Hangar and top notch Decathlon mechanic

Big Ed

Big Ed

N50247 - '79 Super D
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Messages
1,938
Location
Tampa, FL
For the last 6 months I have had my aircraft in a common hangar at my local airfield while on the waiting list for a T hangar. I have also been looking for an A&P who knows Decathlons to advise me on upgrades such as aluminum gear, etc. I have an annual coming up in May, and I really wanted it done by someone who knows the type.

Just killed 2 birds with one stone! Found out that a private grass strip near my house has been purchased and is being developed as a new GA airfield. They are going to base a bunch of warbirds there. They plan to have 35 new T hangars built by April. I will be first on the list!

AND ... the guy who told me about it used to be Greg Koontz's A&P for many years. He is going to run the maintenance shop there. He expects to be operational in a few weeks!!

Such a huge development for me. Literally the perfect location.

Of course, it is a precision operation now, as you can see from this recent photo. Note caretaker at red arrow:

wimauma.PNG
 
Yeah, it's a great location too. FD77, southeast of Tampa, just outside the lower tier of Class B and surrounded by open agricultural fields.
 
It almost sounds too good to be true. Will be nervous until I see signs of construction.
 
It gets better!

Went to visit the airfield today. The new airport manager is an old military buddy of mine. Talk about a small world! He's going to get me into a hangar within 30 days.

The A&P/IA is awesome. Great guy and he knows a ton about Decathlons. He maintained Greg Koontz's Decathlons for about 8 years. He gave my plane a good look-over and had some great advice about fine tuning the rigging and controls. He was very encouraging about the overall state of my plane, and feels my gear is just fine for the time being. Really looking forward to having him do my annual in May.

The business plan for the airport is incredible. Right now it is a grass strip with two rickety rows of shade hangars, no fuel, no maintenance, and no services. It is mostly being used to store abandoned RV's (motorhomes, not the plane). They are going to build a paved runway at an angle, 50 hangars, a repair station, an FBO, a restaurant, etc. They are bringing in about a dozen warbirds, including a DC3 and possibly a B-17!! A P-40 restoration shop is setting up on the field.
 
Big Ed said:
It gets better!

Went to visit the airfield today. The new airport manager is an old military buddy of mine. Talk about a small world! He's going to get me into a hangar within 30 days.

The A&P/IA is awesome. Great guy and he knows a ton about Decathlons. He maintained Greg Koontz's Decathlons for about 8 years. He gave my plane a good look-over and had some great advice about fine tuning the rigging and controls. He was very encouraging about the overall state of my plane, and feels my gear is just fine for the time being. Really looking forward to having him do my annual in May.

The business plan for the airport is incredible. Right now it is a grass strip with two rickety rows of shade hangars, no fuel, no maintenance, and no services. It is mostly being used to store abandoned RV's (motorhomes, not the plane). They are going to build a paved runway at an angle, 50 hangars, a repair station, an FBO, a restaurant, etc. They are bringing in about a dozen warbirds, including a DC3 and possibly a B-17!! A P-40 restoration shop is setting up on the field.
Click to expand...

please ask around if there are any wealthy individuals that would like to adopt a 52 yr old pilot, the wife and kids are negotiable

glad to hear its working out for you Ed! having a place to keep the plane with easier access to a practice area would be exciting enough but a P-40 shop, maybe a B-17 based on the field, that's going to be a hoot if it all plays out!
 
Paved runway will be at 45 degree angle to grass strip, which will remain. That is 3 or 4 years in the future. Apparently the grass strip has some standing water issues, which is not at all unusual in Florida.
 
i'm diggin the clipped wing Widgeon but what a long runway it must need!

and I'm jealous as hell, Ed! you've hit the jackpot.
 
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