Ruidoso Ron
Member
Hi Folks! I'm new to the forum, and somewhat digitally challanged, so excuse me if this winds up in the classified thread. I am a 60 year old Texan who retired and relocated to New Mexico two years ago. I live in Alto, NM, about 5 minutes from Sierra Blanca Airport (SRR) in Ruidoso.
I was born in the aviation business, and have been flying all my life. I have an ATP-MEL, Coml-SEL & SES and FE-Turbojet. Total is about 7,000 P.I.C., 1,000 S.I.C., and some 2,000 FE. I also have 6-1/2 hours of dual in a helicopter (A-Star) which I think that I could have eventually learned to fly. I served in the Naval Reserve for 8 years as an aircrewman on the P2V Neptune, keeping the Gulf of Mexico safe from submarines. It worked, didn't it? Even though I was in during all of the Vietnam war, I never saw Vietnam. I was, however, in some of the real hot spots like Dallas and Jacksonville! In 1969 I went across the field at Navy Dallas, and signed on for 3 years as a Flight Engineer with the Texas Air National Guard on the KC-97. (Don't know if I ever refueled George W in flight, but I'd like to think so.) The KC-97 is the proof-of-concept aircraft that proved that ANYTHING will fly if you put enough horsepower on it (4 R-4360's and 2 J-47's).
I have worked in the aircraft instrument and avionics business for the last 35 years, or so. I was the Regional Sales Manager for King Radio during the 70's and 80's (before Bendix and before Honeywell). I covered 16 states and 3 provinces in a light single (usually a Mooney or a Cherokee Arrow) calling on 175 avionics shops and aircraft dealerships. Lots of fun and a lot of travel.
In the early 80's, I threw in with my brother, Bill, and we developed the largest civil helicopter instrument repair network in the world. (See www.mascoservice.com) During that period, I lived between Dallas and Lafayette, LA, which is the headquarters of the offshore helicopter industry in the Gulf of Mexico. But, as many of you, I had an itch to scratch, so I got my ATP and went to work for Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) as an F/O on an Embraer Bondorante (E-110) out of DFW. Holding down two full-time jobs, while commuting among 3 states, was more than I could handle, so I quit after about 6 months. I found that it's a lot less painful to just beat your head on the floor than to fly for a commuter. Plus, it's more profitable!
About that time, a friend of mine told me that he could get me hired at Braniff! (This was Braniff III in it's waning days) The big iron had an alure, and even though it meant that I would now have to commute to NYC, I said "Sure! Let's go." I believe that it may be documented somewhere that I was the shortest-term pilot for a major airline in history. I completed FE school, and they were gone. Never even got an ID card (or a paycheck). Probably for the better. Following the death of my brother in 1992, I trodded on for another 10 years in the instrument business and then sold my interest to my brother's son about 3 years ago.
Between Bill, our business, and myself, at various times we have owned a T-Craft L-2, a BC-12D, a Piper J-5, a PA-20, four PA18's, a Cessna 170, five 180's, a 182, a 182RG, a 185, a 210, a 310 and a 340A, A Beech Baron, a Bellanca Cruisair and a Viking, as well as a couple of Mooney's, and a partridge in a peartree. I just sold my beautiful C-180A about 6 months ago. I started out flying low and slow, and it looks as though that's how I'll wind up. However, I crewed for a friend of mine, who raced his Swearingen SX-300 in the Sport Class at Reno this year. He turned 68 on the day he won one of the Silver heats, and it really got to me. Maybe, when I grow up, I'll take up racing! I rode my Harley to Reno and back for a total of 2,800 miles. It was the longest bike ride that I have made, and I really got into it.
I have a 1954 L-21B Super Cub that served in the Italian Army for 25 years. It is now 50 years old, and I am only the second owner. I usually fly it to the Super Cub gathering at New Holstein, WI, just east of Lake Winnebago, during Oshkosh each year. I have been to Alaska in it 3 times, and to Baja California several times. I am active on the SC website, www.supercub.org.
In anticipation of the Sport Pilot rule, I have ordered plans for a 2-place Little Wing, and am watching the mailbox anxiously. I visited with Ron Herron a couple of weeks ago in Little Rock, and I was impressed with him and his product. Ron recommends the use of the Rotax 914 because the field elevation here is almost 7,000'. The DA's are usually in excess of 10,000' by noon in the summer, and there are nearby peaks in excess of 12,000'. Otherwise, I would go for the radial in a heartbeat! Don't know how to gas weld, so a friend of mine is getting ready to start to teach me. This forum has really helped to light a fire under me, and my enthusiasm is growing. Wish I could throw in with the guys in N. Indiana.
Patsy and I have been married for 12 years. It is a second go around for us both. Between us we have 3 sons, a daughter, and 5 grandsons. Patsy is a retired Flight Attendant, and we have unlimited passes for life (assuming any of the airlines survive). It is about an hour-and-a-half flight to El Paso from here, and then "the world is my oyster". If I ever get things done around the house, I hope to get out and see some of the rest of the world. Among those on the top of my list are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Mentone. See you there?
