I’m now officially checked out in a T-41C, which is basically a 210-hp version of a Cessna 172. This means I can rent one for $83/hour (an astonishingly good price) from the Air Force Academy Aero Club whenever I want. Or at least, whenever there’s a plane available. It was weird flying a high-wing with a yoke again. Cool to fly something with some real horsepower. It’s a 6-cylinder engine, so it’s smoother and makes cool gurgling noises. Amusingly, it’s ancient (1969) with an airspeed indicator in MPH. It cruises at about 110mph indicated, which really isn’t much faster than a 172. But it climbs at nearly 1,000fpm even at 6,500 ft, something a 172 very much does not do. And it’s got a max gross of 2500 lbs, so taking along two passengers is a piece of cake. Three passengers if they’re not too bulky. I got to fly into the Academy uncontrolled, which was simply weird.

Anyway, this is all so I can take Joanna flying. (And Nathan, if he gets over his fear that I’m going to kill him.) I scheduled the plane to take Joanna up next Sunday. So those of you who volunteered to chip in on an airplane ride for Joanna, now’s your chance!

I can even take it cross-country if I want. They ask if I take it overnight somewhere that I average 2 hours/day on the tach while it’s gone. So I can go somewhere 3 hours away, spend two nights, and fly back. That would be cool. If only I had $500 to toss around like that:)