I pursued my PPC training at Zuehl Airport (1TE4) in Marion, Texas in November 2022 and completed my check­ride in June 2023 in Madison, South Dakota. I went on to pursue my instrument rating at Zuehl and completed my IFR checkride in March 2024 at Castroville Municipal Airport (CVB) in Texas.

The next step was to purchase my own airplane. N60127 came my way when I randomly asked my instructor if he knew anyone selling a plane. Nothing was on his radar at that moment but he would let me know if he got wind of an airplane that was available. I think we were both surprised when, 10 minutes later, he called to tell me one of his former students was selling his C150. It all happened very quickly! He took me on a short flight that day. I told him I was inter­ested in buying. My mechanic looked at it. We made a deal.

Two weeks later, I began my commercial training, some­thing I never thought I would attempt. This training was also done at Zuehl, and I successfully completed my commercial checkride at CVB on December 30, 2024.

This 150J is in good shape (for the most part) and in air­worthy condition, although the paint job is showing some wear in a few small areas. Because I’ve owned this aircraft for only a short time, I have not completed any major work on it. However, I am considering adding the avionics I need to equip my plane for IFR. It’s either that or I’ll be shopping for an IFR-equipped aircraft in the near future.

There are several things I appreciate about my airplane. It has a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) that allows me to use non-ethanol fuel as well as 100LL — making it a little less costly to fly. Fuel consumption is about 5.5 gph, making the flight cost about $50 per hour.

I love that my plane is lightweight. I can easily move it on my own, making it a breeze to move it in and out of the han­gar. Best of all, it is simple and reliable. Every A&P on the planet can work on it. Thankfully, the few parts I’ve needed were readily available at Aircraft Spruce or on eBay.

If I could change a few things, I would give it an engine with more horsepower and increase its useful load, which can be limited once the passengers are loaded and the tanks are filled. A bit more speed would be nice, too.

Down the road, I would like to equip the panel with GPS, with VOR as a backup – for protection against those times the GPS signal is interrupted.

The inside of the Cessna 150 is small, so working on the interior can be a challenge. I could use more leg room, too, though I’m not sure there’s a fix for that. Removing seats and the clips is challenging because of the tight inside space.

The only real downside I’ve found on the exterior is this: My plane does not have a refueling step, like the C172. So, without a ladder or step stool, checking the fuel is extremely difficult.

If N60127 Could Talk

My plane was first registered in Alaska, where it lived for sev­eral years. I recently found out that it had skis, which were re­moved about eight years ago. I can only imagine the awe-inspir­ing views and grand adventures it had with its previous owner.

Over the past 10 months that I’ve owned this aircraft, I’ve logged about 100 hours of flight time and made some amazing memories of my own. There are two destinations that represent pivotal moments in my flying journey and they hold a lot of sentimental value as I continue to grow as a pilot.

One of my favorite places to fly into is Castroville, where I com­pleted my last two checkrides. The area is a special place for me, because it is where I’ve reached key milestones in my training.

It was about trusting my instincts and pushing my limits. This flight was the longest one I’d ever taken on my own. It introduced a whole new layer of mental and emotional growth. While there is always added responsibility when fly­ing solo, it felt more significant on this particular journey – perhaps because I was taking on something unknown: navi­gating through unfamiliar terrain, adjusting to new weather conditions and handling a longer flight than I had done be­fore. Each of these challenges added up to a sense of accom­plishment when I finally touched down in Alpine.

Looking back, it’s not just the view of the McDonald Ob­servatory or the stunning flight path over the mountains that stands out to me, it’s the growth I felt as a pilot. It’s a remind­er that every journey, big or small, is an opportunity to learn, evolve, and gain a deeper appreciation for both the craft of flying and the world around us.