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I fell in love with "Echo Zulu" almost immediately. And our affair started after an unexpected decision by, of all people, my wife.

We were driving our 16-year-old son and two of his friends to a party across town, but it was clear we were going to arrive far too early. Out of the blue, Brenda said: "They don't want to be early and it's on the way, why don't you swing by the airport and show the boys where you fly. Maybe we can look at the planes."

Johann Strauss, one of my favorite composers, never wrote music that was more beautiful to my ears!

My wife has acquiesced reluctantly, at best, in my flying. For her to actually suggest a stop by the airport - even if it was on the way - was an epiphany!

As I turned toward the airport entrance, I went immediately into "sales mode." I explained that the Cessna 152, N24884, is a old trainer and hasn't had a paint job in a long time and is pretty beat up on the inside. But it has "a nearly new engine and everything has been checked out thoroughly and it's a VERY SAFE AIRPLANE."

I added hurriedly, "I'm only flying it to save money until I get fairly close to finishing and then I'm going to transition to a 172 so all three of us can fly together. I'll show you one of those, too."

As we walked across the ramp, there sat 24884, looking forlorn with its very chipped and spotty paint, and tiny much-used and abused cabin. I quickly motioned at it and said, "That's what I'm flying right now," then with more enthusiasm continued, "but this one over here is what I'll be transitioning to very soon, let's look at it."

"It," totally by chance or divine intervention, happened to be N733EZ, the second oldest airplane in Aero Atlanta's fleet, a 1978 Skyhawk 172N. But Echo Zulu had a new paint job in 2001 and the interior has been much better cared for, so it was a much better choice for showing non-flying, suspicious wives and "couldn't care less" teen-agers.

I opened the door and let them look around, ignoring poor old 24884 completely.

I noticed myself that the instrument cluster in EZ seemed to make more sense than it ever did in the 152. It's the standard "six pack," with everything grouped together making for a much easier scan. In the 152, the tach is way over to the right which always made scanning difficult for me.

And while it was different in some ways, EZ was still familiar. It even had a carb heat knob, which the one fuel-injected SP I had tried out didn't have. I've been reminded about carb heat so many times by my instructor Eric that now I almost feel lost without that familiar knob.

"There's no way you're going to get me into that," Brenda said pointing at 24884. But she said nothing about the possibility of getting her into Echo Zulu. In this case, the silence was golden, and Strauss never sounded better!

My next scheduled flight happened to be my second dual cross-country to Columbus, GA, 111 miles away. As soon as we were home I went on-line and changed my reservation from 24884 to 733EZ.

The flight was marvelous. The 172 requires more trim than 152, which you can control fairly effectively by just sticking your hand out the window. And you need a lot more right rudder on takeoff with those 60 extra horses out front. But it actually handled easier to me than the 152 ever did, and I took to the new instrument package immediately.

I spent 30 minutes "under the hood" on this flight and had to time one of my turns. Eric could see our immediate bond. EZ and I were in-synch, my flight planning worked perfectly, and Eric gave me one of his rare compliments.

Sorry 24884, but I have a new love. You served me well - if balky and bumpy at times, and always cramped - but my new love is what I'll be flying to get my ticket.

Echo Zulu will carry me now, and with luck and a few more successful sales jobs, Brenda and an occasional teenager, too.

Article by Warren B. Causey; Send him an email