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All in the family

Sharing the gift of flight

Aircraft ownership makes it possible for pilots to share the freedom and joy of flight as these members acknowledge in their recent submissions to our “Why I Love My Airplane” section.
2022 Cirrus SR22T; We love our “Caretta” who has increased our togetherness as a family and is allowing us to explore this great nation. It makes quick work of crisscrossing the U.S. So far, it’s taken us to each coast and all regions of the country. It has also prompted one additional pilot license, my wife Angella just got her PPL!; Photo courtesy of Chris Keel; Fairhope, Alabama.
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2022 Cirrus SR22T; We love our “Caretta” who has increased our togetherness as a family and is allowing us to explore this great nation. It makes quick work of crisscrossing the U.S. So far, it’s taken us to each coast and all regions of the country. It has also prompted one additional pilot license, my wife Angella just got her PPL!; Photo courtesy of Chris Keel; Fairhope, Alabama.

Keep those photos and stories coming!
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Why I love my Airplane

  • Why I love my Airplane
    Piper Arrow PA-28R-200; Piper Arrows tops my list: Great traveler / bottom of high performance, top of low performance, best payload, ease of handling (loaded with speed mods/gap seals make landing a breeze!); Photo courtesy of Sue Ramsey; Peterborough, Ontario.
  • Why I love my Airplane
    1980 Cessna 337-H Skymaster; I love my 1980 Cessna 337-H Skymaster because it provides twin redundancy with no surprises should it lose an engine. If it does, it just becomes a very heavy 172. (I fly a lot at night.) She cruises just over 150 knots on 20 gallons per hour with over six hours endurance plus reserve. She’s a stable instrument platform. Cool paint too. She flies like a dream. Photo courtesy of David E. Estes; Kennesaw, Georgia.
  • Why I love my Airplane
    1940 Piper Cub; This Cub has been in my family for 51 years. In 1973, as a 17-year-old high school senior, I earned my private pilot's license. My A&P father and I purchased our J-3 Cub the same year. The Cub was a barn find at a local Michigan airport, named Mckinley. I convinced my father to pay $1500 for it. The Cub was in desperate need for a complete restoration and it quickly became a father/son total rebuild project. I then taught my father to fly. My wife and I continue to fly our Cub and our A36 Bonanza both locally and nationally; Photography courtesy of Edward A. Vesely; Houston, Texas.
  • Why I love my Airplane
    Gamebird GB1; The Game Composites Inc. Gamebird GB1 is the state-of-the-art unlimited aerobatic category screaming machine. With an AEIO-580-B1A, +300-horsepower engine, +/-10 G capability, over 80 gallons usable fuel, and 205 KTAS cross country speed, the Gamebird does it all. Made of all carbon fiber, Garmin G3X avionics, onboard smoke generation, 30-degree inclined seats make this airplane the top of the food chain for competition aerobatics, cross-country travel, and fun.; Photography courtesy of Butch Gilbert; Tampa, Florida.
David Tulis
David Tulis
Senior Photographer
Senior Photographer David Tulis joined AOPA in 2015 and is a private pilot with single-engine land and sea ratings and a tailwheel endorsement. He is also a certificated remote pilot and co-host of the award-wining AOPA Hangar Talk podcast. David enjoys vintage aircraft and photography.

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