A couple of years ago, I heard about The Kansas Air Tour. I was attending another aviation event and several of my pilot friends had just landed at Jabara Airport, where the tour ended. It was at that moment I unconsciously made one decision this is something I would like to do.
At the time my plane was still in Texas at our hangar home. I flew it home to Kansas from time to time but with no place to keep it inside when away from our hangar, I was reluctant to stay long. Kansas weather can be unfriendly to vehicles of all kinds, especially the flying kind. When it is good, the sun is just as brutal. Still the dream was planted to do this tour at some point.
One Decision
The next year, we realised it was time to consolidate our lives in Kansas. The decision was made to move the plane home. This one decision also made the Air Tour doable. I contacted a pilot friend and found out more about the tour. I even attended a meeting of the KCAE who serves as the non-profit under which these kinds of activities can function.
Then, last fall, I set a goal to fly in the tour. To do this I:
- had the annual inspection and certification done
- Found hangar space to rent at an airfield in the Wichita area
- relocated the airplane to Kansas which included an emergency landing
- Saved up necessary funds for fuel and expenses
- Enrolled in the Air Tour and made needed hotel reservations
- Had the radio display repaired in the Aircoupe
- Shined her up to within an inch of her life
Fly Kansas!
At the time of this publication one day of the tour remains. You can check out my facebook page for updates.
It is planned for three days, two nights and will cover about 600 air miles. nine legs and ten airports. No wind air time looks to be about six hours. Legs range from 11 minutes to a bit over and hour. At this point, the weather looks to be cooperating.
The best part, I am home. Home where:
- The geography is in my blood,
- The landscape is set out in square miles, broken only by roads, winding tree-lined rivers and towns of all sizes
- Water towers and grain elevators tell you your location like coordinates
- The sunrises and sunsets outdo those anywhere in the world.
I doubt this will be my last post about this event. Here is to one decision that enables dreams to take-off.
Has any one decision in your life recently that has opened a dream up for you? Please share in the comments below.
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