Finally legal after all these years

It was a monday after Bob signed me off for the flight exam, that I was sitting at my desk and decided to take the afternoon off from work and accomplish 2 things.

1 Sign up for social-security

2 Get my Sport Pilot License

So off I go to the SS office, and waited, and waited, and waited, finally someone called my name and after answering numerous absurd questions and proving that I was truly an American born citizen, (I was about ready to deck that guy) I recieved my SS card verifying that I am truly an OLD FART.

Ok, now to head out to see Jim Leon, my DPE. He brings me into his office, has me sit down, and then starts grilling me on airspace, runway markings, sectional reading, plotting a cross country, rules and regs, you name it. Even though he knows I've been flying for over 30 years and respects my ability.

It shows that he is a professional DPE and takes nothing for granted. You had better know all that is required before you go in to see him.

Well I kept him happy for the oral and I went and got my airplane out of the hanger and picked him up. Flying was a piece of cake and I did all he asked perfectly.

After we landed he disappeared into his office and showed up a few minutes later with a piece of paper in his hand and said, "I know you've always played by the rules, but now the FAA says you are legal."

FINALLY!!!!!!!!

Well now we move up to 2008, September, I happened to see my written exam was due to expire at the end of the month!!!!

I contaced Jim Leon who had just become a fixed wing examiner and he said I needed 3 hours dual with a CFI and a sign-off before I could show up for his test.

I found an old friend, Bob Bossy, who was still active as a CFI and convinced him to fly with me. Well when he showed up at my hanger and saw that my Challenger didn't have doors on it, he got a little apprehensive. I convinced him it was truly safe and strapped him into the back seat.

We took off and I let him fly from the back seat and had to show him how to "step on the wind" for co-ordination. 3 hours later he commented that this was a nice aircraft after all!!

He took the time to make sure I was up on the latest rules and airspaces and signed me off to go see Jim for my check ride.

More to come

2495 hour student pilot

Here I am after flying 2495 hours in different ,U/Ls, after being a BFI/Examiner, after having helped 50+ people how to fly, I'm a student pilot again!!

So I went out and got the King Sport pilot course and started studying. I waited until I scored 98 - 100% on their practice tests and then I took my written FAA test.
I passed with only a 78%!?!?!?!? I called the Kings and apparently the FAA made some changes they were not aware of!!

Next, I've got to find a CFI, teach him how to fly my Challenger so that I have the rquired 3 hours of dual and a sign off to get my check ride.....

Keep you all posted.....

Oh yes, by the way this was in 2006