:13 pm
by foresterpoole
Well, as most of you noticed I disappeared for a time. News flash: I'm still alive! I've got a much better paying job (same company) and a 5 year old running around devouring all my time! Brief update on my flying, I've been flying an Arrow around for a while and trying to knock out my instrument rating, I pretty much neglected the Light Sport aircraft for a good year. Unfortunately, the FBO lost it's only CFII to the airlines so I'm back to VFR until they can find another guy (who knows when, it took them 6 months to find the previous guy). While my budget for flying has increased, so has my job responsibilities and who knew 1st grade had so much homework I have to help my son with??? So, I'm flying much less than I'd like. In order to maximize my fun, and be able to stuff a little cash into the piggy bank for a plane I hope to one day own, I hopped back into the Tecnam at the FBO with an instructor for a refresher and I'm loving the little plane, just like I always have. Also the 95/hour wet is crazy cheaper than the 200/hour wet i was used to paying!!! :D Hope everyone is doing well, I'll be back to checking in regularly hopefully.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 3:25 pm
by TimTaylor
Alive is good. My flying budget keeps shrinking while the FBO keeps raising prices. I'm down to about 2 hours per month. Flying up to KGMB Monday for a $300 burger.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 3:52 pm
by drseti
Nice to hear from you. Ed. Enjoy as much time as you can get to spend with your son - they grow up damned fast, and there will be plenty of time for flying when he's off to college. :)

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 4:40 pm
by TimTaylor
TimTaylor wrote:Alive is good. My flying budget keeps shrinking while the FBO keeps raising prices. I'm down to about 2 hours per month. Flying up to KGMB Monday for a $300 burger.
KGMU actually.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 5:31 pm
by Warmi
TimTaylor wrote:Alive is good. My flying budget keeps shrinking while the FBO keeps raising prices. I'm down to about 2 hours per month. Flying up to KGMB Monday for a $300 burger.
So what’s the rate on their Remos now ?

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Fri Sep 06, 2019 6:07 pm
by TimTaylor
Warmi wrote:
TimTaylor wrote:Alive is good. My flying budget keeps shrinking while the FBO keeps raising prices. I'm down to about 2 hours per month. Flying up to KGMB Monday for a $300 burger.
So what’s the rate on their Remos now ?
The Remos is $110 per hour, no tax since I live in Georgia and it is in NC. The SkyCatcher is $140 per hour plus 7 percent tax plus $29 per month club dues and minimum balance of $250 in pre-paid account.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 9:21 am
by foresterpoole
Man for that Skycatcher price you can rent a 172 N model around here and still put change in your pocket! I thought that was a bit expensive, guess I'm complaining about nothing!

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 11:17 am
by TimTaylor
But I live here. I also have no FAA medical.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:18 pm
by gtylerdowdy
TimTaylor wrote:But I live here. I also have no FAA medical.
Hey Tim!

I tried to send you a PM but for some reason it won't let me.

I saw you lived in Roswell, GA. I'm in Sugar Hill, GA and would love to connect. Shoot me a text or call whenever.

My number is 770-344-8691. I'm buying in Jan-Feb of 2020 and it would be nice to talk to someone close that's passionate about being a sport pilot.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:27 pm
by TimTaylor
gtylerdowdy wrote:
TimTaylor wrote:But I live here. I also have no FAA medical.
Hey Tim!

I tried to send you a PM but for some reason it won't let me.

I saw you lived in Roswell, GA. I'm in Sugar Hill, GA and would love to connect. Shoot me a text or call whenever.

