In Memoriam: Muriel Hykes

[drseti]

It wasn’t clear to me but are you fully retiring or will you continue doing some of your prior services?

I doubt that I will ever fully retire, Dave, but I'm cutting back. Primary instruction has become a full-time job, so my flight school officially shuts down on June 30. I will continue to do flight reviews and checkrides, and keep a small maintenance shop going. I'll continue to moderate the SportPilotTalk forums for as long as the site owner wants to keep them going. And of course my seminars, webinars, and other safety activities will continue. I'm selling the Bristell taildragger, and keeping the SporStar (but for personal travel, not flight instruction). And I will continue to be an airport bum for as long as there are other old guys and gals to hang out with!

[dstclair]

It wasn’t clear to me but are you fully retiring or will you continue doing some of your prior services?

I doubt that I will ever fully retire, Dave, but I'm cutting back. Primary instruction has become a full-time job, so my flight school officially shuts down on June 30. I will continue to do flight reviews and checkrides, and keep a small maintenance shop going. I'll continue to moderate the SportPilotTalk forums for as long as the site owner wants to keep them going. And of course my seminars, webinars, and other safety activities will continue. I'm selling the Bristell taildragger, and keeping the SporStar (but for personal travel, not flight instruction). And I will continue to be an airport bum for as long as there are other old guys and gals to hang out with!

Good to know and since you’re relatively close to me so I may enlist your Rotax expertise in the future.

[designrs]

Dr. Paul, You will be missed on the East Coast. Wishing you all good things and looking forward to your updates from California.

[drseti]

It's been a long time since I updated all my SPT friends (and I thank you all for your patience). I am currently in the Berkeley CA area, but haven't yet officially relocated. This is my sixth trip to CA since Muriel's passing, and I usually stay for a month or so at a time. I'm still laying the groundwork and working thru the logistics of the move. I've sold my Bristell, and moved a lot of stuff into my hangar at 1C9 (but not yet the SportStar. That will probably have to wait until Spring). One big hold-up is the sale of my PA house, which has been on the market for about a year, with no offers.

On a more optimistic note, I've found a local EAA chapter to join out here. I attended their Xmas party, and they made me feel very comfortable and welcome. Turns out a number of the chapter members are regular participants in my bimonthly online EAA safety webinars.

Speaking of which, I will be continuing these presentations on the second Wednesday of every odd-numbered month, except for this coming January (which has been bumped a week because of the holidays). See avsporg.org/webinars for details.

On one of my recent CA trips, I gave two Sport Pilot checkrides, and feel the shortage of DPEs here (especially ones who can fit in an LSA without over-grossing it) will afford me ample opportunity to expand that part of my business.

I am continuing to lurk on these forums, even though I rarely post. Any of you who have questions that require any sort of prompt response can always email me at [email protected].

I wish every one of you a joyous and productive New Year, and as always: Safe Skies,
Paul