Life after the Lottery Ch. 75

"Does that push the hangar back?"

"Oh, no. They will pour the concrete for it this week. All the forms and undergrounds for it are done. The only thing it would affect with the hangar may be the roadway from the pad to the hangar. We will have to wait to see where they place it. It will need to be level from the pad to the hangar so you can roll the helicopter into it. Have you found out anything about the wheels you put on it to move it?"

I laughed a little.

"Oh, yes. What they have is a small platform that you land on. It has small wheels so it can be moved."

"You have to land on it?"

"Seems so. What is your estimate on completing the pad and everything?"

"I talked to the engineers, and they said everything would take about a month after the forms are down before the concrete could be poured."

"A month to pour concrete?"

"It is not just the concrete. The lights have to be surface mounted in the concrete, so that means laying a lot of conduit before the concrete. Before the concrete is poured, he said it would take a week or two to lay down all the electrical conduit before pouring the concrete over it. There are other lights that have to be installed around it and other things. It may take a month to get all that down and inspected. Then we can pour the concrete. Once the concrete has cured, the lights are installed, then it has to be painted with the proper markings. While all that is going on, we have to lay down electrical lines for all the lighting away from the pad. Once it is all finished, it has to be inspected and certified by an FAA inspector."

"That seems like a lot of government horse shit."

"Basically, you are building a runway in uncontrolled air space...by FAA rules. It will even have its own airport number."

"Geez."

"It is going to add some cost..."

"That is not a problem. When it will be ready is the problem."

"You told me you would be taking delivery the first week of August."

"I am planning on flying it in on Sunday the 2nd, but Dawn doesn't know that."

"If the 1st of August is a hard date...it will be ready."

"I'll hold you to it, Carl. We will all be in Hawaii for June. Then we are going to an airshow the last week of July. Dawn doesn't know it, but she will be picking up her helicopter there and flying back on the first weekend in August, which is the first and second."

"Now I have to locate aerial photos."

"They can't use the property plot maps you used to layout the building?"

"No. They want recent photos. They have to look at trees and any other obstacles to overlay on the plot maps."

"I had some aerial photos, but they were only 8 X 10's, and they were about ten years old."

"If we have to have the property flown over and photographed again, that will take forever," Carl said.

"Why don't you call them and ask if they can use the full-size plot maps if we supply them with a bunch of new photos I can take. They will show where the house, trees, and the hangar layout are located."

"That may work. I'll call him today."

"If that will work, let me know as soon as possible. I am sure they need the same for Linda. I'll see if I can get a ride on her helicopter and photograph all of the land. I can have the prints in a few days. Just ask him how big they want them."

"I hope that will work. Let me show you some other things the engineers suggested."

Carl went to his desk and grabbed a book, and set it down on the table.

"There are some new cool things in here," he said.

We went through the book for about an hour. It had all the different types of lights and other accessories, but one of the cool things the engineers had suggested was a device that turned on the lights of the helipad at night. They could be turned on by the pilot with the radio. I thought that was cool, along with some other things.

"I think those will be great, Carl. Tell the engineer to design it with everything it needs as if he was building it for himself with an unlimited budget."

"That may not be a good idea..." Carl said and laughed.

"Would you ask them about a design for a small helipad that could be built in North Carolina on the reservation? Similar lights and controls for night landing. It is only for occasional use."

"I'll ask about it."

"I was wondering, can the lights and controls be solar powered? That would be a good fit for the one on the reservation. It should be simpler since the helicopter is not stationed there, but something safe and useful. Fencing around it would be good too. Also asked if they know contractors in that area."

"I will do that."

We went over the plans for the interior and exterior of the hangar one more time. He had already ordered the fabrication of the steel. Now he could order the exterior materials.

"Carl, how are you going to insulate it?"

"That's up to you. Do you want finished interior walls?"

"I don't guess they need to be finished."

"Then let's use closed-cell spray foam on the walls and ceiling."

"Can you get that done in time?

"Yes. I had scheduled time for insulation since you wanted it heated."

"Great. Go ahead and plan for the fuel tank also. About 3,500 gallons at most."

