Dear Senator Inhofe

This appeared in the June 1999 issue of the Falco Builders Letter

Sen. James Inhofe
458 Russell Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Inhofe:

I'd promised a couple of hours ago to send you photos of the Falco aircraft that I am selling, but upon sober thought and the too-slowly growing realization of exactly who you are, I've decided that I can't possibly sell the airplane to you. Not because you're a conservative Republican and I'm a lifelong Democrat but because you're 1/ a high-profile individual, 2/ assumedly a lawyer, and 3/ someone who is interested in letting his children fly the aircraft, perhaps even together.

If this were a certificated production aircraft, I wouldn't hesitate a moment in negotiating with you. But I am the builder, the "manufacturer" of this airplane, and I am the "mechanic" who has maintained, repaired and annualed it as authorized by the FAA repairman's certificate I hold as the airplane's homebuilder. Any inexplicable failure of the airplane's structure or engine would come home to roost on my shoulders.

Over the years, I have built a substantial enough estate for my 15-years-younger wife and our daughter that I daren't risk it. Obviously, I'd be liable even if I sold the airplane to an illiterate plumber, but to consider selling it to a United States senator with a legal background is pushing it.

Nothing personal. I wouldn't have sold it to John Denver either. My apologies for taking the time you expended and calling me and pursuing the Trade-A-Plane ad; at least I get out of it an amusing story to tell at dinner parties.

Stephan Wilkinson
Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

Jim Petty reports that Senator Inhofe also called him and hopes to get a ride with Jim in his Falco soon. Senator Inhofe is a great friend of aviation, and I hope we can see more of him in the Falco world. Alfred Scott