My number is 770-344-8691. I'm buying in Jan-Feb of 2020 and it would be nice to talk to someone close that's passionate about being a sport pilot.
Thanks for the shout out. Unfortunately, I am hanging up my wings. I plan to make one more flight to use up my pre-paid account and be done. My renters insurance expires 12/1/19 and I am not renewing. I can no longer justify spending $300 to make a 2 hour burger run. Good luck with your purchase. Take me for a ride sometime.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:42 pm
by drseti
TimTaylor wrote: Unfortunately, I am hanging up my wings.
That is indeed unfortunate - but each of us will have to face that decision at some point. Regardless of your pilot status, you will always be welcome on these forums.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2019 6:48 pm
by TimTaylor
Thanks Paul. Our budget keeps getting squeezed tighter and tighter and I refuse to use IRA money to fly airplanes. We will come into some sizable money in the not to distance future, so I may be back depending on my health at the time. I got a good report from my ONC yesterday, so that's still looking good. A break in flying may also go a long way in rekindling my passion for flying.

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 7:42 am
by FastEddieB
TimTaylor wrote: Unfortunately, I am hanging up my wings.
I’d say, “Too bad”, but I’m sure you’ve thought long and hard on this.

As The Professor said/implied, there comes a time in each pilot’s life to make his or her last flight. For young ‘uns that probably seems very far off. Here in geezer-land it’s much less so, and the goal becomes to know when to “hang up our wings” on our own terms.

As far as tapping into an IRA to finance a flying fix, I read an interesting article recently about moving into a “decumulating” phase with advanced years, and how hard it can be. I’ve watched with pride as an IRA started in the early 1980’s has grown, and withdrawing from it will feel weirdly unnatural. Yet in 2020 I will turn 70 1/2, and at that age withdrawals of a certain size from an IRA are mandatory. Sure, one can reinvest the post-tax proceeds rather than spend them, but I have to remind myself it’s an Individual RETIREMENT Account, and the whole point of it is to finance one’s retirement.

But everyone’s situation/psychology is different, and I’m not looking to start an argument.

As an aside, something about turning 70 has snapped something into perspective, in that I suddenly take note of all the famous people passing away in their mid-70’s, or even earlier as in Elijah Cummings yesterday at 68. Thinking about possible life expectancy in the single digits is sobering. I’ll still plan for the future, such as it is, but I’m getting past depriving myself things for some questionable future.

As an aside, even at our E TN digs we ain’t far away, and I recall you enjoyed flying the Sky Arrow. IOW, open invitation to come up and help me burn some MOGAS and keep the rust off the cylinders!

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 8:57 am
by gtylerdowdy
TimTaylor wrote:
gtylerdowdy wrote:
TimTaylor wrote:But I live here. I also have no FAA medical.
Hey Tim!

I tried to send you a PM but for some reason it won't let me.

I saw you lived in Roswell, GA. I'm in Sugar Hill, GA and would love to connect. Shoot me a text or call whenever.

My number is 770-344-8691. I'm buying in Jan-Feb of 2020 and it would be nice to talk to someone close that's passionate about being a sport pilot.
Thanks for the shout out. Unfortunately, I am hanging up my wings. I plan to make one more flight to use up my pre-paid account and be done. My renters insurance expires 12/1/19 and I am not renewing. I can no longer justify spending $300 to make a 2 hour burger run. Good luck with your purchase. Take me for a ride sometime.
I understand. With me being a low time pilot (22 hours), we can just say you're passing off the torch to another aviator. And if you ever want to go up, get some burgers, and teach a lesson or two on the way, let me know. I'll pay the rental fees :D

Regardless, thank you for a being a great example of what a safe and friendly pilot should be. Enjoy your time off!

Re: Not a Hello, but an I'm still alive message!

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 12:38 pm
by TimTaylor
Thanks everyone. As I said, I may be back in a year or two. As far as IRA money, I have been withdrawing and spending the RMD's for a couple years now. There is no way to avoid that. On the other hand, the rest, I want to leave for my wife when I'm gone and my kids when she is gone. Having flown since age 16, I no longer have a burning desire to go flying like I used to.

I have been moving toward a minimalist lifestyle for several years. For instance, I own 6 shirts, 4 pairs of pants, and 2 pairs of shoes. Everything else I own adds up to less then $3,000, not counting cash, CD's, and bonds. My wife owns the rest including house and stocks, etc. I told her, when I die, reformat my hard drive and I'll be gone.