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    27Aug, 2016
    I Am The Product of Blood, Sweat, and 5606.

    When I was a little girl, my father brought me to the airport on a daily basis. I can’t recall a time that I wasn’t at the airport (other than ballet lessons.)  Before I was 12 or 13 I didn’t mind it much, in fact, I really enjoyed being at the airport.  But after I hit the teenage years, my interest faded because all my friends were going to the beach while I was performing annuals and 100 hours at the airport.  I never thought that I would choose aviation as my career path, so I didn’t seem too interested like I did as a child.  It was enjoyable to go flying and I was very good at wrenching but something was missing.  Was I burnt out?  Could a child get burned out on airplanes? 

    LittleRachel

    Let’s fast forward years later.  I was using my entrepreneurial spirit to make money in aviation at a young age.  I was selling airplane parts on the internet to pay for my truck/dirt bike fetish and saving money for college.  I then would hire a friend to help wash and wax airplanes at the airport.  [I’m not going to say the bikini’s didn’t have anything to do with our success!]  But, I was so familiar with airplanes and aviation that it was hard to stay away from it.  There was a point in my life that I moved to North Carolina and suddenly realized the impact that aviation had on my life.  I lasted 6 months and ran back to Florida.

    Now that I have an aviation business of my own, I never thought that my childhood of blood, sweat, and 5606 would come in handy.  I never realized the impact that my father, grandfather, and the friends at the airport had on my life.  My father always pushed me to be the best I could possibly be (and still does it to this day.)  As an adult, I see how important it is to have the young spirits of aviation around.  Yes, this younger generation is different.  Yes, they can come off as annoying or under foot because of their lack of experience.  You can’t expect them to know everything coming into the gate.  This youth is going to be the SOLE reason why aviation will stay alive for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

    My point is, you don’t have to be born into aviation like I was. In fact,

     as an aviator, it is our DUTY to nurture those who show interest.  

    Feed their interest and drag them to the airport.  Tell them it’s not as scary as it looks. Tell them it’s okay to get dirty.  They will achieve a sense of accomplishment.  This accomplishment is the same psychological feeling (the release of dopamine) they get when they find that Pokemon or win that next level on their video game.  The best part about all this?  They will be outside and involved in something bigger than they could ever imagine.  This is why I can’t tell a kid he can’t come hang out at Fast Aviation.  This is why my father dragged me to the airport instead of allowing me to go to the beach during spring break (which I can promise you I would be up to no good.)  I always wondered why the Cessna 182’s annual fell on this week.  This is why you should bring your friend’s kid out flying.  Grab your nephew or niece.  Show up to one of those early pancake breakfast’s that fly kids around on a Saturday.  You will be glad you did because there won’t be a need for all these mechanics, fbo’s, or airports if we don’t have people who want to fly airplanes.  

    20Apr, 2016
    Why the aviation industry is in a downward spiral.

    What am I going to do with all these aircraft parts lying around?

     Where do you sell airplane parts?

     Where do you buy airplane parts? 

    What is this worth?

    By Rachel Payne, Owner of Fast Aviation

    These are the commonly asked question I get as an aircraft salvage business owner. In fact, it is the first words out of someone’s mouth almost 75% of the time! (Other than ‘Do you have a sister?’) In all actuality, these are very important questions to be asking in today’s aviation industry. Aircraft owners and mechanics need access to affordable parts because prices from the manufacturer are through the roof!

    Don’t believe me?

    For you know what’s and giggles let’s see how much a Cessna 150 glove box door (PN 0413546-14-532) is.

    Cessna: $1,550

    Hangarswap.com: $350 for new old stock, in the bag. Or you can go for a nice, used one for around $35-$50 (depending on condition.)

    At $1500, that glove box door is 1/10th of how much you can purchase a flying Cessna 150, in annual, on today’s market. (If not cheaper!)

    Go ahead, Google it.

    My question to you is: How is aviation going to survive if parts are astronomically through the roof? I’ll tell you what, if Cessna was my only source, you can bet your bottom dollar I would be rocking out at 2500’ without a glove box door!

    There are multiple ways to sell airplane parts on the internet or via paper ads but what I have learned over the past 10 years is the industry needs something different. It needs to be streamlined and simple. It needs something that caters to JUST aircraft parts and understands the industry standard. Here are some things that we DON’T need:

    • Our money should never be held!
    • Our seller store should never be “frozen” or limited under ridiculous terms, set by people who don’t understand the aviation industry.
    • The site shouldn’t be bogged down with hundreds of ads-to the point in which we can’t even see what we’re searching for.
    • Most importantly, the fee’s shouldn’t cost more than the part!
    • Newspaper style ad’s are not helping our environment! The internet is paperless!
    • It shouldn’t take quantum physics to search for a part.

    If you agree with the above mentioned points, then it’s about time you looked at new avenues to sell or buy your parts.  I get it, you’re use to using the same systems that have been in place for the past decade. But as you and I both know, times change and we must move with them if we want to survive. I encourage you to join Hangar Swap today and at least TRY it out. What do you have to lose? It’s so simple, the most amount of time you’ll lose is minimal compared to the amount of time you haven’t spent searching or selling parts!

    My last point, Hangar Swap ended last year with 4 million hits. This year, we ended February with 2 million hits! The numbers keep rising and it’s about time you jumped on the bandwagon. So fasten your harness and push in that mixture, we’re going flying!