| | This airplane was the reason I am flying today. The owner, at the time, was Bob Curry based in Lompoc California. He started working where I did and asked me if I was interested in a ride. I don’t think Bob ever went up without doing aerobatics. So we wore parachutes. The first time up I couldn’t even make it out of the pattern without feeling suck. But Bob assured me that all I needed was more rides. I finally got to where I could handle more than he could. One day we were taxiing back and he had a squeaky wheel bearing. I fixed it for him and asked what is expensive about owning an airplane. He said maintenance was the worst thing. Being that I can do all that myself, I went ahead and bought an airplane, fixed it up and learned to fly it. I thought that tail draggers were better looking so I got a Cessna 170-B. I still fly my 170 today. My wife learned to fly it too. I am glad to see that 975 is in such nice shape and flying. Thank you for taking good care of her. I have some stories to tell, like one day on my way to work I noticed 975 setting out from it’s parking place. I pulled into the airport and saw it was hung up on the prop of the plane parked next to it. It turned out that someone broke into it, flew it and taxied it into the prop of the plane next to it. I believe it was the right wing had the prop punched up through it. A witness said he saw the plane take off the night before. Bob checked his logs and found that his plane was flown by someone a few times before by someone besides him. It wasn’t me, honest! Bob later sold the plane to some lady in Alaska, I believe. I heard that she completely restored it, but just let it sit. I lost contact with it until now. I guess, if you have a passion for flying, certain airplanes become an important part of your life. |
by Matt Stork @ KPCM
by Paul Perry @ SFQ
by Paul Perry @ SFQ
by Paul Perry @ SFQ