(Neither sponsored, solicited nor compensated by SeaRey)

                "Come on, Don, rake this area then weed the flower bed."

Slave drivers. That’s what they were. Every time I stopped to take a quick break they were on me faster than a tattoo on a Hell’s Angel.

It was getting to me; I had been working steadily for a good six or seven minutes when mom and grandma started in on me. Didn’t they realize I had to watch the planes on final for One-Five? After all, I didn’t make the decision to bury Grandpa and two of my uncles directly under the glide path of one of the runways at Detroit City Airport. And at seventeen, why would I rather be raking leaves than checking to make sure each pilot had his wings level and was descending on the proper glide slope? The planes were so close overhead I could see the tread on the tires, the rivets in the wings and the scared look on the CFI’s face while the student pilot was attempting to land on the numbers.

"Don!" ordered mom with the authority of a traffic controller telling me to go around. "Grandpa’s down here." She said, motioning at the headstone.

"No, mom, he’s up there," I replied, looking up and pointing to the heaven just in time to see a feathered-prop Cessna 172 gliding overhead on an apparent dead stick landing.

I felt like an Orkin man cornering a cockroach because on that day I got the bug. And like many other things in my life, when I get the urge I act upon it immediately. After all, it only took me two decades to start my pilot’s training. Not bad for one who hasn’t gotten around to filling out the application form for the "Procrastinator’s Club."

 

Part Two

Two years later, at the age of nineteen, I was a counselor at a boys’ camp in northern Wisconsin when a floatplane was circling above the lake. It landed and taxied to the camp’s swimming dock where I walked out to meet it. The pilot stepped off the plane, handed me his son’s tennis racquet and asked me to give it to him.

"No problem," I answered, eyeing the plane with the envy of a small crocodile watching a much larger one devouring a wildebeest pausing at the watering hole on its annual migration across the Serengeti National Forest.

Sixteen years later I went soaring in northern Michigan with a friend and also took a demo ride in a Cessna 172. This time I was older, had a few bucks and, at long last, a determination to get my pilot’s license. Of course I proceeded much quicker than before and within two years started my training.

That’s my normal MO; gather the information, make a decision and move decisively; just like a turtle with an arthritic hip.

A few years later I took a forty-five minute sightseeing helicopter tour of San Francisco. The pilot and I sat in the front, as a young, newly wed couple wanted the back seat to themselves. I enjoyed the view as well as the ride. I was now determined to buy my own airplane.

Five years ago I did my due diligence (whatever that means) and investigated which airplane to buy. If I had known my diligence was due I would have paid it sooner. That year, prior to leaving Michigan for Southern Florida, I called SeaRey and made an appointment for a demo ride. Kerry, one of the owners, met me. We drove to the airstrip, discussed the plane and enjoyed a demo ride. The nice thing about dual controls is that I flew the plane and kept telling myself that someday I would have my own. My heart was beating so loud I thought a drum and bugle corps set up camp in my chest. In the next few years I took two more demo rides, which convinced me that an amphibian was my plane of choice.

Part Three

Choosing the plane, the engine and the avionics

Trying to find the right plane, engine and avionics was a major task. I decided to take the bull by the horns: I joined the AOPA, EAA and the SPA; I subscribed to Kit Planes, Plane and Pilot, Private Pilot and Flying Magazine; and also bought EAA’s CD ROM listing all the homebuilt and ultra lights available. Throughout the next six months I spent many hours checking out the myriad of planes on the CD. In addition, I talked with as many aviation people I could about my impending decision.

                By joining, reading and talking, it helped me to learn both directly and by osmosis.

I met Jim, an ultralight and homebuilt dealer, who sells five different planes, is a certified Rotax mechanic and is an Internet parts supplier. He worked for an amphibious company building planes prior to starting his own business. He built more than fifty planes. Jim quizzed me as to my flying ability, destinations and intent (speed vs sport). After listening without interrupting, he suggested the SeaRey and gave me four reasons why. Respecting his background, experience and knowledge I agreed. With the interest rates at an all time low, I refinanced my MI condo, found a place to build my plane and gave Jim Ratte, my dealer, a down payment on the SeaRey before Sun N Fun 2003.

