Annuals, shimmy dampeners, wings & other stuff

Airplanes have to have an annual inspection every year, and yesterday was the day. Dick found a good mechanic at a fairly close-by airport who knows the type of airplane that we have, so this guy has been doing our annuals for around 20 years now and knows our plane very well. Dick assists him at each inspection (he is a good mechanic himself), so this saves us quite a few bucks and speeds the process along. Brian flew up to watch the inspection, since he wants to eventually get checked out in our plane...and that wound up being a plus. Here is our son with his flight instructor after his solo last December...another handsome family member.......

It seems our 'shimmy dampener' is damaged/worn out and needs replacing. That is a fancy name for a shock absorber that when given a fancy name, means someone can charge big bucks for it. Dick now has to search for one......and the plane is grounded, and not at our local airport... so Brian flew his father home! This was B's first time to land at the airport here in Mayberry, and Dick's first time to fly with the new pilot, our son. Dad reported that he did a fine job of it. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see Brian and get a little sugar, but he needed to get the rental plane back to Atlanta.......and called his dad to report that he and the rental were safely back on terra firma where they needed to be.

I know it is important to give your children both roots and wings...and with Dick and me both being pilots, I guess it was inevitable that at least one of our kids would literally develop wings and fly eventually, so Brian is the one who did. And yes, he also looks just like his father and grandfather, but I lay claim to the smile gene. Brian, you rock! I love you soooo much.