Yesterday, Candy, David and I flew to Madison, Wisconsin for a cousin’s bat mitzvah. Marian did great and was properly celebrated on this step into adulthood. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her and reconnecting with cousins whom I have not seen in ages.
This was one of those trips seemingly designed for a small plane. Had we driven, it would have taken us seven hours in the car (with a lunch stop). By using our own plane, we made the trip, door to door, in just four hours. This included driving to the airport, pre-heating and pre-flighting the plane, actually flying (which only took two hours), picking up the rental car, and driving to the synagogue.
I often find myself making excuses for the cost of flying but this time we even saved money. Had we driven, we would have gone up on Friday, spent Friday and Saturday nights in a hotel, and driven back on Sunday. Sure, operating a small plane costs more than a car but it is still less than two nights in a motel and the associated restaurant meals. Beyond that, how can you put a value on reclaiming Friday night and Sunday from the drudgery of 14 hours on the interstate?
If you have ever wondered about the utility of general aviation or the practicality of the local small airport, consider making this sort of trip with your own family, leaving when you are ready and returning at your own convenience. Sure, you will miss that quality time with the TSA security people at the airline terminal or the other drivers in the traffic jam on the highway, but you will probably find something a bit more pleasant with which to fill the void in your life.
