I Bought an Airplane in LA, then Got Stranded Before Takeoff! (Part 1) | Ep. 11

Описание: Join me in this raw, two-part series chronicling my first airplane purchase and the bumpy road from zero flight hours to airline pilot dreams. Meet "Goldfinch"—my 1968 Piper Cherokee 180D (tail number N6626J), a classic bird with a bright yellow-and-white paint scheme that earned its nickname from my wife. It's equal parts thrill, setback, and hard-won lessons in aviation ownership.

It started with weeks of intense online hunting on Trade-A-Plane, Barnstormers, and beyond, searching for the ideal first plane as a student pilot chasing the airline path. I finally landed on this gem in Riverside, CA: a solid 1968 Piper Cherokee 180D, tail number N6626J, with a reliable Lycoming engine and that standout yellow-and-white livery my wife immediately dubbed "Goldfinch" for its vibrant, bird-like glow.

Then came the real wait—another couple of weeks grinding through the pre-buy inspection (mechanics scrutinizing every detail) and title/ownership paperwork delays. Once everything cleared, I flew commercially out to LA, buzzing with excitement to meet Goldfinch in person. We did a thorough walkaround, ran all the systems checks with my Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), taxied out, and launched on the maiden voyage home to Dallas. The takeoff felt electric—pure freedom in the California skies...

...until minutes after wheels-up, the transponder failed. With comms issues and the end of the day hitting on a Friday, my CFI made the call to bail, leaving me—a student pilot without the credentials to make the flight alone—stranded in LA with a grounded plane and no clear path forward. What was supposed to be a triumphant ferry flight home turned into a major setback.

How does a newbie owner fix this and get his bird back? That's where Part 2 picks up.


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