12/31/2025
âChange is the only thing that stays the sameâ, or something similar, is a common, wise saying.
2025 YEAR-END REVIEW
The following is gonna read like a personal blog, and I donât fault anyone for not taking the time to read it. This is mostly for me.
One year ago today I finally departed Lower Chattahoochee Regional airport (25J) for the last time as a paying tenant. Most folks would think I gladly left, as there isnât much to say about the place. One big hangar, 3000â runway. Abandoned airplanes. Smelly ag operations. But, for me, after 7 years, Iâd gotten really attached to the place. For the type of flying and instruction I provide, it was perfect. Almost no traffic and very rural.
I started this business in 2010, making a job out of a hobby Iâd enjoyed since the late 1980s. My goals were simple. Support recreation airplanes and the folks that own and fly them. No employees. Make my own schedule. More time with the family. I really didnât know where it would lead. While my background was Experimentals and ultralights, at times I found myself turning wrenches on Cessna/Piper/GA/etc occasionally, as well as a few hundred-grand$ plus Light Sports. I still do from time to time, but the lower cost Sport planes are still my comfort zone. Flight instruction finally shucked down to just teaching in the Challenger, which has been great.
Problems? Sure, but not from the sources youâd think. The Feds haven't given me much trouble and have always answered any questions Iâve had. The vast majority of my clients and suppliers have been great to work with. Nope, most of my problems originated with local government. Put simply, the majority of small governments do not care about, nor do they understand, aviation. Especially recreational aviation. While this segment of aviation is basically no different that other types of businesses based on recreation (boating, motorcycling, skiing, etc), folks look at it different. Some think you have to be wealthy to participate. Some think you must be a little âoff your rockerâ to want to do this (these same folks will gladly allow a computer to zoom them around the Atlanta bypass at 90mph, dodging other folks looking at their phones, but Iâm nuts for floating, all alone, 1000â over farm fields at 65mph). The majority just donât care. When people with these attitudes have positions of authority over an airport, it can be disastrous. At best the airport dies a slow death. At worst, the authority panders to one or 2 individuals that the authority feels will give them fewer problems, which may work for a time, but then something changes, and then it starts to fall apart again. Neither scenario is beneficial for the public. And access to those facilities is a right that is supposed to be Federally protected, as it is a âpublic airportâ. Oh well, so much for that.
In a nutshell, thatâs what happened at 25J, and KEUF before that. I thought Iâd miss 25J, but I haven't. Why not? Because I moved to the best spot I ever could have, Dawson Municipal Airport, Dawson Georgia (16J).
Whats different? Management. It is managed by an Authority that actually has aviators on the board. One board member is the president of the local EAA chapter. If there are any issues, either he or Ms. Ann at the office is only a phone call away. So much better than before. And, a private hangar and a contract! And, for less rent than I ever paid at 25J! Itâs been a great move for my students, too, as they have many more lodging and restaurant options. And, itâs still rural. I love having emergency landing options under as as we train, and I believe there are more in the vicinity of 16J.
My only regret is having to drive 50 minutes to get to the Challenger trainer. But, Iâve got something in the works that may may allow me to keep a plane for my personal use closer to home
In short, my first year at Dawson Municipal has been great, and looking forward to being there for years to come.
In other news, N155KL is holding up fine to the training environment. The majority of the maintenance is engine related, as youâd expect. Earlier in the year I suddenly started having oil blown all over the rear fuselage, and found that one cylinder/head bolt had broken. Replacing the bolt and head gasket slowed the leak, but it persisted. My suspicion is that the cylinder base gasket was leaking too, probably a result of running it minus one bolt. I had a replacement engine ready to go, I so I chose to replace instead of repair. New engine is running fine, except for a bad stator coil that had to be replaced. The only reoccurring problem Iâve ever had with Rotax. I also swapped out to the rear âPTOâ starter. So far, itâs great and spins the engine much faster than before. Can you believe the battery is eight years old now? Iâve never had one last so long.
Iâve lost count of how many students I had in 2025; in the dozens for sure. Many thanks to those students for supporting my business, and I hope it was well worth your investment to travel to Dawson Georgia.
The Challenger has been great for transition and Ultralight instruction, but there are several limitations that make it not the best trainer for a License. 2-3 years ago, when MOSAIC started to gain momentum, I explored different options for a trainer for the Sport License. During the summer of 2024, I found a deal on a Cessna 150 couldnât pass up. The plan is to have it ready for Sport training this Spring. (EDIT: the Challenger will continue to be used for Transition and Ultralight instruction).
I would have had it ready sooner, if it wasnât for all the Aerolite/Aero 1000 work I had in 2025. That combination continues to spark interest, and the conversions and Aerolite builds are keeping me really busy. Now days, if Iâm working, its either teaching or something mechanical related to an Aerolite or Challenger.
Speaking of ultralights, the first annual âHodges Ultralight Flyinâ in October was a great success. To be honest, when the wind forecast for those 3 days came into view, us organizers expected a bust. As it turned out, we had more flying than weâd guessed, and a great turnout. We even had 5 of the âShut Up and Fly Guysâ fly in from North Carolina. Overall, it was a great time and laid a perfect foundation for our next flyin a Hodges scheduled for October 1-3, 2026. (All those Phantoms at Hodges lit a fire under Ethan and I to get my old Hurricane in the air again⌠weâll see :-)
Finally, a little rant about those of us that choose to fly these little âpuddle jumpersâ: no matter what label the governments puts on them (Ultralight, Sport) or what derogatory term pilots and others use about them (kites, lawn chairs, etc)... One thing that continues to be reinforced from year to year, as I continue to provide transition training to predominantly GA pilots (who were taught to fly in the conventional trainers: Cessnas, Pipers, etc)... if you can proficiently fly one of these light planes, especially in less than ideal winds⌠hold your head high and let none of these other pilots talk down to you. Every one of my GA transition student learns that it takes a greater level of âstick and rudderâ skills to safely fly one of these things. If that wasnât true, they wouldnât need so much trainng towards the basic stuff; crosswind landings for example. I still hold firm to the belief that the best âsticksâ are those that can fly light airplanes. Rant over.
So, 2025 was fun. Looking forward to interesting things in 2026. Hoping all goes well with you and⌠fly safe :-)
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Mark Murray A&P, CFI
Georgetown, GA 334-232-1688
Murray Aviation Services, LLC. Dealer for Challenger and Aerolite Aircraft
