After recently buying a new C-172M for our flight school, Shannon Airport owner Luke Curtas, Airport Manager Phil Mclanahan and I took a hop over to Shenandoah (KSHD) airport to pick her up from the avionics shop. Luke loves looking for excuses to go fly his luxurious Cirrus so he happily took us on over.
I just love the performance and cruise characteristics of the Cirrus. The innovative design and advanced avionics provides more efficiency and always makes for an enjoyable, comfortable ride.
As we cruised to 70's classics and made our way on over to SHD, we shot the RNAV 23 with ease.
While the guys went into the avionics shop to take care of business, I meandered on over to the large mysterious aircraft glimmering over in the corner and couldn't believe what I had found... The iconic Lockheed Model 10 Electra! Made famous by Amelia Earhart's last flight, this beautiful twin vintage aircraft was like a magnet as I zipped right on over to come and gawk at.
The mechanics in the hangar noticed my liking for the Electra and let me in on its history. After its 15 year long restoration, the owner's goal is to have her running in the next year! What a sight (and sound) that will be!
I walked away "star struck" and checked up on the new Garmin 430 that was just installed in the little C-172, aka Tweety Bird, back in the air with a head start for a race with the Cirrus, (like we had a chance) It was a pretty much direct flight back over the ridges to Shannon. Another successful day at work!
Home safe and sound.