Dear Santa,
I haven’t written you in a few years, and for that I’m sorry. I’ve been a generally good boy, er, man, since then—save that time I didn’t wipe the bugs off the airplane after I was finished with it. I hope you can forgive me.
In this age of tightening belts, pinching pennies, and all of the other cliché-ridden ways we can say it’s tough out there, I thought you might be able to make my dreams come true. I would love to say that all I want for Christmas is world peace, the eradication of hunger, and for the Gators to win the National Championship, but selfishly, what I really want is an airplane.
You didn’t see that coming, right? Give me a chance to pitch my case on this. I’ve had the good fortune to fly a number of wonderful airplanes this year, all of which I would gladly accept as payment for my good deeds and holiday cheer. But the one I flew a few years ago still lingers in my mind. It’s the Cessna Corvalis TT.
’Ole Rudolph ain’t got nothing on that turbocharged Continental TSIO-550-C.
Now I know the Corvalis is not the least expensive airplane in the world. But, oh, wow, what a machine. Let me tell you what, Santa: If you had one of these, you would be able to deliver presents to two worlds’ worth of boys and girls in one night. ’Ole Rudolph ain’t got nothing on that turbocharged Continental TSIO-550-C. My wife, Sara, would love the climate control, and my son would think the side stick is like a cool video game.
However, Santa, if things are as tough for you on the North Pole as they are for those of us in America right now, I can accept a less-expensive offering. Since you’re getting up there in years, you can probably appreciate vintage airplanes. I realize better and more practical airplanes have since been built, but a Piper J-3 Cub is the thing dreams are made of.
Follow along with me on this one. Imagine driving up to the airport, opening that hangar door, and, as the light floods inside, my yellow (is there any other proper color?) baby sits there, door hanging open, ready to go. The propeller has to be wood, of course, because nothing else will do. Please don’t worry about the electrical system because I don’t need it, nor can I afford to maintain it. No, plain old hand-propping is good enough for me.
Just think of the Christmas cheer I’ll bring girls and boys, and their moms and dads, as I fly over their house at 500 feet. They’ll wave and yell “Merry Christmas” while I waggle the wings back, saying hello as only a pilot can.
You see, Santa, this is not about me. No, this is about flying and bringing the family closer together. The Cub is a great airplane to teach my son to fly in, and I know Sara would love the feeling of flying with the door open. Come to think of it, we’ll probably need both airplanes.
Thanks for thinking of me this year. Merry Christmas.
Your friend,
Ian
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