Planes

Ever since I can remember I've been enthralled by planes. Almost exclusively small propeller driven things. It started with Spitfires, Hurricanes, Me 109's... The usual stuff. I went thru a phase in my early teens of jet fighters, F14's, F22's, SR 71's and the Phantom, but at the same time I was in the Air Training Corps and was taking to the air (and flying!) in a DeHavilland Chipmunk.

I've been up in a glider (sailplane to you Yanks) several times since, and the thrill of being up in the air has never left, it's just always sat there. Anyway, last week (first week of August, 2007) I was walking into work when a Cessna 404 went overhead, quite low. Having used a famous search engine to find out the make and model of the plane, I found out it was involved in aerial photography for a company I believe was bought by said search engine. It spent the rest of the day flying overhead, first north-south, then east-west in very straight gridlines... So you never know, their map website may well have an image of a somewhat awe-struck bloke in black standing in the company carpark staring up at the camera in Mitcham. But I digress. It was this straw that broke the proverbial camels back. I want a plane. Correction: I want my own plane, and I want to fly it... Lots.

So I've spent some time looking recently, and I've been looking mainly at Cessna aircraft. I like the 404 still, but the 414 and Caravan have also caught my eye. And then I saw the Reims F406 and was smitten... Until I found out it's just a Cessna 404, custom built, so I'm back to the 404 again now! I dallied with the idea of a DC-3 quickly, but really, not sure that's at all sensible ;)

I was thinking of perhaps getting a Caravan, and fitting it out in the "Executive Transport" style, and maybe being available for hire in order to recoup some of the running costs. It'll also make it much better for the transport of the family to France :D

Looking at the prices (especially for a new Caravan from Cessna, which comes out to around the US$1.8M!!!) there's not a chance in hell that I can afford this. Ever. But buying used I can do, the prices there can drop down to about €40K-€90K, which is slightly more managable, but still currently out of my price range.

Because of this, I was hoping that by setting up a PayPal donation page, I might get the odd friend, or nutter, who would be willing to put some money towards the cause and help me towards my childhood dream. Anyone that donates more than £100 I'm offering a free flight (or two ;)) in the plane when I get it (and my Private Pilots Licence of course!). More than £1,000 and I'll put your name on the plane, more than £10K and I'll name her after you :D If you want to offer more than £100K, I'll name the wife after you ;)

So, if you're willing to help out, just donate some money to the cause and get that alturistic warm glow feeling :D

In the meantime, to satiate some of my cravings, I've added Microsoft Flight SimulatorX and a joystick to my wishlist, so you could fulfill your longings to help out your fellow humans by purchasing one (or both ;)) of those for me :D