Ron Massey
P.S. Keep your nose up in the turns!
I was born in the aviation business, and have been flying all my life. I have an ATP-MEL, Coml-SEL & SES and FE-Turbojet. Total is about 7,000 P.I.C., 1,000 S.I.C., and some 2,000 FE. I also have 6-1/2 hours of dual in a helicopter (A-Star) which I think that I could have eventually learned to fly. I served in the Naval Reserve for 8 years as an aircrewman on the P2V Neptune, keeping the Gulf of Mexico safe from submarines. It worked, didn't it? Even though I was in during all of the Vietnam war, I never saw Vietnam. I was, however, in some of the real hot spots like Dallas and Jacksonville! In 1969 I went across the field at Navy Dallas, and signed on for 3 years as a Flight Engineer with the Texas Air National Guard on the KC-97. (Don't know if I ever refueled George W in flight, but I'd like to think so.) The KC-97 is the proof-of-concept aircraft that proved that ANYTHING will fly if you put enough horsepower on it (4 R-4360's and 2 J-47's).
I have worked in the aircraft instrument and avionics business for the last 35 years, or so. I was the Regional Sales Manager for King Radio during the 70's and 80's (before Bendix and before Honeywell). I covered 16 states and 3 provinces in a light single (usually a Mooney or a Cherokee Arrow) calling on 175 avionics shops and aircraft dealerships. Lots of fun and a lot of travel.
In the early 80's, I threw in with my brother, Bill, and we developed the largest civil helicopter instrument repair network in the world. (See www.mascoservice.com) During that period, I lived between Dallas and Lafayette, LA, which is the headquarters of the offshore helicopter industry in the Gulf of Mexico. But, as many of you, I had an itch to scratch, so I got my ATP and went to work for Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) as an F/O on an Embraer Bondorante (E-110) out of DFW. Holding down two full-time jobs, while commuting among 3 states, was more than I could handle, so I quit after about 6 months. I found that it's a lot less painful to just beat your head on the floor than to fly for a commuter. Plus, it's more profitable!
About that time, a friend of mine told me that he could get me hired at Braniff! (This was Braniff III in it's waning days) The big iron had an alure, and even though it meant that I would now have to commute to NYC, I said "Sure! Let's go." I believe that it may be documented somewhere that I was the shortest-term pilot for a major airline in history. I completed FE school, and they were gone. Never even got an ID card (or a paycheck). Probably for the better. Following the death of my brother in 1992, I trodded on for another 10 years in the instrument business and then sold my interest to my brother's son about 3 years ago.
Between Bill, our business, and myself, at various times we have owned a T-Craft L-2, a BC-12D, a Piper J-5, a PA-20, four PA18's, a Cessna 170, five 180's, a 182, a 182RG, a 185, a 210, a 310 and a 340A, A Beech Baron, a Bellanca Cruisair and a Viking, as well as a couple of Mooney's, and a partridge in a peartree. I just sold my beautiful C-180A about 6 months ago. I started out flying low and slow, and it looks as though that's how I'll wind up. However, I crewed for a friend of mine, who raced his Swearingen SX-300 in the Sport Class at Reno this year. He turned 68 on the day he won one of the Silver heats, and it really got to me. Maybe, when I grow up, I'll take up racing! I rode my Harley to Reno and back for a total of 2,800 miles. It was the longest bike ride that I have made, and I really got into it.
I have a 1954 L-21B Super Cub that served in the Italian Army for 25 years. It is now 50 years old, and I am only the second owner. I usually fly it to the Super Cub gathering at New Holstein, WI, just east of Lake Winnebago, during Oshkosh each year. I have been to Alaska in it 3 times, and to Baja California several times. I am active on the SC website, www.supercub.org.
In anticipation of the Sport Pilot rule, I have ordered plans for a 2-place Little Wing, and am watching the mailbox anxiously. I visited with Ron Herron a couple of weeks ago in Little Rock, and I was impressed with him and his product. Ron recommends the use of the Rotax 914 because the field elevation here is almost 7,000'. The DA's are usually in excess of 10,000' by noon in the summer, and there are nearby peaks in excess of 12,000'. Otherwise, I would go for the radial in a heartbeat! Don't know how to gas weld, so a friend of mine is getting ready to start to teach me. This forum has really helped to light a fire under me, and my enthusiasm is growing. Wish I could throw in with the guys in N. Indiana.
Patsy and I have been married for 12 years. It is a second go around for us both. Between us we have 3 sons, a daughter, and 5 grandsons. Patsy is a retired Flight Attendant, and we have unlimited passes for life (assuming any of the airlines survive). It is about an hour-and-a-half flight to El Paso from here, and then "the world is my oyster". If I ever get things done around the house, I hope to get out and see some of the rest of the world. Among those on the top of my list are Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Mentone. See you there?
Ron Massey
P.S. Keep your nose up in the turns!
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