One of the reasons I felt comfortable buying my airplane was because of an owner's web site with forums that discuss all the issues of aircraft ownership and the peculiar nuances of the Socata line of planes. It's a wonderful resource and one of the additional benefits is it gives me friends from all around the world. I've never met most of these online friends, yet I feel like I know most of them very well. Occasionally, you do get to meet in person some of these online pals.
A standing rule on the site, is that if one of the members is visiting your area, you give them a ride in your airplane. I got the opportunity this past weekend. Vincent C., an opera singer from Chico, CA is in New York for a few weeks to work with his voice coach and go on a few auditions. Vince owns a Trinidad TB-21, the turbo-charged version of my plane. This past Saturday, we went for a ride in 242GT down the Hudson River.
It was a fantastic day -- visibility was unlimited and Vince and I had a glorious time heading down the west side of the Hudson, over the Statue of Liberty, across the Verrazano Bridge, a slow turnaround over Raritan Bay, and then a return up the east side of the Hudson.
It was good to meet a fellow forums owner and put a face to the name and online personality I've known for a while.
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