I know when it finally sank in.....
I had seen several RV's during my primary flight training, and had discussed a few of the models with my instructor, but wasn't too aware of the experimental world or what it really meant and had to offer. The summer of 2012, after completing my private and working on the instrument ticket, I found myself staring at a gorgeous Super Decalthon at the Auburn, CA airshow. A little sleuthing and several attempts at reaching the owner finally paid off. The next month I was in the front seat for my first tailwheel and aerobatic lesson. I loved the arrangement of the stick and throttle, sitting on the centerline of the airplane, and how much I felt a part of the plane. The second lesson that next weekend in September found me instead in the backseat of my instructor's Harmon Rocket II headed for Stead to aid in the purchase of a friends RV-3. I had learned more about experimentals and RV's in the meantime, and even recognized that he had an F1 slider canopy as opposed to the more common flop over. That first takeoff, the effortless cruise (aileron rolls included) to Reno, all 20 minutes of it, had me hooked. Then the nose went down, the throttle went forward, and being that the pylons were still up from the previous weeks festivities, around them we went, 190KTS and 50' AGL. Up until that point I was Mr. 6500' straight and level in the 152, keeping my turns standard rate and my nose clean.....I remember thinking, "now this was the flying I have been dreaming about!"
After a few more certificate and rating rides, some dabbling with Ag airplanes, etc. I made the decision to leave my career in the fire service and pursue aviation full time. That has seen us to Hawaii and now the PNW where, very appropriately, we live about 5 miles from the birthplace of all RV's in North Plains, OR. Given that the life of a freight dog doesn't leave much free time during normal human hrs, a well built airplane to purchase and fly is in the immediate future. The little lady doesn't mind the back seat, it just has to be comfy and have proper climate control (I'm all about custom seats with heaters too after a few winters spent traversing the Cascades @ 18k' covered in ice), as well as ride the bumps and be able to do some rolls along the way. The choice after years of diliberation and the repeated pestering of many of the icons in this industry keeps bringing me back to.....you guessed it, a Rocket! A well built, nice flying -4 would be amazing and a little easier on the pocketbook, but the higher wing loading (yes she knows what that means), bigger tanks, baggage space and power reserve of the Rocket continues to win out over anything else in the similar price range, mostly given that there isn't anything comparable, certified or otherwise. Hoping to be at the stick of my personal fighter jet this summer!