Are you feeling lucky? Here is a list of airplane raffles I have found for 2015. This list will be updated as new raffles are announced. I am not including sweepstakes type contests just traditional raffles. Good luck!

1940 Air Terminal Museum – 1962 Cessna 172C – $50 – Drawing 7/18/15
Alaska Airmen – PA-18-150 Super Cub – $50 – Drawing 5/3/15
Dakota Territory Air Museum – 1946 J-3 Cub – $50 – Drawing 8/16/15
Pioneer Valley Museum – 1966 Cherokee Six – $100 – Drawing 6/10/15
Wings of Hope – 1972 Cessna 172L – $50 – Drawing 6/30/15

Note: I am not affiliated with any of these organizations. It is your job to determine the legitimacy of each raffle. 

I am not a scientist but I am pretty sure this year was shorter than all previous years. Probably by about a few months. It certainly flew by for me. Overall my hours were down but it sure wasn’t from a lack of trying. I feel like I had the worst luck of bad weather and maintenance issues, but it goes with the territory. At one point I started keeping a log of canceled flights but after 6 or 7 entries it got way too depressing! All in all it was definitely a memorable year aloft. Here a few of the highlights.

• 21.4 Total Hours – Down from last year again!
• Proposed While Flying
• Flew a P-51 Mustang!
• First Glider Flight

Is it that time of the year already? Like every other pilot I wish I flew more than I did but I had a great year overall. My non-flying adventures certainly added up to a year well lived. It seemed like this year the planes were down for extended periods throughout the year. Throw in some lousy northeast weather and the weekends quickly drifted away. I am happy that I did get to take two great day long trips with my girlfriend. There weren’t as many firsts as 2012 but I did get to take my older sister up for the first time. It was just a lap around the pattern but something I have been wanting to do for some time.

• I flew 28 hours. Down 10 hours from 2012.
• Took my older sister up for the first time
• Visited Ocean City, Maryland
• Finally went to Block Island, Rhode Island

I already know there will be at least one first for 2014. This Christmas my girlfriend conspired with my parents to surprise me with a gift that is a major bucket list item for any aviator. I will be flying a P-51 Mustang! Exact time and place are still to be determined but you can bet I will be blogging about it. To say I was surprised with this gift is an understatement. It’s something I never thought I would do until I was in my 50’s and was lucky enough to have money burning a hole in my pocket. Let’s just say she is a definitely a keeper and I have the best parents a guy could ask for.

2014 is looking very promising!