Photographic Logbook: Rental Aircraft Photographs

My flight training was conducted through Conrad Aero, based in Three Rivers, Michigan. In those pre-certificate days, two Cessna 150s formed the basis of my flight experience. Later, I moved up to the faster, roomier Cherokee 180, though I continued to fly the Cessna from time to time. Much later, in early 2008, I rented an Archer II for training on mountain flying in the Rockies. I also have a couple of hours in rental Cessna 172s, but was never sufficiently attached to any of them to take pictures.

June 29, 2003: Most of my training toward the private pilot certificate was done in Two Seven Uniform, a 1976 Cessna 150M. It may be a little slow and it won't win any beauty contests, but this airplane flies wonderfully. Scott Savett took this photo of me with my favorite Cessna 150 at Jenison's Riverview airport prior to an evening flight over southwest Michigan.

On June 16, 2005, Two Seven Uniform fell to earth in a fuel exhaustion accident. Though she safely delivered her occupants to the ground, the impact literally split her in half and she was deemed a complete loss.

April 23, 2003: Eight Two Foxtrot was one of two Cessna 150's that served as my noble steeds on the quest toward my private pilot certificate. The day I took this photo, 82F and I had just completed a very therapeutic solo flight along the Lake Michigan shoreline. This picture was an afterthought as I was leaving the airport and is the only picture I have of 82F. Good thing, too. Forty minutes later, she was wrecked by a student in a ground handling accident (no one was injured except for the aircraft). As a result, I have the dubious distinction of being the last person to fly 82F away from the Three Rivers airport.

In February 2008, I received an email with photographic updates of the continuing adventures of 82F. She resides in a private residence outfitted as a flight simulator, sans wings, engine, and empennage. I'm told that one of her wings is in a bar across the street from the Kalamazoo airport. Sometimes, airplanes can live on in unexpected ways.

September 21, 2003: After mastering the Cessna 150, it was time to move into something bigger and faster. This Cherokee 180 was my introduction to flying Pipers and contributed significantly to my decision to buy Warrior 481. This photograph was taken in the parking area near the restaurant on the field at Coldwater (OEB).

May 30, 2008: My rented steed, N9908K, parked on the ramp at Lake County airport in Leadville, CO. A 1978 Archer II, this airplane flew just like my Warrior with the exception of 20 extra horsepower. With V-speeds within a couple knots of the Warrior, I did not have to learn anything new to fly this airplane properly and my first landing in Zero Eight Kilo was a greaser. It is a well-rigged, solid airplane. After flying no other airplane but Warrior 481 for over four years, I did not once use the wrong tail number on the radio. Now that's an accomplishment.