Comments on: Debonair Sweeps: Flying D’Shannon’s tip tanks http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313 Online perspective from the editors of "AOPA Pilot". Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:24:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Larry L Holzer http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313&cpage=1#comment-203204 Larry L Holzer Thu, 07 Mar 2013 04:40:46 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313#comment-203204 Alan, I agree things are not easy . You can call me at 281-309-2124 and I can show you how you will be able to afford that Debonair. Maybe we can be partners. It is just a Dream to read about what it is going to be like whenfinished.

]]> By: Alan D. Resnicke http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313&cpage=1#comment-165364 Alan D. Resnicke Wed, 21 Nov 2012 16:49:52 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313#comment-165364 I am scheduled to teach two elective classes at a local academy, to pass on my joy of flying (retired USAF helo guy and now ASEL PP). But my plane is parked on the ramp, overdue an annual I can’t afford and fuel that gets pricier by the day. The local county airport has no instructors, no rentals, and no trainers. I’ll change that if I can… but given the current economy and future outlook, it’s a tough flight plan.

If I were to win the Debonair, I’d have to recruit others and form a club to keep it flying – and there may not be that demand locally. Yes – times are tough. Let’s keep our chins up and try to change the future.

See you at one of my classes!

]]> By: Curt Hartman http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313&cpage=1#comment-163428 Curt Hartman Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:21:10 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313#comment-163428 The Debonair will be a nice economical plane for someone to own. I currently fly an A-36 and find it inexpensive to operate (as airplanes go). In some ways we need to look in the mirror when we talk about the lack of new pilots coming on. When we only look at the negitive and talk that way around others, why would anyone want to spend time and money getting their pilots license? Lets talk about the joy and freedom of flight and the pride of new skills. Flying has always been expensive and I have made sacrifices all of my life to be able to fly, but that has brought me experiences that I could not have gotten any other way. Lets tell the story of flight that will make young people want to fly.

“We have met the enemy and he is us.”

]]> By: Rick Hale http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313&cpage=1#comment-163076 Rick Hale Sun, 11 Nov 2012 02:37:01 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313#comment-163076 The Debonair is a great little airplane and will outlast the company or successors company who made it. I pray that GA will survive the next few years, but things won’t be better for several years to come, as Washington and its leader has no clue. I sold my airplane last April and have its hanger for sale now. Flight became more trouble than it was worth here in the Los Angeles basin. If I won the Debonair I would be happy to keep her and make the best of the poor future prospect of GA. She would fit in my hanger really well.

We don’t need more give away airplanes, one works well. We need more pilots to make up for the ones we are losing due to age, like me, sorry but it’s not in the cards.

]]> By: Billy Rose http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313&cpage=1#comment-163003 Billy Rose Sat, 10 Nov 2012 18:49:47 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313#comment-163003 I am a new pilot here in Chico Calif. and the Debonair would be a great fit here!! we have a great bunch of pilots here old and young, we have a civil air squad of young pilots coming up! we have a young eagles group its amazing what a bunch of pilots can do to energize and adopt new young pilots into aviation, Just Last Saturday we held a breakfast fly in so young people could experiance the joy of flight! SO GET BUSY ON THAT DEBONAIR, WE WILL TAKE IT!!!

]]> By: Ray Winslow http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313&cpage=1#comment-162884 Ray Winslow Sat, 10 Nov 2012 01:23:00 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=4313#comment-162884 AOPA is not seeing what is happenning to GA.
I could not afford to keep a Bebonair if I won! And 80% could not as weel?
You do not believe me, make this a responce question!

Who am I?
Ex cropduster, CFII
Retired US Navy combat aviator, O6
Retired Continental B747, B777 Captain.
9 more years in a Gulfstream.
Three kids, grown, two homes and a Swift with hangar, I must work on myself.
Retired Income $150,000.

My little no tower airport only has old people (71) like me that made their money in the past.
No kids learning to fly.
No new business planes, a few have left.
One rental plane on field, nearly out of business.
If user fees and fuel increases prevail, the airport may close and my hangar will be worthless.
I will fly till my last day, but no one is in trail.

Wake up!
Give away 2 two or 3 old airplanes add people.

702 509-3818

]]>