Fun meeting at the airport

[PeterNSteinmetz]

We landed in my C150 Aerobat at KFFZ a few months back and up walked this gentleman. He had owned N6067J decades ago in CA (before its move to Rapid City). Subsequently he moved here and keeps an airplane at Falcon and heard the call sign one day. So he decided to look this up and came out to meet.

 

[Jim Logajan]

Cool!

 

[skydirtwaterguy]

Mr Steinmetz, I stumbled upon your post and picture while doing a Google search of the N number of your airplane. My name is Joe Konop and my Dad owned N6067J from 1977-78 to approximately 1980-81. He subsequently sold it to my Uncle who lived in South Dakota where it was based for almost 30 years at Spearfish airport. I have many fond memories and pictures of the airplane when my Dad owned it and was based in California at KCCB. I was a 10 year old kid at the time and spent many hours “learning to fly upside down and with the doors off” in this airplane. It set the foundation for my career as an Airline Pilot and began my love of airplanes. I can provide you with more detailed information if you are interested. I’m glad to see it still in its original paint scheme. If you should EVER decide to sell it please keep me in mind first. My Dad is now 81yrs old and I forwarded him your post. He’s going through his logbooks to see the exact dates of when he bought and sold it and gave me a brief history on how he came to acquire this little gem in 1977. I believe he was the second owner and the gentleman pictured with you may have been the original owner.

My Dad, little brother, me. 1978

My Dad

Me at 10 yrs old hangar flying dreaming of this day….

Me 40yrs later…

 

[Jim Logajan]

Joe,
Prior to Peter owning the plane it spent a year being leased to a Rapid City, SD flying club I started:

https://pactolaflying.club/2023/02/04/plane-being-offered-for-lease/

I'm afraid I was responsible for damaging the left wing during a taxi (wing went over a pickup truck's roof), but was repaired.
The guys we leased the plane from were a couple A&Ps who had been doing the maintenance on it for the Spearfish owner - likely your uncle. They eventually purchased the plane from that owner with a plan to start an aircraft rental business. They got sticker shock at the insurance cost and when they heard of my attempt to start a club they offered to lease it, which we accepted. The biggest problem we had was the low useful load and many pilots these days are a bit heavier than days of yore, so went hunting for something with a bigger useful load,

 

[skydirtwaterguy]

Joe,
Prior to Peter owning the plane it spent a year being leased to a Rapid City, SD flying club I started:

https://pactolaflying.club/2023/02/04/plane-being-offered-for-lease/

I'm afraid I was responsible for damaging the left wing during a taxi (wing went over a pickup truck's roof), but was repaired.
The guys we leased the plane from were a couple A&Ps who had been doing the maintenance on it for the Spearfish owner - likely your uncle. They eventually purchased the plane from that owner with a plan to start an aircraft rental business. They got sticker shock at the insurance cost and when they heard of my attempt to start a club they offered to lease it, which we accepted. The biggest problem we had was the low useful load and many pilots these days are a bit heavier than days of yore, so went hunting for something with a bigger useful load,

Jim, thanks for sharing and the link with the photos. Brings back a lot of memories. My Uncle had a partner in the airplane and sometime in the 2000’s? Sold his share to him (Larry Bender)
Great to see it still in its original form and flying