"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:sGyLb.7045$I06.48895@attbi_s01...
Got myself a 6 month break (sabbatical) coming up in the next year or
so.

Sounds like a cool trip, but I think you're going to need to provide us
with
more information in order to help you out. (Are you multi-engine rated?
Instrument? What price range? Etc.)

More important, however, is this: How do you manage to get a "6 month"
vacation!


Well there been a load of useful feedback thanks a lot everybody. I thought
I would answer a few of the questions raised.


Well, in my job I get 5 weeks vacation a year, trouble is I only get round
to taking 4. I have agreed with my employer to bank the other week. For the
last 6 years I have been doing that, so I have 6 weeks banked.

Add my normal holiday and that gives me 11 weeks. The other 13 or so weeks I
will take as unpaid leave as I get a sort of pension.

I have a simple private certificate with taildragger endorsement. I was
looking at spending up to $25,000 on the plane and maybe another $30,000 as
expenses for the trip. It only needs 2 seats but needs to be able to carry a
bit of luggage. Mainly camping gear. Most likely a taildragger for getting
into those rough strips.

Need radio and transponder though for the odd venture into class B airports
just because you can.

I am hoping to be able to sell the plane at the end for pretty much what I
paid but it needs to be straight forward to operate. That is most problems
can be fixed by the pilot. Having said that spare parts should be
available even in the most out of the way places and so if there is
something beyond the pilot for fixing, then any airplane engineer should
find it a breeze.

I have a friend in Arizona who knows nothing about planes but as he is a US
resident, he is legally entitled to own a plane. So to avoid a Delaware
trust company he will be the main owner.

My schedule is - well there is none. None of this "well its Monday so I need
to be in Rapids City etc.,etc."

Working to a schedule organised by the hour day after day for a living is
not how I am going to enjoy my passion.

Each moment and person I meet is to be savoured like a good wine or cigar.

I once was flying from Brackett to Palm Springs and decided to drop into
Banning which was on the way.

Came across a couple of old guys sitting outside the front of what I
suppose is the airport building. Grabbed a cup of coffee and a doughnut and
we started talking as you do.

Turned out that one had been stationed at Rhoose, Cardiff during the war and
the other had been at Burtonwood, Warrington at the same time. ( I worked in
Warrington at the time)

It just so happened that I had an approach plate for Cardiff in my kneeboard
folder. Well we talked for so long, I missed out on completing the trip to
Palm Springs and returned to Brackett.

Not bothered I missed Palm Springs, but really pleased I met two guys who I
had something in common with way out there.

They made my day special, I hope I made their day more interesting too.

I hope that does not sound too prissy but that's what the trip is about. I
have been thinking about it for a few years now and promising myself that I
would do it.

Its time to do some planning. With $ so low against the ?uro I am going to
get 30% more for my money now than two years ago. First part of the plan is
to start buying $$$.

What are the rules about firearms. I think I should have a rifle when out in
the boondocks but are foreigners allowed to have them and what about taking
them across state boundaries.

If I need to be writing letters to get permits that better start now too,
Heaven knows what the bureaucrats will make of this.

Tourist visa too.