They claimed to have two airplanes 'set aside' for time builders to fly during the day, but both were down when I was there. 38D flew nicely, despite its obvious deficiencies, but needed serious differential power on the ground to taxi in a straight line. It definitely needed work.

My complaints about their maintenance aside, I really, really didn't appreciate having the fly-all-night thing sprung on me when I arrived. They may get away with that sort of treatment of their captive audience of foreign pilots (there were more Euro guys there than Americans), but I've got local options and I chose to exercise one. I just wish they'd been upfront about it before I made the 5 hour round trip.

I should have just turned around and gone home, but I went through with their 5-hour checkout anyway. I'm still waiting to hear how much they're going to charge me for it. Way more than it was worth, I'm sure.

Ken