A new challenge

So there I was in the heart of San Diego when I suddenly found myself behind the wheel of a brand new Dodge Challenger. The pilot I worked back-to-back with at the time had such a high status with the rental car company after renting for so many years, that he could pick pretty much anything he wanted for a mid-sized car price. He would get the car, then switched with me wherever the helicopter was parked at the moment, and I would get to drive the rental back to the nearest airport to fly home for my days off.

I don’t even remember the other cars we came across that fire season but driving the Challenger with paddle shifters, massive horse power, many extra features, and such, I couldn’t help but think the whole time driving it “Man, this thing has CHUCK written all over it!” Which then in turn inspired this new mini-series.

But don’t worry guys, this will not suddenly become a comic strip centered around cars. We just thought we need to touch on the fact that most Chuck-type pilots we know, kind of have a need for fancy cars. The other funny thing about this whole story is the fact that on the other hand almost all the best A&P mechanics I personally know drive really beat up, old cars …

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7 comments on “A new challenge
  1. WadeMoeller says:

    The rules of the hangar parking lot.

    The owner drives a luxury car.
    The chief pilot drives the new shiny sports car.
    The co-pilot drives the sensible mid size car.
    The A&P drives the vehicle that by all rights should no longer be allowed on the road.

  2. Fabo says:

    You know, the mechanics can keep the old cars running – so why bother? One day they might even become a classic.

  3. Gregory says:

    The best challenge will be his Corsair, well known in WW2 as a hangar queen, needing constant maintenance and parts. it was a furiously good Dogfighter when it got into the air, but it had issues staying there. Sometimes dreams are too costly to maintain. Imagine the issues if he were to get access to a P-38 Lightning…

  4. Fbs says:

    Being a pilot, isn’t it just a matter of speed and horsepower after all ?

    At least as much as you can afford…

    I must be halfway between pilot and mechanic with a 15 years old car doing it’s 0-60mph under 7 seconds…(I can’t afford better…)

  5. Heather says:

    I’m a student… I drive a Hyundai… It’s reliable & gets me to & from work & the airfield… What more can I want? …especially seeing that I’m saving up to buy an Ultralight!

  6. Landis says:

    I’m a copilot at a regional. My car is a 1989 Honda CRX with 280,000 miles. I’m at the point where renting a sub-compact car is a huge step up in terms of technology and power.

  7. reader says:

    When Julio says “oh God,” is he praying, or is he still addressing Chuck and just saying “oh God” for emphasis?

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