"Okay. While we are talking about tanks, the only way to heat a building this big is with gas. Either natural or propane. You know natural gas doesn't run out there because you use propane to heat and cook. I would suggest you bury another large propane tank because you don't want to draw from the one for the house."

"Linda mentioned she was burying a large propane tank."

"Two, actually."

"How big does it need to be?" I asked.

"Let me do an energy calculation. For the weather here, probably 1,500 gallons...maybe 2,000. It can be expensive keeping a building like this heated."

"Then make sure it is well insulated, Carl."

"I will."

"Carl, if you need anything else, call me."

"I'll get right on all of this. I am going to be up against a deadline."

"Just tell your crew that it has to be finished by August 1st because you have another project. I am sure my wife will be nosing around."

"Will do."

"Oh, have you got a mailing tube for the printouts?"

"Yes. Let me get you a couple."

When I left Carl's office, I stopped and picked up the color prints of Dawn, then headed to my next stop. I drove across town to the artist I had been talking to on the phone and emailing. I had the photos of Dawn and some preliminary sketches ready. I went into her small studio, and she was sitting at a drawing board.

"Crystal?"

"Yes?"

"James Smith. We talked on the phone."

"Oh, yes."

"I have the blueprints for the helicopter."

"Oh, good."

She took them and rolled them out.

"I have designed a few tour buses and some race cars, but this will be my first helicopter."

We stood, and I gave her the photos of Dawn and sketches of my ideas.

"Your wife is beautiful."

"Yes, she is. As I told you, she is a Cherokee Medicine woman, and this will be her helicopter. I would like an excellent portrait of her on the back part of the helicopter where there is room...on both sides."

"If they can paint it, I can draw it for them."

"They better be able to do it. My wife's full name is Beautiful Morning Dawn Ahyoka. Ahyoka means She Brings Happiness. I want the body of the helicopter to be a morning sunrise...as best as you can with the space. I want the sun coming up over rolling mountains, like in North Carolina."

"Like the Smokey Mountains?"

"Yes."

"What a beautiful name."

"She goes by Dawn. I would like her name on it too. The only restriction I was given is that the main section of the tail boom should be a solid color. The aircraft number has to go there."

"Do you have the number yet?"

"I am working on that. It will probably be 6 characters."

"Okay. Why don't you let me play with this some."

"Okay. When you have done a bus, how long did it take to paint it?"

"A really custom design like this, probably a few weeks."

"I'll plan on giving them a month. Can you have a final design by end of May?"

"Oh, sure. Sooner if you see one you like. I'll sketch out a few, and you can come and look at them. Once we have what you want, I will paint it on one of those large blueprints."

"Great! This is a big surprise for my wife."

"How will you get it painted without her knowing about it?"

"She doesn't have the helicopter yet. She is still working on her license. She thinks it will be next year before it is delivered, but I have a surprise for her in August."

"She'll love that. Let me just have a free hand with this and see what I can come up with. I love these Eagle feathers in her hair."

"Did you know that only Native Americans can possess Bald Eagle feathers legally?"

"I didn't know that."

"They are very sacred to them."

"Hmmm. I'll give you a call soon."

"Thanks, Crystal. Can I look around?"

"Sure."

I walked around her studio and looked at some amazing artwork. She had come highly recommended.

"Crystal?"

"Yes?"

"One question. If they don't think they can do her portrait...could you?"

"I could. A portrait like that is usually airbrushed. I'll make a full-size copy of the artwork for her portrait. I think a good artist can do it."

"If they can't, would you be available to do it?"

"I guess. It would take me a few days to do both sides. Where will the helicopter be at?"

"I don't know yet. If I need to, can I hire you for the week?"

"If you can afford me!"

"I can afford you. I'll pay for all the travel and everything too."

"Mr. Smith? What does a helicopter like this cost?"

"If I tell you, are you going to hit me hard for your services?"

"No, I was just curious."

"3 million or so."

"Wow...Then she will have a design worthy of a $3,000,000 helicopter!"

"Crystal, I have a feeling that this helicopter is going to get a lot of press coverage, even worldwide. The finished helicopter and paint job will be on display at a huge airshow at the end of July. That is where we are picking it up, but she doesn't know that. The company that manufactures it is already planning a media blitz about her taking delivery."

