Mitch's Story

One of my first memories of life, included an airplane!  My Father would take me out to the end of the runway at Tulsa Airport and we would watch the American Airlines DC-6’s and B-47’s takeoff and land.  Occasionally, my parents or my brother and sisters would travel by commercial aircraft out of Tulsa. We could actually walk out to the huge planes, board and say goodbye to our loved ones.   Boy, do I miss that freedom! 

Around 6 years of age, we moved out in the country, about 10 miles East of Tulsa.   Just up the road from our home, lived the DeBoar family. The DeBoar’s owned a Cessna 170.  They kept the plane in a hangar right next to their dirt strip.  With the dirt strip, came lots of airplane company.   I would sit close by and watch all the planes come and go, hoping to get a ride. 

In 1956, the DeBoar’s sold their Cessna 170 and bought, if my memory serves me well, the first Cessna 172 delivered [I am researching N5000A for verification].  One of their first flights in the new 172 was to an Oklahoma City fly-in.  I was invited to go along.  Oh, that was the best day of my life!! 

Also near our country farmhouse, was Harvey Young Airport [still in existence as of this writing].  My Father would take me there to look at the small airplanes.  One of my Father’s friends happened to own, what I later discovered, was a Mooney!  I just adored the looks of that airplane.  Although I never got a ride in that Mooney, the image of it remained in my mind. 

At 13 years of age, our family relocated back to Southern California, where my parent’s had lived prior to moving to Oklahoma.  A close friend of the family, Joe Finnell lived and worked in Westminster, California.  Joe owned a Cessna 170 [N2497D], which was modified to a tricycle gear configuration.   Joe flew his plane in and out of Meadow Lark Field near Seal Beach, CA. 

We would either travel down to Westminster or Joe would fly up to Van Nuys airport and take me flying.  During those times, there were no airspace restrictions in the Los Angeles area. The night flights were my favorite over Los Angeles.  Wow, what a gorgeous sight that was [and still is!]. 

My love of flying eventually took me to a small airport located in Lompoc, CA.  At the age of 25, I took my first flying lesson in a Cessna 152.  I knew I wanted to fly, but I was truly frightened with those first few flights.  After I soloed, and against my instructors wished, I purchased a 1959 Cessna 175 [N7657M].  I borrowed another instructor and flew my new plane home from Agua Dulce Airport, to Lompoc, with one stop at Van Nuys Airport.   The instructor was impressed with my jumping into Van Nuys airspace, given that I had a total of 12 hours flying time.  With my previous Van Nuys experiences with my friend Joe, I felt quite comfortable. 

After getting my private license, I flew the 175 to many locations within California and Nevada.   Economics required that I relinquish the airplane after 3 years of ownership.   I did not fly again for 8 years.   At that time in life, I did not want fly unless I owned my own plane.  After the 8 year lull, I began to miss flying.  I went back to Lompoc Airport, got my instructor and became current again.  I rented a 172 over the following five year period. 

At that point in time, I decided to purchase the aircraft that had been embedded in my mind since my experience at Harvey Young Airport.  I found and purchased my 1967 Mooney M20F [N9505M], at Screaming Eagle Aviation, located at Santa Paula Airport, CA. 

For almost 20 years, I had lots of trips and wonderful experiences throughout the Western United States in the Mooney.  What a terrific plane it!  With my marriage to my Princess [Jolie], I decided that owning, operating and maintaining two Mooney’s was a bit much, so I liquidated N9505M. 

From that point forward, you can read about my continued flying experiences with Jolie, Gabriel and Maggie!

Mitch, Jolie, and Gabriel's Story

In 1943, my father was a trainer in the Army Air Corps. He met my mother on a blind date while stationed at Rankin Field in Central California. He was known as a competent instructor to his many cadets, with a lot of field wisdom. He tells wonderful stories of flying with the likes of Tex Rankin and Sammy Mason. He tells me now that the Stearman he trained in was “loud and slow.” He passed the love of flying on to me and my older brother Chapman.

