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Ken Andrew, N1182J

Most of us remember our first flight; I do not remember a thing about it. I was two or three years old and had a bad case of the “whooping cough”. Back in those days the latest cure was a ride in a plane as high as it would go, and to stay there fifteen minutes. I am not sure if it is still done these days but according to my Mother it worked in my case. I was cured. A few years later at age seven we went on holiday to the Isle of Man located in the Irish Sea. My first flight when old enough to appreciate it. Blackpool to Ronaldsway, all of twenty minutes and best I can figure out was in a Dakota or DC3.  The interest in aircraft started at that time.

 

Several flights over the years mainly from England to Spain in a variety of aircraft. All props of course.  The first pure jet flight was in a Boeing 707 in 1966, this was by far the best crossing of the Atlantic and my first.  Pan Am freighter transporting two Hereford Bulls and mail. I was straight out of college and broke so escorting the bulls was the only way I could get to the USA without spending money that I did not have. It was a one way deal so I was stuck in the US without a job or papers.  After departing Ireland where the bulls had been in quarantine,  I found out that the skipper was a hobby farmer who raised Hereford cattle, this was a great meeting as I told him all about Hereford cattle and he let me fly his plane.

In January of 1969 I was offered a Job by the Virginia Indonesia Cattle Co., This involved working with the local breeds of cattle and artificially breeding them to the European breeds, mainly Angus. I set off to Indonesia via the UK and on arrival in England I was notified that due to a change in government the project was on hold.  I was delayed for a number of weeks so I decided that this may be a good chance to get a PPL.  Four weeks and 47 hours later the job was done. Not bad in English weather in April. I did my training in a Cherokee 140 at the West London Aero Club.

I flew quite a bit in the UK before sailing back to the USA and back in the cattle business. In December of 1971 I formed Andrew Tent Co and actually had a need to fly. A local flying club was formed in 1975 and I now had a decent 172 to fly at a good rate.  Being well aware of my lack of knowledge and experience I undertook a complete PPL course here locally in Georgia.  I had been issued an FAA license based on my UK license.  To this day I show up on the FAA database with two licenses.  The Albany Flying Club worked well for me over the years,  from 150s 172s,182s Beech Sierra and Bonanza. An instrument rating was added to my license in 1977 and as I was one of only two members in the club with IR I got to do a lot of flights for other members.   In 1982 I purchased the club Sierra with one partner and flew it for about five years. Good experience and several near death experiences.

Roll on to 2003 and now I was seriously looking for a plane to buy, The Beech Sierra that is very similar to the 112 and that is what I was looking for.  Many wasted trips to inspect aircraft that were dogs, On one of those trips to Myrtle Beach, SC in March of 04,  I met Sven for just a few moments as he was fueling up 82J. From that moment on I was only looking at Commanders. Joined COG and the search was on.  

I was extremely fortunate with the help of Judi to find N377SB,  a 112B Hotshot.  It turned out to be a very  well maintained and equipped Commander. For several years I went to the factory at the Cape and did an owner assisted annual. A great learning experience and while not cheap a good way to own a near perfect Commander.

Sierra Bravo was the most trouble free aircraft during my seven years of ownership. No major problems at all,  I replaced the starter and alternator, rebuilt the nose strut at the Cape and replaced a door window. As I would always spend the full week at the Cape I got to do a lot of preventive maintenance  Sierra Bravo was such a well equipped plane that the only avionics work I did was to replace the transponder with a G 327.

I had planned to keep Sierra Bravo for the rest of my life and would have done if Sven had not offered me 82J. I can not think of any other plane in the fleet that could have replaced SB.

Owning N1182J is a great privilege. Like many others I had been admiring her and Svens work for many years. A perfectly equipped Commander in superb condition . I am still learning the ins and outs of 82J and keep discovering new things about her. I do have thousands of pictures taken by Sven through her lifetime during various upgrades. And a complete library of books.

Twenty years ago I came up with the idea of keeping a plane at home, a crazy idea that has always been in the back of my mind. Ten years ago I started getting serious and looking for land in the area.  Five years ago I found Grand Oaks Plantation thanks to the internet and Google Earth. I have spent all my free time the last few years working the land at Grand Oaks and building a runway.  August 23rd of 2015 I made my first landing. A day I will always remember. Help from the Commander Owners Group has made my aircraft ownership possible and a pleasure, I know I could not survive without them.

Life is a barrel of fun.

 

N1182J Ken Andrew Grand Oaks1
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Ken COG Spotlight 01-16

 

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