Sebring Florida

Mary and I are spending three months in Estero Florida, trying to stay warm and evade the winter weather in Maryland. No, we didn't fly south this year, instead, we drove. The decision was made to drive so we could pack what was needed for the extended stay and we took along the Malachi brothers too. I call our two black cats the Malachi brothers everyone else calls them by name, Smoke and Binx. 

Enjoying the lake view from our place in Estero

We took the Mercedes GLC 300 and with the back seats folded down it was full to the rear hatch. The boys did really good, a few meows in the first thirty minutes but then quiet. Binx did pant pretty heavy on and off for the first hour but then settled in. We did overnight in Kingsland Georgia after eleven hours of driving. The hotel was nice but the area, not so much. We were serenaded to sleep by sirens most of the night. The remaining drive the following morning was five hours to our rental.

While enjoying the warm temps we have decided to day trip as often as possible. Our first day trip was to Sebring, home of the IMSA Twelve Hours of Sebring race. While attending the race would be fun Mary and I decided to continue our tour of HGTV shows. In the past we have flown to Waco Texas to visit the Fixer Upper series of Chip and Joanna Gaines. The HGTV Home Town series by Ben and Erin Napier in Laurel MS was fun and now their Home Town Takeover of Sebring.  There are two Home Town locations remaining on our list, Wetumpka Alabama and Fort Morgan Colorado, but that's for another time.

The drive to Sebring took just under two hours and despite having to drive on RT 75 it was a fun trip. My take-away, there sure is alot of cattle in florida!

The weather was perfect as we strolled along the streets, checking out shops along the way. I do regret not taking a close up of the first mural pictured below. I would have shared who it was and the back story. My search will continue. I need to take a lesson or two from Chris at Photographic Logbook. 

The main street circle was busy along with all the connecting streets. There was a decent amount of foot traffic and the restaurants were busy. It was fun checking out the shops and all the local items. 

Sugar Blossoms was what I hope Heaven smells like. Seriously, the pastries and baked bread was overwhelming. I made the comment to the young lady behind the counter that I could pull up a chair and sit for the day enjoying the delectable fresh bread aroma.

We are enjoying our take home sourdough bread along with a few croissants this morning as I type this post.

Mary and I did take a break from walking and sampled some of the pastries at Sophie's.  I enjoyed a cheese with cherry topping over pastry dough while Mary had an apple turnover. I was good with my favorite sweet tea and my bride enjoyed a hot Chai latte.

We are looking forward to our next day trip. I think the Naples zoo will be the go to next week and then maybe an overnight in Key West.  Stay tuned, more to follow.

1976 Commander 112A For Sale

                                  

Price Lowered $85,000

By the numbers:

TTAF 5685

SMOH 1085

SPOH 1085

Engine Lycoming IO-360 C1D6 200hp
Prop Three blade Hartzell
Fuel 68 gallons
Paint 8/10
Interior 6/10
Wing Loading 16.8 lbs/sq.ft.
Service Ceiling 13,900 ft
Max Ramp Weight 2650
Useful load  828lbs w/o back seats 867lbs

Avionics:
Aspen 1000 PFD w/Synthetic Vision

Garmin 480W
Bendix/King KX155
Garmin GTX 330 ES Transponder 1090MHz ADSB
Audio Panel PS Engineering PMA 8000BT
Auto Pilot S-Tec 60-2 
BFG 1000 Storm Scope 

JPI EDM-711 Engine Monitor w/fuel flow

Davtron Digital clock

Standby Vacuum System SVS V
RC 200 Kannad 406mhz ELT

Dynon D3 - Not FAA TSO

Additional Items/Info:

Annual Inspection due 6/2026

IFR Cert 6/2027

All AD's in Compliance

Complete Logs

Rosen Visors

Gas door springs RCMnormalizing

Gear Lights by RCMnormalizing

Reiff Preheat System Sump/Cylinders

250-201 smartPower Dual Power Supply w/2 USB Charger Cables

Front seats & Console new foam and recovered 6/2025

Sky-Tec Starter

New Concorde Battery  1/2024

BatteryMinder Charger

Plane Cover

Window Sun Shades

Bird Strike 8/2009 Factory Repair

SPA day, close up view of paint

2025 Year in Review

 Foreshadowing words from December 2024…

“Overall this has been the lowest fly time for me since I started flying back in 2005. I sure hope it will be better times ahead or it might be time to finally ring the bell and hang up the ownership spurs.”

