tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2022197579524245732024-03-14T01:05:31.092-07:00SeaRey Community ForumWe invite members of the SeaRey family to share your photos and adventures - your personal short tours and gatherings. Please post to this blog or send your information to the attention of Flore Gunn at flore@searey.com.SeaReyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09244048452067176751noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202219757952424573.post-34609989671563734702012-04-24T14:04:00.001-07:002012-04-24T14:04:29.415-07:00YOUR SEAREY STORY!<style>
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<span style="font-size: small;">There’s so much to this amazing aircraft that we want to
publicly showcase the history, safety, engineering, and customer loyalty from
Searey pilots all over the world.<span>
</span>Please continue to send in your personal story to <a href="mailto:flore@searey.com">flore@searey.com</a>.<span> </span>Here’s just a couple.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span>Bill
Starkey</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Delaware & Florida</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I
first saw the Progressive Aerodyne video about 3 years ago and it woke me up to
wanting to fly again after about 30 years. I got my kit last November and
have been happily building away since then. This is to let you know I am
very happy to say the factory support is great. When I can't find parts I
get replacements from Renee with no argument. She just says "when
you find them you can bring them back." So far it has happened that way
every time. Kerry is always available and easy to get answers from.
Alan Chandler is very helpful because he is always reachable, even on
weekends. Others have helped me too, but the main thing is the building
experience so far has been nothing but great, because of the factory
support. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span>Captain
Walt Bates, UAL retired </span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Wisconsin & Florida</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">I started flying in the early 1950s and, to make a very long story
very short, that led to a 38 year United Airlines career that took me from
the DC-6 up through the 747-400. But my true love was light planes....and
water. I was watching for a two place, side by side amphibian. Finally, in the
1980s, Advanced Aviation produced the Buccaneer II. I bought one of those
in 1988 and put nearly 1,400 hours on it before the Searey came about.
That was a large improvement over the more ultralight-like Buc II and would be
my next aircraft. But I am a firm subscriber to Bob Hoover's admonition,
"Don't ever fly the A model of anything." So, it was 2001 before I
ordered a kit. Though I had helped with the major assembly of my
Buccaneer the Searey would be my first complete kit build from scratch.
Keep in mind that I had never covered anything, never spray painted
anything, and never even riveted. The Searey kit arrived in September, 2002. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">What followed was a highly enjoyable and educational building
experience. The experimental amateur-built category allows virtually all
manner of, well, experimenting. I freely redid the gear extension mechanism and
came up with an inflight adjustable rudder trim system. When I had a
question, the staff at Progressive Aerodyne was always eager to help. I made
the first flight in my new bird in August of 2005. It was an instant love
affair! I have now put over 350 hours on it and flown hundreds of
passengers into countless lakes. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Having been "put out to pasture" by United Airlines due
to FAA age rules, my life long love affair with flying now continues with my
Searey.</span></span></div>SeaReyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09244048452067176751noreply@blogger.com0