"Hey, I may get into a new line of work!"

"You may!"

"Oh. Which side does the pilot sit on?"

"Right side."

*****

I finally left and headed back to the house. I saw the Escalade in front of the house. I parked and went on into the house.

"Hey, honey," Dawn said.

"Hey. Did you finish at school?"

"Yes! They approved my outline and my proposed research method!"

"That is half the battle, honey."

"I am so happy...where were you?"

"Dealing with paperwork for the helicopter. Carl needed to talk to me. There are new regulations on building a helipad if the aircraft is stationed here. Eurocopter emailed me the blueprint files for him, and he printed them out so he could see the size."

"Big problems?"

"No, it will just be bigger and has to have a fence around it for safety. Some other government BS. He said they would have it finished by August. The engineers need some aerial photos. He is going call today and ask if they can use some I take ASAP for Linda and us."

"What about the hangar?"

"They will pour the concrete this week. We finalized the interior and exterior so he can order all that."

Dawn went back to studying. Samantha had her head buried in an FAA book. When I went into my study, I sent an email to one of the contacts in Germany for the helicopter and asked him about getting a US aircraft ID. I also asked him if I could choose it. After that, I took care of a few things while Dawn was busy.

"What's up?" Amy asked as she came in and sat down.

"I went to see an artist about the custom paint design. Look at these photos."

I pulled out the 8 X 10's of Dawn.

"Oh, these look good."

"What do you think about having that image painted on the helicopter?"

"If they can do it, that would be cool."

"That is what I am planning. I thought about putting that on each side."

"That would be special. Will it have the paint job on it when we go to the airshow?"

"That is the plan."

"Dawn will be surprised."

I took the photos and put them back in the envelope and put them in my desk. I talked to Amy for a while, with Dawn and Samantha studying.

Samantha and Dawn studied all evening. They tried several times to get me to join them, but I left them studying.

*****

I spent Tuesday morning down where they were building the hangar, watching them finish putting the forms down. They all seemed to know what they were doing and were working hard. I was standing and watching how they set everything up.

"Are they doing it right?" I heard Dawn say.

"I hope so."

Dawn put her arm around my waist and held me as we watched.

"We need to finish with Carl on how you want the outside to look," I said.

"I thought we did?"

"Look over the plans one more time and let me know. I have to talk to him anyway."

We watched a while longer, then walked back to the house.

"I need to work on my research. I want you to study today before you get sidetracked," Dawn said.

"I will..."

"I am going to sit in the den and work so I can make sure you do."

We settled in the den. Dawn worked on her computer while I studied FAA regulations. Amy came in about 2:00 and sat with us.

"Where is your sister?" Dawn asked.

"Library."

Amy opened up her computer and worked.

Around 3:30, Samantha came in. She sat with me and asked me questions while I studied.

Amy and Samantha started dinner early so they could get ready for their boxing lesson. Dawn and I studied after dinner while they were in the basement.

*****

I checked my email first thing Wednesday morning to see if I had a reply about the aircraft number. I did. He told me that the helicopter currently had a German ID, and that I could apply for a custom number. He attached all the specifications and serial numbers he said I would need. He also added that in the US, the numbers started with "N" then 2 to 4 numbers, and a "C". He included a link to the FAA about them.

I spent about an hour playing with possible ID numbers for the helicopter until I found one I wanted. I sent the attorney that was setting up the corporations for the helicopter ownership an email and asked if he knew how to apply for the number. I told him to make sure he emailed me and didn't call.

Dawn came and went from my study a few times. When she saw me on the FAA website, she must have decided I was studying something.

Later, I heard trucks come up the drive. I went outside, and it was two large concrete trucks. The contractor was telling them where to go. I went down and watched them pour and work concrete for a while.

When Amy and Samantha came in after lunch, Dawn and Samantha worked on their ground school materials. Amy came into my study and sat with me.

"How is this little surprise going?" She asked.

"So far, so good. When the lady designing the paint job has some preliminary designs ready, you go with me to look at them."

