MY FIRST AIRPLANE was a Grumman Trainer (AA-1B) painted like a World War Ⅱ fighter. I have owned all or part of a few airplanes since then. However, in 1986 I was divorced and planeless, and I decided to look for another airplane. I was thrilled to find a Grumman Lynx (AA-1C) for sale. I bought it and enjoyed flying it around the greater Columbus, Ohio, area. The big difference between the AA-1B and AA-1C was AA-1B had a cruise propeller and the AA-1C had a climb propeller. For some reason, I didn't realize that would affect fuel burn. I had 420 hours under my belt-most in AA-1 and AA-S aircraft, with 75 hours at night. Late in the day on Thanksgiving 1986, a lady I had met at a singles club and I started off in the AA-1C from John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) en route to Bader Field (AIY) in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The weather forecast was for marginal VFR; I was not instrument rated yet, but the trip looked possible. The trip would mean a stop in West Virginia for fuel then on to Atlantic City. The first leg would take us directly across Zanesville Municipal Airport (ZZV).
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