robsley

My name is Rob. I am a true airplane fanatic and have been since I can remember. I am building a Wittman Tailwind W8 with some modifications. As a young man I had pictures of planes plastered all over my wall along with motorcycles and, oh yeah the VH (Van Halen) poster I made myself. As I think about it, it all went together quite nicely. I may have been interested in a couple of jets but mostly the pictures were of piston powered aircraft, from WW1 to the present day. I have been involved with aviation since getting out of the Coast Guard in 1990 and got my A&P. I worked in GA, which I loved so much and wish I had listened to my friends and not gone off to United Airlines in 1996. I chased the all mighty dollar, hindsight and knowledge being what it is, all I had to do was become the best I could be and the money would have come because I would be loving what I did. In all my years of GA I never woke up one day wishing it was Saturday. The choices we make, makes me wonder. United went well right up till the Gulf war and a year later I was laid off. Lost my pension, how about that? I then went to work for Independence Air and stayed there for about 2 years, just when the writing was on the wall, United called me back. I spent a total of 13 years with United and in the last 3 years I became a front line manager, got my BA, and a lean six sigma greenbelt certification. I took it all with me and am now a Line Maintenance Manager with FedEx Express helping to improve aircraft maintenance processes. I still and will always be infatuated with general aviation and flying. Everyone I meet in the EAA and in general aviation has been a delight. I decided to build an airplane, finding a good deal on a previously built but in need of repair Zenith CH601HDS I bought it and made it mine over the course of three years. Of course just like most builders, the Vans RV came to mind. I really like the airplane but because of its popularity it is not the best plane for the dollars spent vs performance. I thought about the Thorp T18. My favorite is the Wittman Tailwind, its small and my wife wants 4 seats. So the next airplane, who knows. I may try to find a Glassair Sportman.