"Okay. It sounded like Linda and Rachel are in on the pickup at the airshow."

"They are. Linda really twisted the president of Eurocopter's arm to get the one we are picking up. They had just built one fully loaded with custom everything to show around the US at shows and had no plans to let it go."

"How did Linda get them to part with it?"

"Extortion mostly!" I said and laughed. "I'll tell you some other time. You don't need to know that much. Hey, you are not feeling left out, are you?"

"No! It is just not something I would ever want to do. You three have fun."

My cellphone rang, and I answered. It is was Carl.

"Hey, Carl."

"I talked to the engineers, and they said if you can get the photos and I can get them the big plot maps, they could work from them."

"Great. Will that speed things up some for you?"

"Yes, if you can get the photos quickly."

"I don't think that will be a problem. How big do they need the photos to be?"

"He said if they were 16 X 20 or bigger, they would work great, and black and white is fine. When can you get them done?"

"I'll make a phone call. Maybe I can get them to you Friday."

"Great. Just let me know."

"Bye."

I called Linda next.

"Hey, James."

"Hey, mom. We need something?"

"What?"

"Carl needs some aerial photos so the engineers can layout the plans for the helipads."

"He told me about all the new government bull shit."

"When can I get a ride? Preferably near mid-day."

"Will tomorrow work?"

"Yes! Then I can get Carl prints Friday."

"Great. Just call Jeanine or Stan."

"Will do. Thanks."

"No problem...dad!"

We laughed and hung up.

"One more problem taken care of," I said.

Amy stayed with me for a while before heading upstairs to study. I called Jeanine.

"Hey, Jeanine."

"Hey, James."

"I need a ride tomorrow about mid-day. Linda and I need some updated aerial photos of the property. I just talked to her, and she said to call you."

"What time do you want us there?"

"How about 10:00? Aerial photos are best taken at mid-day."

"We'll be there."

"Great. See you then."

"Bye."

I checked my email. The attorney had emailed me back about the ID number.

'Yes, I can register it. I register Ms. Williams' aircraft. I have all the ownership paperwork finished. I just need serial numbers.

I am sending all the corporation paperwork and bank information to you by messenger tomorrow.'

I sent him an email back.

'I attached all the serial numbers and certificates Eurocopter sent me. I looked on the FAA's website about registering the helicopter. It said I could apply for a vanity number if it was not already assigned. I found one not registered. See if I can get N369CN. They said it had to have a "C," so the "CN" is for Cherokee Nation. Let me know.'

I went back out to the den and sat with Dawn.

"The attorney is sending all the corporate papers over tomorrow for the helicopter. Once it is delivered, he will just list it as an asset for the corporation. The bank accounts are set up too. We will just need to write a big check to deposit."

"Oh, good."

"At least that is taken care of. Now we wait."

"I think Sam will be ready to take her ground school test Saturday," Dawn said.

"Are you serious?"

"She is so damn smart..."

"It may be at least a couple of weeks before I am ready."

"She is pushing so she can get hours during spring break. How about you?"

"I am working on it. I better get my book on Section 61 rules."

I went and got the book of regulations and sat with Dawn and read while she typed.

She finished working on her computer after about an hour.

"Have you looked at any of the books on Instrument Certification?" Dawn asked.

"Not yet."

"That is some serious shit to learn. I was talking to Jeanine about it, and she said the EC 135 had basically the same instruments for IFR that Linda's has."

"The instructor mentioned that there was an EC 135 simulator in Atlanta for instrument training," I reminded Dawn.

"Jeanine said we can learn instrument flying on a big Ranger then cross-train when we get ours. She told me there were more instruments on the 135."

"Can she not locate a 135 in the area?"

"All the loaded 135's are in use by the air ambulance companies. She told me that most others available are not loaded with all the IFR instruments and dual controls. She said that instrument flying would be easier on ours than the Bell Ranger because the 135 had the latest electronics."

"I think that with our trip to Hawaii in June, it will be the end of July before you and I get the VFR certification. Samantha and Amy will be gone for a few weeks in July, then the trip to Wisconsin. I don't think we can start IFR training until August or September," I told Dawn.