By The Numbers:

Total Time     1609.8
ASEL 2023        21.6

Complex          21.6/336.8

Cross Country    13.3/1009.6

IMC               0 /43.4

Fast forward to December 2025

I finished up the year with 22 hours, which has been the absolute lowest total since I started flying in 2005. There has been no new airports and no new adventures. There has been an annual inspection, multiple maintenance issues and the start of an interior refit. 

Our trip to Vero Beach in March was a no go due to weather. We still went to Vero, but we ground pounded. Mary and I visited friends near Fort Myers so that was an additional 3 Hour drive across the state as opposed to a half hour flight if we had the plane. Our scheduled trip to Galveston, Texas with an initial overnight in Chattanooga Tennessee was also wiped out due to weather. I guess I should add that we tried to go to Saint Simons island twice in 2024 and yes, mother nature planned otherwise, this year we drove.

Once annual was complete in June and the two new seats installed, I was looking forward to getting back into flying. Unfortunately, the first day tugging the plane out of the hanger, which was August 4, My tug handle broke and I fell backwards and broke my wrist.  I broke my scaphoid bone which typically requires surgery, but instead, I showed healing and was in a hard splint for ten weeks. I have been in physical therapy now for six weeks. 

I have returned to flight, but it’s been a battle with maintenance items popping up. My first flight back I had a gear line develop a pin hole leak. Once that was fixed I returned to the air only to have my JPI engine monitor act up and noticed that the induction air lever throw was not full range. 

I’m not sure if I’ll take a commercial flight back from Florida to pick up 3 Tango Charlie. I had wanted to have the plane with us in Florida for some fun travels. With all the problems and me having a hard time climbing in and out of 3 Tango Charlie I think it’s time for me to maybe list her for sale. I’ll consider posting an ad once I gather the numbers and complete the few maintenance items that have come up. It’s been a fun run. For Mary and I it will be time to ride the commercial flights. At least it's easier to board and I wont give a hoot about weather.

As for my YouTube Channel, I'm not really sure what direction I'll go. I will keep this blog up and running to document our travels. Thanks for reading along.

IFR Current!

 

Picture from the RedBird web page

Sit down, strap in, and get ready to get Instrument current!

Since the weather here in Ocean City was absolutely terrible I decided to knock out my IFR currency at Ocean Aviation, taking advantage of their RedBird full motion sim.

I was in the sim for 1.7 hours and knocked out six approaches with a missed, a hold, procedure turns and tracking. I had a good workout deciding to stick with the sim set up of a instrument six pack and a Garmin 530.  I did not use the auto pilot, instead opting to hand fly each approach.

I started off here at home with the KOXB RNAV GPS 14 and 32 approaches. I was a little wiggly getting the feel for the sim 172 but settled in very quickly.  

Next up was Delaware Coastal for the KGED RNAV GPS 22 and RNAV GPS 4. After shooting the GPS 22 I went missed and it was good practice going through the procedure flow. Cram, Climb, Clean, Communicate. Yes, no Cool on this since the sim 172 has no cowl flaps. I even remembered to select the Suspend button on the 530 to fly the missed. 

I finished out my session with two new approaches into KDYB - Summerville Airport in Summerville South Carolina. This is going to be my one and only fuel stop when I move the plane to florida for the winter. I shot the RNAV GPS 6 and RNAV GPS 24. I did notice a building and trees on short final just at minimums for runway 24, I'll verify when I actually fly there. 

The log book is showing me current until June of 2026, that's a relief. However, I always maintain that currency is good in the log book but proficiency is what will save your 'bacon'.  It looks like a great weather day tomorrow, despite cold temps, but I plan to fly and clean up my buttonology in my Commander. Hopefully I'll have some content for a video.

Return to Flight

My first flights after being grounded for just over three months with a broken wrist. It felt great just to tug the plane out and get her started. I'm happy to be back in the air and will soon publish some flying videos. The next goal is to return to instrument currency and really shed the buttonology rust. Stay tuned!

Testing the Wrist on Flight Controls

 

I'm getting closer to flying everyday. I sure show the rust in this quick video, forgetting to flip on the EFIS switch for the ASPEN. I hope to be back in the air this week or next.

Hangar Time and Wrist Update