DeBaun Flying Service

I heard her crying even before I opened the door. There she sat, alone in the dark, dirty and barefoot. She had been there a while, maybe several weeks while the bugs and spiders crawled over her, and the dust settled. I wanted to close the door and walk away - but I couldn't. It's not the money, I really don't need it, it was more of an obligation, a responsibilty.

To some she is just a cold piece of metal, a means to an end, a way to get from point A to point B. But not me, she has a soul, she is a living, breathing, little metal bird. Yes, an Aeroplane, a Piper PA28-151 to be exact. She needed an Annual Inspection and I had towed my mobile maintenance shop up to Crystal Airport in N. Minneapolis to do just that. I run my hand across her cowling and reassure her. "You will be fine, I will take care of you, you will fly again soon".
Several layers of bugs coated her wings and tail, grease and oil smothered her legs and belly. Why was she left in this condition?. It occured to me that if the owner had no pride in her then surly she was lacking in the appropriate maintenance and this Anuual Inspection would be somthing I was not looking forward to.

I was wrong on the last account. She had impecable maintenance records, all AD's were up to date and complied with, sure she had some issues, but I will fix most of them. But first, let's grab a bucket of soap and water and clean up the old girl... there, she's starting to smile again..
So there is how I spent my labor day weekend....