Last month we had another flight service (much like ours, clientele wise) show some interest in our company.

Last week, an offer (as in: a real good one) was made.

This week - Let’s just say: I’ve never seen so many lawyers, accountants nor this much paperwork in my entire life. I guess nothing is cut and dry, or a done deal on a handshake anymore. Geezzzz, what a world.

Well - Maybe next week I can go hang out with Don Imus.

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

Congratulations! Any idea what the future holds? You seem passionate about flying - do you intend to continue in some capacity?

Peter

Makes me wanna take my Dad's Stearman Scout and crash it into the FAA......

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There's a place in Port Charlotte that rebuilds/refurbs Hueys....maybe they need a test pilot. hehehe

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Congrats..........but, I don't suspect that you'll be away from those aircraft for very long........

Congrats! Now you can get started on building a new company!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Congrats, WVO!

Maybe some more boatbuilding in your future?

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

The hell's your imagination Sports?

Medical Emergency Airlift.

Fellow I know out here has 2 choppers.essentially airborne ambulances.most of his business is ferrying burn victims or critical care patients to the better equipped ER's in the Metro area.Very lucrative.

Don't know the exact criteria,probably basic CPR and medical courses but the profits are enormous.

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Thanks for the congrats, guys.

This whole thing kind of came out of the blue. And, I’m not so sure it’s all sunk in yet. Retirement is actually kind of spooky.

We planned to stay around (in the biz) until the kids got to high school age (oldest is now 10). We figured by then, we’d be too busy with all that HS brings to want to be tied down to flight schedules and such. But as of late, this business has required one (or both) of our attention 10 to 15 hours a day. Often, with one of us far from home for days on end.

We started the thing because neither of us wanted to be stuck in an airline job or punching a clock. Things took off, and boy what a ride it’s been for the past 9 years. Great money - but at some point we have to say enough is enough. Especially when your kids start saying things like: “Sometimes its like we don’t even have a mom/dad. We only see her/him two or three days a week.”
Ouch!! Words to get ones head out of their ---, for sure.

Then this offer by one of the other (rapidly growing) flight services that does much the same thing. Except the owners don’t do much of the flying. (hmmm...should have thought of that....)

When all is said and done, we should walk away with a good profit. Under no circumstances will either of us be out looking for employment. DJ has her aerobatic instruction that she wants to focus more on. We’re keeping the 530F, so I may still do some odd local jobs with it during the day. That should cover our fuel costs around here. We’ve still got quite a few aircraft that will always need something. Summer’s on it’s way. So I’ll be focusing on more cross-country glider flights. (My son and I are determined to make San Antonio, non-stop) And most important of all - we’ll be a “home together every night” family. (Unless we’re together somewhere else.)

Yep -
More boat building.
More hours teaching the kids to fly.
More time for the honey do’s that have been sitting for nearly a decade.
Time to see about that beer bottle opening challenge with my dad, too.

And more time to think about life not being all about working your butt off for something that can’t buy what’s really important to begin with.

Keep it in balance folks. You only get one flight.

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

Wise words! That's why I currently only work for 4 days a week. Took 80% of the salary and three-day weekends each week. There's too much in life besides work, IMO.

Congrats on the sell (hope the deal gels together nicely). It must be rewarding to build something, have it profit, and then sell for a profit. Well done!

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

Thanks.

In some ways it’s pretty cool. We feel like so much has been lifted off our shoulders. It’s nice to be able slow down and not need to be somewhere.

In other ways, it’s kind of scary. And, kind of sad. Like saying goodbye to a close friend.

After the last accountant left last night, we sat on the couch together in a daze. DJ cried, but didn’t know why. I just kind of drifted in and out of giggling for no reason and feeling stunned.

Woke up early this morning and found Tanya Harding vs. Paula Jones on some show called Celebrity Boxing. We’ve flown both of them around the country. That one really made me feel weird. Rarely have I been able to wake up and have time for TV. And then to see those two going at it like that. I thought to myself: "What a world I've been missing. "

This is for sure going to take some getting used to.


And hats off to you and your attitude.

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

Knock me over with a feather.

My dad went into contracting in Roswell, NM when he got laid off from the oil company after it was determined there was no oil in those parts, and other work in geology was not forthcoming.

He made more in that than he ever would have in geology but he worked 60 to 80 hour weeks. I saw very little of him in any way that mattered until he moved on from that field when I was about 15.

So . . . . . sounds like you made a wise move.

But now what am I going to do about these starlets who I promised a lift from my buddy's company?

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Congrats! I see a lot of guys who sell there companies dive into their hobbies and family's. I know one who does three things, other then hang out with his family. Work on his Hattares when he is not fishing on said boat, build model airplanes, and watch Nascar.

You like fly fishing, so why not try to tie the perfect fly, or build some rods. Maybe a really nice split cane rod, something you can pass down to your kids. My dream retirement involves sitting down on my boat tieing fly's.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

My dad’s big into the tying. So is my uncle up in CO. The uncle also builds and restores split cane rods. Pretty cool stuff, that.

Perhaps I’ll take some time out for some serious tie lessons the next time dad’s up here.

I do have a hankering to set in motion a search for a Moonlight Lure - Dreadnought, Circa 1913 for my collection. Now that I can buy one w/o DJ pitch’n too big'a fit.
Seen any laying around? (yeh-right. )

As for boats. I've got an old '71 Holiday Newport 19 (sailboat) sitting out back waiting for a restoration. Good boat to teach the kids sailing in. Think I'll drag that out this next week. (Soon as I finish the laminate floors in their rooms.)

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

Cool, that sounds like a nice boat to learn on. Much more user friendly then most. I love getting green people out on say a Star boat, they look at the lines like a pile of snakes.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200