During my early years, we had a tail-dragger 1946 Bellanca [N86789]. This fabric covered airplane was very reliable, but loud to my ears. My father called me a Japanese pilot when I was a kid…”onewinglow.” He also taught us to relax our stomach muscles when there was turbulence. He would say our stomach were like a “bowl full of jelly.” We flew from Southern California to Indiana most summers to visit family. {Insert many funny stories about flying cross-country with your wife and two children!] We also attended numerous fly-ins in California and flew to Seattle many times.

In the late seventies, Dad purchased our Mooney from the Perris [California] School District. In the mid- seventies, they started a mechanic shop for their high school kids. Maggie was their project. Dad went and picked her up; she was silver, yet to be painted. I learned to drive at Banning airport [KBGN] where Maggie was hangared. My father always told me that if I wanted to go fast he would take me “in the Mooney.” He thought this would help me not to have a lead foot while driving his Ford Pinto!

Maggie [1963 M20 C/D] was a part of our family life for nearly as long as I can remember. And was an integral part of our lives for nearly three decades. Her faithful performance took us annually across the country, to weddings, graduations, and birthday celebrations. We have photos of my brothers and me growing up around airplanes, and later, pictures of our children going for their first ride in Maggie. As my father used to say, “We may have driven a modest car, but we always had a airplane.”

In June of 2002, I was in Sutter Creek for my family reunion. I believe it was also airport day at Jackson/Westover [O70]. I was at the airport and watched my Dad come in the Mooney and my brother land in his Bonanza. I thought to myself “what is wrong with this picture?”

I went home to Hood River Oregon and called Annie at Flightline Services. I started my training in July and had my private license in September. It was an awesome time. I loved flying and the sense of freedom it gave me. As well, I enjoyed having the connection with my father. I bought into a Warrior through a local flight club. I liked being back in a low winged aircraft.

In August of 2003 shortly after take off in Hood River in Maggie, the valve in the number one cylinder came unseated. Many of you know the story of what happened next, or you can check out MAPA Log November 2003 issue. Maggie I was totaled.

In September of 2003, I started my search for a replacement Mooney for my father. In the days following the crash, I thought it was something I did, or did not do that caused the engine failure. I found a Mooney online that was located in my old college town San Luis Obispo California. The paint color scheme was nearly identical to Maggie I. I called the phone number on the ad. When the answering machine came on it said, “San Luis Jazz Band, this is Mitch.” I thought “what a coincidence, I play alto sax in a jazz band.” I received a one line email back from my query, “I am sorry the plane sold months ago.” Never one to leave things to chance, I emailed Mitch back, and told him of the crash, and the loss of our beloved Maggie. We had many phone calls, many emails and developed a good friendship having never met. In November of 2003, with guidance from my father, and from Mitch, I purchased Maggie II, my 1965 Mooney M20E Super 21. Mitch had a beautiful 1967 F model.

My father let me have Maggie I to salvage. Many many of the instruments, radios, and parts are now on Maggie II. In January of 2004, after the deaths of two very close friends, I decided to go to Sutter Creek, and asked Mitch if he would like to meet in Santa Cruz. And while neither of us was looking for love, it hit Thunderbolt city! Thus began a courtship of two Mooney owners. We put so many hours on the aircraft during 2004 and 2005! The Dalles, to Redding, for a fuel stop, then on over Travis, Livermore, South County, dial in Paso Robles, then on to Santa Maria. Four and a half hours of flying time was all that was between us! As a new pilot, I probably had more cross-country experience than most!

On 05-05-05, Mitch and I were married on the mountain that watched this crazy flying courtship…Mount Shasta. We had wedding receptions in Oregon at The Dalles Airport, and in California at Oceano Airport.
In 2007, Mitch sold Mike his 1967 F. Maggie II is based in Santa Maria, California. Our most common flight is up to Jackson/Westover to my mom and dad’s house. My brother still flies his Bonanza, but he does have 500 hours or more in a Mooney, so I do not harass him too much. My father instilled in me a love of aviation, and more than that the awesome responsibility of the pilot in command for the safety of his family/passengers. I am committed to learning, and to being the best pilot, I can be. I would like to get my IFR rating in the coming year.

We started attending Vintage Mooney Group events in 2004. We have very much enjoyed the new friends we have made and the chance to learn [and brag] about our beloved Mooney aircraft.