I promise – I’ll get back to flying in a blog or two. I trust that progress on N833DF is getting out of the blocks, but have to be focused on getting everything else done for a moment.

Good News: We managed to sell both of our homes in a very short time. Now we have three settlements next month, and are working on arranging a mover.

The beach place is totally packed at this point. We gave away sofas and chairs yesterday, and I’m packing two chairs and a dresser to deliver to one of our kids today. My big ass oak desk that weighs a ton is going to my realtor. One kitchen table; a queen bed, and our golf cart go to one of the kids this morning.  The mover will be left with a few tables, chairs, dressers, and boxes.

There will be several chairs, end tables, and miscellany that will stay behind for the new beach owner.

Same thing will be going on at our Smyrna house over the next few weeks. One of the bunk beds is gone already, and the other set goes this week.

I am getting very very excited about the new house, and can’t wait to get in there in a little more than a week.

Part 135 Training:  I drove out to Cincinnati, Ohio last week with an instructor from the Challenger program, Dean. Yes – I drove.  Someone downstairs thought that was a good idea, and tossed us the keys to the company van.

Dean and I got to know each other on the way out and back, and that certainly made it bearable. Like the other courses and training I’ve taken at FSI, the people I met and trained with were the best part of the course.

The course itself utterly sucked. I’d like to put lipstick on this pig, but it isn’t going to happen. Our primary instructor was listless and mumbled his way through powerpoint presentations. He was ill-prepared and meandered through the material.

What really made it special is when one of their management teams told us that this type of training was much better than the expensive FSI approach, and most pilots will never use what we tell them. Now I’m not necessarily prone to preaching FSI, and I know we are expensive, but I did all I could not to laugh out loud. Sure, Buddy!

So the course was a waste – I could have read this all at home and gotten more out of it. The people I met were awesome though, and that part of the experience reminded me how lucky I am to be here.

I got to know more about the corporate pilot life too.

Moving on:  Looks like I have a light schedule of co-pilot duties in the westwind this coming week. The following week, we’ll get the keys to our new home and start setting that up.

I am so excited to be starting this next phase of our lives with my adorable bride. I can’t wait!

After all this is over and my airplane is back online, I’ll start looking for hangar space in Wilmington. My name is on the list for Summit Airport, but they are tearing down hangars and not replacing them. Too bad. That would be convenient.

By fdorrin

Fully retired now, unless something interesting comes along. I’ve enjoyed a lucrative career as an Electrical Engineer, Certified Software Solutions Developer, and Project Manager. An excellent and fun career that I’m very proud of. I began flying commercially in Dash-8 aircraft for Piedmont Airlines, and moved on to instruct in the Gulfstream 280; WestWind; and Astra jet aircraft. I’ve also been blessed with a type rating in the B-25 bomber in a fortunate turn of events. My wife, Beverly, and I currently own and operate a beautifully restored PA30 Twin Comanche, which we use to explore the CONUS.