Primarily for general aviation discussion, but other aviation topics are also welcome.
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By AfricanEagle
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1650472
Wake up at 5.00 am.
Pick up flight bag.
Remember aeroplane keys.
Drive to the train station.
It is still dark.
It is cold.
Catch train.
Stop in Rome to change train.
Have a coffee while you wait.
Have a second coffee while you wait more.
Board second train.
Arrive in Perugia at 10.20
Wait for Maintenance boss to come pick you up.
Have a coffee while waiting.
Arrive at airport.
Go through airport security.
At last, you get to see your aeroplane after three weeks.
It looks different.
It has been washed.
Walk around, check, inspect.
Go sign the papers.
Discuss the bill.
Pay.
Refuel.
Pay. Bill cannot be discussed.
At last, you get to start the engine.
Taxy.
Line up.
At last, in the air again.
Flying.
Beautiful.
Smooth air.
Wispy clouds.
Homebase in sight.
At last, aeroplane at home.
Tie up.
Cover.
Get lift back to train station.
Pick up car.
Drive to town.
Arrive at 15.30.
Time for lunch.
But first, a glass of wine.
Finally happy, relaxed and content.
Everything in life is back in place.
The aeroplane is back at home.
I hate annuals.

Image
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By Ebbie 2003
#1650499
Why an annual in Itialy?

What sort of plane?

I had to take mine to St. Barths, hoping for somewhere within a couple of hours for the next one in May.
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By Rob P
#1650565
Interesting that you didn't leave the keys with them for the annual. Were you worried they'd hire it out?

Glad you are back where you belong :)

Rob P
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By Iceman
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1650569
Annuals are a bit like going to the dentist, sometimes costly and never popular.

Iceman 8)
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By AfricanEagle
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1650671
@ Ebbie 2003
I live and fly in Italy. Aeroplane is a C172, Italian reg.

@ Rob P
I leave maintenance keys, but use my own with the Cessna keyring for flying :wink:
(I have 5 sets of keys, just to be safe)

@ Rob L, Iceman
Dentists are cheap, and never as painful as an annual
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By PeteSpencer
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1650695
Only Riccardo could make picking up an a/c from its annual sound like a romantic adventure.....

Peter :lol:
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By TopCat
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1650730
PeteSpencer wrote:Only Riccardo could make picking up an a/c from its annual sound like a romantic adventure.....

So true.

My annuals involve a similar game.

Walk, train, taxi, fly, walk, train, train, walk.

Then the same in the other direction a few days later. Doesn't feel in the least bit like a romantic adventure.
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By PeteSpencer
FLYER Club Member  FLYER Club Member
#1650732
Blimey! Our annual is only 30 miles away from airstrip.:

Car: fly: car.

We do have to dodge the Apaches , though.

Peter :wink:
By Ebbie 2003
#1650970
I missed the live in Itialy thing.

Mine was done on St.Barths so got to do the scary landings training.

Flight back home was fun when the alternator belt failed - yup, the nice bright alt annunceator is a dim glimmer when it happens, display was lit up on the comms (guess that is why nixie tubes, very low power drain), GPS and tablet batteries kicked in.

As luck would have it it was my first flight with my brand new ICOM so got to speak with tower and no problems landing - it was only when I spoke with the guys in the tower that I found out they lost my transponder signal and realised alternator fail.

When things fail it seems they creep up on you and I was so focussed on figuring out why the apparently working radios seemed to to be receiving that I just ignored the ammeter.

Not romantic, rather glad I didn't know what had happened, so out with the ICOM and the last 60 miles quite relaxed.

Italy must have great scenery, here one bit of ocean looks pretty much like anyother.
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By Charles Hunt
#1651189
Crystal clear turquoise water, the sun glinting and shimmering off wavelets, darker shadows of the rocks and reefs below. It must be awful.
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