Today we had an "Aw Sh!t" with the Cherokee. Bloke and Rodney flew it over to Baytown for a fuel fill up. When they got back we headed out to lunch then came back so I could conduct a BFR with Rodney. We got all set and Rodney pushed the starter button. Nothing happened. The starter solenoid worked but the starter didn't. Rodney didn't pass his BFR because he broke the airplane. We checked everything and came to the conclusion that the starter went TU. So we had to pull it. Unfortunately, you have to remove the prop and the nose bowl to get at it. So off it went to the shop for a rebuild. As long as we had the thing opened up, we did an oil change as well. I have always said you need two airplanes, one to fly and one to fix. Ginny thinks that is a little extravagant, but I promised to sell the Cessna....eventually.
BFR - biennial flight review. Every pilot with a US license has to have a flight review every two years. For pilots who keep up their skills, it is no big deal. Rodney just retired from the US Air Force. It is no big deal for him.