by NewEnglandPilot » Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:47 pm
I will be flying N2481D (S/N 20633) owned by Christine Rusbarsky (not sure yet if she's a member, will discuss with her and her husband Derek Lagasse) this weekend when we meet up for my first flight. I've got about 350 hours total time, but only 13ish in tailwheel, which I just got endorsed for this past summer. The majority of my time is split between the Piper 28s (tapered wing models) and Cessna 172s. I've also got time in Cessna 150/152s as well. For tailwheel, I got the endorsement in Piper Cubs and also have time in a Cessna 140, Just SuperSTOL, Aeronca 7AC Champ, and Maule MX-5. I got my license back in 1997 and flew actively until late 1999 then stopped due to career and family demands. Picked it up again in June 2018 and have been as active as I can be since.
The RAF position is an appointment by the board. State Liaisons help represent the RAF in each state (most states have Liaisons, but not all presently), interact with members, work to market our mission and gain new members/supporters, and work with local government agencies and airport owners/managers to help preserve and maintain access to airports of recreational value/interest, as well as helping to create new ones where/when possible. Presently, I am helping to enhance two CT airports with recreational use assets such as campsites, picnic areas, etc. to help make them are destinations for aviation gatherings, etc. (Waterbury N41, and Goodspeed 42B).
I look forward to the annual meeting in NY - now just need to hope we can wrangle control of this virus in the meantime so we can start having larger gatherings again. Would be amazing to meet a bunch of 170 pilots and see their birds as well. My friend Greg (owns the Maule MX-5 I've flown) and I held a fly-in at Waterbury (N41) this past October and of the 25 aircraft we had, there were two beautiful '52 170Bs in attendance, as well as some baby brothers (2 120s and a 140) as well as a couple of big brothers ('57 180 and a '49 195). It was a great time despite almost being rained out completely. We'll do it again this coming summer.
On the personal side, I have a background in finance (undergrad in accounting/finance and worked as an internal auditor for several years, working in insurance and lending industries) prior to moving over to the development/construction industry. With a master in construction management and about 10 years experience now, I work for a construction risk management consulting firms, aiding investors, lenders, and/or owners identify, understand, and mitigate/avoid certain risks on real estate development/construciton projects. We work nationwide; I focus primarily in the NY/NJ/PA and GA markets.
Looking forward to meeting many of you, chatting with folks on here, and learning as much as I can about the 170s.
Drew - N2481D
KDXR - Danbury