My last flight.

[king fisher]

     It is a sad day, I just sold my 1947 Piper Cub.  I enjoy living and working in Mexico, but giving up my Alaska pick up, was hard to do.  After thousands of hours, many adventuresome flights, from Alaska To Florida and some epic fishing and hunting, I had to bite the bullet and sell it.

     When I first came to Mexico I only planned on helping a client out for a few months.  I lived in Alaska, and planned on living there for the for the remainder of my life.  The next thing I knew, I was maried,  living and working in Mexico full time.  I left the plane in WA and held on to it for over 10 years turning down offers to buy it simply for sentimental reasons.  The cost of maintaining something I only used a few days a year, eventually became far more than the sentimental value.

      Selling the aircraft isn't what really hurts.  The plane was only metal and fabric, but it was the last symbol of a lifestyle, in the Alaska wilderness, that I know is forever in my past.  My Mom is fond of saying she is glad I finally grew up, and now that the last reminder of my carefree youth is gone, I guess I truly have.

      I landed at a friends place last spring and had my wife take a picture.( posted here)  I didn't know that was going to be my last flight, but I am glad I was able to get a picture on a nice sunny day.  I flew over the rivers and lakes I fished in my youth, making it memorable last flight.  Sale was done over the internet and phone, so I didn't have the expense of flying to WA to complete the deal.  I was glad I didn't have to take time off of work, and spend money going to WA, but I sure would have liked to have piloted, one more flight around my old stomping grounds.

      As the old saying goes, one door closes and another one opens.  I may not be able to fly in to fish remote streams in Alaska, but my dream of catching DD bass in Mexico is no longer just a dream.  The Bait Monkey is all over my back now that he thinks I might have some extra cash.  The Monkey is going to have to wait.  My wife and I have bought a small piece of land in the mountains near Puerto Vallarta, and we are using the money to build a cabin.  The land just happens to be a mile from a lake with large bass waiting to see their first lure.

       I may no be able to fly high above the ground, but every time a catch a trophy bass, I feel like I can touch the sky.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I'd trade Alaska flying for Mexico DD fishing any day of the week, and twice on Sunday.

 

I understand though, but as you said, one door closes, another opens......I'll be checking the mailbox for my invitation to the unmolested Mexico lake ?

[GaryH]

Great write up. Time to make all new memories for you and your wife. 

 

[roadwarrior]

 

 

                                                

[cheezyridr]

are you saying you flew that cub from alaska to florida at some point?  holy cow!  how long did that take?  isn't the cruise speed about 75 mph?  that had to be tricky to navigate all that way vfr.   if you had a mind to talk about it, i would like to hear a bit about that journey

[Bird]

Wow you've lived an envious lifestyle and it sounds like it's only going to get better.

Wife and I spent a week in Puerto Vallarta, sweet.

[king fisher]

7 hours ago, cheezyridr said:

are you saying you flew that cub from alaska to florida at some point?  holy cow!  how long did that take?  isn't the cruise speed about 75 mph?  that had to be tricky to navigate all that way vfr.   if you had a mind to talk about it, i would like to hear a bit about that journey

     In the Winter of 1996 I had a job offer from a client working construction for a few months. I thought it would be a fun adventure to fly the cub down.  I flew down to WA in late October, visited family until after the holidays then flew to Tallahassee Fl.  Worked until the end of March then flew the cub back to Alaska.  On the way down I took my time, and saw many friends along the way.  On the way back I was in a hurry, and pushed the weather way more than I should have.  On the way back  I was able to make it back to Wasilla Alaska in 8 days from Florida.  Cruise speed was 80 MPH. and I flew as many hours as I had daylight.  The old plane had no electrical system, so all hand prop starts, and limited instruments.  The next year I flew it to CA and back.  A friend loaned me my first hand held GPS for that trip. GPS was a real game changer  and saved me considerable time and fuel.  The biggest thing I remember from the Florida trip was how sore my butt and back were after being crammed in the front seat for so many hours.  I made the trip from Alaska to WA many times over the years, tried many different routs, and met many friendly people along the way. Great times, and memories.   

[cheezyridr]

On 7/3/2023 at 4:14 PM, king fisher said:

      Great times, and memories.   

 

very cool! a trip like that is alot of work for a pilot. but being up there, by yourself, seeing this country like that...it must have been incredible, once you had time to digest it. i had a ride in a cub once, a loooong time ago.  the idea of taking one 4k+ miles seems amazing to me.

[NorcalBassin]

That's awesome! I spent a few months in AK while in college and came really close to making it my home. Awesome way of life and it blew me away when I first heard people casually talking about taking their personal plane from Soldotna to Anchorage for a quick meeting instead of driving. Seemed like everyone's inner circle had at least one pilot.

[cheezyridr]

i always wanted my license but never made it happen, for various reasons.  i have been lucky to have ridden in alot of really cool aircraft over the years, starting from a small boy up until now.  there have even been a few times when i was allowed to take control for brief periods.  the glider was one of the funnest. 

i was really into fs9 and fsx for years.   if the hours i spent with that were real hours, i'd be amazing.  ?