I have a somewhat unusual story about a BE-76 that I danced with a few times in my life. N6023E was a late 70s Dutchess that I met one cold winter day in St. Charles MO while doing my Commercial Multi Instrument. It was a cold year back in 2000 - the airplane leaked like a siv - which was the only indication there was fluid in it, in addition to air through the doors which made winter training a fun experience to get through. Still, she flew straight and was very smooth all around - even if she did smell like a barn. She got me through my COMMMEI - and I never thought about her again. Sort of like going out on 2 dates - you get the experience and move on.
Fast forward to 2007. I am living in CA - and the director of ops tells me about a guy who is bringing a Dutchess to put online. I figure - whatever. He then says its coming in from MO. Again, I don't give much thought to it. The next day, she pulls in - and my jaw drops. She followed me! Still smelling the same. Still leaking gas and oil all over the place, with door seals that were not worth a damn.
But as I did a little more looking around - there was a story with this plane that happened long before me. It turns out, she started her life in CA, at my very airport. Then she was sold to the outfit in St Charles MO, and now - got sold back to another guy who brought it back to CA - and she was back in the same parking spot she began her career in.
Life is an interesting circle.
