Andy Gelston's Page

Hello Andy. I joined to learn about the Porterfield. Have never owned one. After 20 years in single engine GA aircraft, I started flying ultralights. I built my last ship, a single place SkyRaider (Kitfox spin off) that weighed 364 lbs. The Porterfield office looks huge to me. My Porterfield interest was kick started by the possible availability of N32362 here in Sonoma. I want to learn about the advisability of Porterfield operation at my home airport before making contact with the owner.

That'd be a twofer. Never flown a Porterfield. Never flown off of skis! That would be super fun! If I have an open weekend (with a 5 month old baby, those are tough to find!) I'll let you know! Thanks very much for the invite. 

Thanks Andy! Lucky for me I'm under 180 and just a hair under 6 feet tall. Maybe I'll get up to see 41VermonT one of these days. 

Sounds great - I will stop by sometime in the next few days.  I have a friend visiting who has flown Werner Griesbeck's bird in BC.  So he can show me which is the front and which is the back.

"Andy - my apologies for a tardy (understated) response . But I am still interested in trying 41 VT on for size - any chance a day next week would work?""Andy - my apologies for a tardy (understated) response . But I am still interested in trying 41 VT on for size - any chance a day next week would work?"

Hi Andy and all! Thank you for adding me to the club.  I don't have any brochures, paperwork or etc. from Uncle Parker's days as a Porterfield dealer myself. I will check with my cousin Mary Ann to see if she might have something she could share. I got into the kid raising business years back and have not done any flying by myself since. I attend and volunteer at airshows and have been fortunate to ride in some antiques and warbirds but never a Porterfield.

Thanks Andy, there's a 1940 CP-65 for sale there that I just had a pre-purchase inspection completed on, resulting in a thumbs-up. Still waiting to hear from the airport owner if there's hanger space available. 

Hello Andy,

I would love to "supplement" the Bonanza with a Porterfield. I like old cars (63 Studebaker Lark), old trucks (78 Dodge D-100), old motorcycles (82 Goldwing, 67 Triumph), old airplanes (53 Bo) probably because I was born in 52 ( although I don't consider myself old...that "old" bar gets moved up as we age), and have a special appreciation for old yet useful things that were well crafted when they first were built. Plus, I believe having these old machines are of no use if we don't use them. So, all of these vehicles get used and maintained since, I believe, their useful life is not over with. And I enjoy the fact that in a modern cookie cutter society, these vehicles not only allow me to enjoy yesterday today, they have an identity all their own. A Porterfield would fit very well into that mode of thinking. Something to think about.

Thanks for the encouragement,

Jim

Iv'e owned quite a few different birds in my time but never a skinny bird- maybe if Santa is kind to me I will acquire one !