After many months of looking, we have finally purchased our new airplane! It was a difficult decision just deciding what it was we were going to purchase, many airplanes out there would be a lot of fun to have and fly. We had to decide what price range we wanted to be in, then whether we wanted something to buy and fly or refurbish it. Maybe we wanted to buy something that was close, but still needed improvements. Did we want a cross country airplane, trainer, tail dragger, aerobatic, complex, high performance, two seat, four seat? It is tough to decide and when you get 20 something people adding their input it gets more difficult.

The airplane we finally settled on was a 1973 Piper Arrow II PA29R200, N66CS. This airplane was completely gone through and put back in the air in 2006, with a new interior, paint, etc. It is IFR certified but the panel is starting to show its age, one of the reasons we got it for the price we did. Our plan is to go ahead and fly it as is, make any repairs we discover along the way, then possibly at the next annual replace the panel with something current and modern.

Thanks to the incredible safety standards we encourage in the club and the track record we have set with out insurance company we are able to offer this airplane to members with as little as 100 hours total time! There are some restrictions based on your experience with complex airplanes but they are very favorable with as little as one (1) hour in type to be qualified to fly this airplane solo! As of this writing (March 2012) we are currently offering this airplane at $117.00 an hour TACH time, that is correct, not Hobbs but Tach time, and that is a wet rate.

With its four high back seats, roomy baggage compartment with its own access door, 200 HP, constant speed prop and retractable gear, this is a great airplane for family or business trips. Most of our members are flight planning this airplane at 135KTS and 10GPH, when I brought this airplane back from Mississippi upon the purchase we averaged about 155KTS on 10GPH. We did have a slight tailwind and didn't lean the engine too far as we had just picked it up and hadn't learned any of its personality traits, like and dislikes yet.

We are actively seeking members for this airplane, we keep our pilot to airplane ratio at about 15:1, currently there are four members using this airplane so we have room for more. Please contact us at 419-510-9009 or President@EagleAirFlyingClub.com for more information on joining us.

Thanks,
Dave C.
President, Eagle Air Flying Club, Inc.

      Congratulations go out to Scott Frost, he is the latest member of Eagle Air to finish his primary flight training and become a new private pilot! Scott had taken training at several different places and eventually ended out as a member of the club. Scott has become very involved in the club, he is always present at the meetings and vocal about what is best for the club and its members, he has also the chairman of the Marketing Committee responsible for marketing our club to potential new members.

     Scott has been working towards this event for many months juggling his home life, work life and club life to get his training done as efficiently as possible. Not one to wait around too much, Scott is already making plans to complete the transition training necessary to obtain his complex endorsement and get signed off to fly the clubs new Arrow II.

     Another pilot joins the ranks!! Congratulations go out to Bill Boyer who just earned his private pilots license! Bill joined Eagle Air to earn his private pilots license and after many months of hard work and study as well as one day of bad weather that delayed his check ride he is now a Pilot!

     As many want to be pilots have discovered, becoming a member of a flying club is a great choice to learn how to fly. Not only is it cost effective and usually cheaper than traditional flight schools, but you get the other members as mentors to help you through the process. Having a group of like minded people to hang out with and use as an additional learning tool goes a long way to making this journey as much fun as possible.

  Well, it is done, we have sold N7017R. After approximately 1300 hours the oil analysis showed high levels of iron and chromium in the samples, not normally good news. We pulled a cylinder to do an inspection and our fears were confirmed, the camshaft and follower were spalled, time for a major overhaul.

     After much discussion, many options and scenarios were considered and it was decided to sell Romeo as is and take that money and the cost of the engine rebuild and invest it into a different aircraft. So right now we are down to one airplane, this is a bit inconvenient but the members decided it would benefit the club long term and be worth the short term sacrifice.

     So the search has begun, an aircraft search committee is being formed to research and locate the perfect airplane for the club. Our April meeting will be an important one as we discuss what airplane would best suit the interests of the club and finalize the search committee. Stay tuned for more updates...

     Congratulations are in order...another member of Eagle Air Flying Club has earned their private pilots license, so Congrats to Fred Tucker!!

     Fred took an intro flight with instructor Shane Tyda on August 4, 2009 and decided it was time to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot. When Fred was younger he was active in sky diving and always thought he would love to become a pilot, but like many of us work and family took most of his time, flight training was not in the cards right then.

     His training began in September of 2009, his first solo occurred in the heart of winter with the culmination of his check ride happening on July 10, 2010! Congratulations Fred and welcome to the pilot community! He has now earned his "License to learn" as it is referred to by most pilots. Congratulations also to Shane, Fred's instructor, your dedication, hard work and instruction is what makes it possible for guys like Fred to fulfill their dreams,