The characteristics I wanted in the plane were an amphibious, high wing, pusher (less noise), side-by-side seating, wide cabin, useful payload (in case I don’t lose the extra thirty-five pounds), three-axis control, a stick (not a yoke), sizeable gas tank, the protection of a composite hull combined with the enjoyment of an open cockpit. SeaRey not only met all my requirements but they have been building single and two seaters for twenty years.

Great, now I had a plane but which Rotax engine was right for me and why? I asked the owners which engine they would buy if it were their plane. They have experimented with all the Rotax engines and are now using the 914 Turbo on the factory models. Good enough for me.

Buying the right avionics will be its own reward. Do I want to fly by the seat of my pants or high tech? Should I get a panel mounted GPS, moving map, TIS (Traffic Information System), and a weather screen or just a simple hand held GPS and how about regular gauges or an EIS (Engine Information System)? The main factor was determined by the amount of flying and the intended destinations.

When building a restaurant, the equipment is menu driven; in other words, decide what food will be served then buy the equipment accordingly. The same is true with the choice of an airplane and the avionics.

Once I analyzed the process the decisions became easier. For sure I would fly round trip from Michigan to Florida once a year. My other dream flights would be the entire length of the Mississippi River (Minnesota to New Orleans), the path taken by Lewis and Clark west to the Pacific Ocean, a trip to Las Vegas around the Rockies (I have never flown in the mountains), following Route 66 from Illinois to California and puddle jumping around Michigan and Florida with their scenic and abundant lakes. With all these tentative trips anticipated, I knew the SeaRey would be much sturdier than an ultralight and using panel mounted, sophisticated equipment would be the ticket.

Ben Cole flew an original "SeaRey single seater" called a StingRey to forty-nine states in thirty days. He wrote about it with great detail and I read it with great interest. I called him "out of the clear blue" and he said he would like to fly the Lewis and Clark route with me.

The factory hooked me up with Roy, a retired engineer, the designer of the original Drifter Ultralight and a recent SeaRey builder. His Hobbs clock logs about two hundred and twenty-five hours a year. I met him at his home in Florida and he too flies an annual roundtrip to Michigan. Understanding the value of my newly found friend, when he suggested things to me I listened and took notes.

His SeaRey is equipped with a Garmin 420, Garmin 330 transponder and a Navaid autopilot coupled to the GPS. He assures me this is an excellent combination. Why argue? He not only has the technical background but the practical knowledge as well and was more than willing to share it each time I called or visited.

As of this date, the week prior to Oshkosh 2003, I have yet to purchase the avionics. At Oshkosh, by gosh, I will visit the booths, talk with the reps, process the amassed information and then make my decision.

Part Four

When I find a trip that looks like fun, I check it out on the web, make a note or clip the article and file it in my "trips" folder. I did this with the Mississippi, Lewis and Clark, Route 66, Lighthouses of the Great Lakes (since I live in Michigan) and am currently checking the web for America’s greatest wonders and sights. Any suggestions?

"I have found a way to lose weight that seems to work for me," Fatso said, as we were at the zoo and all the elephants winked at him. He was so fat when he stepped on a pay scale the slip read, "One at a time, please." Since then he has lost thirty-five pounds and has kept them off for almost one year; so it’s my turn now. How else can I gain an additional thirty-five pounds of useful payload? Want to know the secret?

I contacted a graphic designer and for a few bucks he will layout my color scheme professionally. I have specific colors and a variation of patterns that I want him to look at and to approve one. After all, I spent thousands on the plane why not make it look great for a few hundred more.

Your phone calls and e-mails are welcomed and encouraged for friendly conversation, helpful suggestions from you, just to meet as friends or to aid you with the puzzle. Thanks for reading this and good luck. Hope to hear from you soon.

Don Bosco 248 / 212 – 2142 (Coast to Coast) Donbee33@aol.com