739DF

739DF, that's the tail number of the Cessna 172, single engine airplane I used to fly back in the early 90's right after high school and before going off to college. And, you guessed it, she's pictured above.

I enjoyed a year off from school between HS and college. During that time I worked at a small central Pennsylvania airport refueling airplanes, mostly small ones. It just so happened that the little airplane gas station I worked at was also where I took my flying lessons.

739DF was the airplane I flew most often after earning my pilot's license. I really loved flying the airplane and made many trips over the PA countryside taking pictures of just about everything. I even managed to take a few cross country airport trips.....Reading, Scranton, Binghamton and Elmira were all airports I landed at one time or another.

My biggest trip by far was flying down to Danville, VA to visit my prospective college. I believe it was the March before my fall semester was to start. It was an overcast day in PA when I took off. I remember having to stay below the clouds to avoid getting ice on the wings. It took me about 3 hours to get there and no stops for gas. The return flight was about an hour longer and a fuel stop was needed Maryland. You can thank a good strong head wind for the extra hour coming back.

They were good times in 739DF. Today, according to FAA records, this airplane belongs to someone in Oregon. That must have been one long cross country ride in a little 4 seat airplane!