Jon Anderson
New member
I always wanted to fly. As a child I used to dream that I would run across my back yard, open my arms and Fly! That dream came true in the early eighties when I purchased my first bird, a Teratorn TA ultralight with a 28hp Rotax. After a couple of years flying ultralights I yearned to go somewhere far away and share the thrill of flight. While going through my flight training, I and 9 other enthusiasts out at our local airport (Gateway in Ramsey MN) purchased a 1976 Skyhawk and started Gateway Flying Club in 1984. Over the next 23 years I participated in 2 different flying clubs and owned several Skyhawks and a PA-12 for a 5 year period. I was always in a club or partnership and enjoyed the friendships as well as deferring some of the costs of flying. In 2006 I had a problem renewing my 3rd class medical because of some heart arrhythmia's, and sold my half of the Superhawk on Baumann floats that I had enjoyed for several years. After 6 months of letter writing and Dr visits, they finally issued my last medical for 1 year. After that they wanted me to start the medical testing process over again, wait 6 months to be able to fly 6 months and start it all over again. I let my medical expire and quit flying for 15 years, but never quit looking skyward every time a plane or jet flew over. Like some chronic diseases, the flying bug is something you never get over! I have known for several years that I'm eligible for Sport Pilot privilege's and at age 65 my wife finally asked what I was waiting for and she's right, I'm not getting any younger LOL! Recently I started attending the local EAA meetings at my local airport looking for a club or partnership in a Light Sport aircraft. I just found a small group of pilots that own a Champ 7AC and were looking to add a couple of more members. I meet the group on Monday evening and hopefully will be flying again soon. I hope to learn all about Champs by joining this forum. If you've read this far, thanks for joining me on my flying journey and welcoming me into this group!