in the air again!

After being closed for a month, and that preceded by a bad winter in
terms both of weather and personal fitness, I flew this morning for
the first time since January 17. Sunny, windy. The turf runway at 7B3
Hampton NH is badly eroded along the "centerline" but happily there is
plenty of room to east or west for landing and taking off. What a
pleasure to be in the air again!

When I got Zero Six Hotel out of the hangar, there was a gorgeous L-4
beside it with no wings or engine. This proved to be Four One Victor,
in which I took my first flights www.pipercubforum.com/roger.htm and
which was later flipped and wrecked by a student too quick on the
brakes in a high-speed taxi. For several years it sat in the back of
the hangar, sorely bent & broken, then last summer it got onto a truck
and evidently was taken to Miles Dunn's barn for a complete rebuild.
The wings are ready to go on, and the engine is being rebuilt in Nova
Scotia. It should be on line next month.

As I was leaving, George the airport manager said: "For your
interest!..." Renters at Hampton are now required to carry $40K hull
insurance. That's as a result of the Four One Victor rebuild; and also
the purchase of another J-3 last year, which cost $35,000, and which
didn't work out; and, finally, an accident to one of the Cessnas. So I
guess the days are gone when you could hope to buy a decent J-3 for
$25,000.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: (put Cubdriver in subject line)

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