[Dan767]

We all like to talk about that elusive perfect "Next Plane". The one that's a real show stopper, move you up to the next level of 3D or IMAC competition. Before you buy that "next plane", think about my friend, former co-worker and his car. Back in the mid 70's my friend Ed, a rather quiet unassuming guy had a very quiet unassuming car. To him though, his car was "all that, and a bag of chips". Not so much to me though. I teased him about it all the time. You need some more chrome, bigger and better wheels, on and on I went. You need a better car, period. Too "Plain Jane" for me. No fancy wheels, no loud exhaust to announce his arrival. Not so much to brag about. Not to Ed. He drove the car into one of the service bays one night, and lifted the hood. Mostly stock, but all the right stuff in all the right places. Ed beat the crap out of most everybody that dared take him on. Who ever it was that tried to beat Ed, he would give them about a car length and then beat them by three. Ed new what he was doing, and did it well. Nearly lost his life twice. Once by a crazy driver, once by some one who felt the gas station till had enough money to solve all his probelms. What it all came down to was Ed knew what he had, and what to do with it. So can you. It doesn't matter so much what the airplane is, what it's got in it for power or how much bling it has on it. It's up to you to set the airplane up the right way, learn what you need to know, and do it well. If you do it right (the flying and the set up), it won't matter what you're flying, even if it's a barge, it will look good doing it, and you'll look like the "Ace of the Base" doing it.

Ed's car? An AMC Javelin with a 390cu.in. engine, 315 horsepower @ 4,600 rpm and a whopping 425 pound-feet of torque at just 3,200 rpm. As they say, there's no substitute for cubic inches.