Once Again, Someone Else Wins OUR Airplane. Sigh.

It's the phone call all of us dream of: "You've just won a plane!"

Every year, Phil Boyer, president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), gets to deliver the good news to one lucky pilot as part of AOPA's annual Sweepstakes... and this year, it was Rocky Lee's turn to get the call. That means the retiring US Coast Guard commander from Novato, CA gets the keys to the grand prize in AOPA's Win-A-Six Sweepstakes -- a completely refurbished, one-of-a-kind classic 1967 Piper Cherokee Six.

AOPA says the first words out of Lee's mouth after Boyer broke the news were pretty much what you'd expect.

"No, this is a joke."

It took Boyer several more minutes to convince Commander Lee the call was no joke... and that he was trying to arrange a time to deliver Lee's new airplane.

While the ANN staff is admittedly bummed that WE didn't win the refurbished Cherokee -- a feeling we share with at least 410,000 other people -- we must admit Lee is a deserving choice to win the plane.

Lee (right) is retiring after 20 years in the US Coast Guard, and is type-rated in C-130s and Sikorsky S-61 Sea King helicopters. In all, he has 27 different aircraft in his log books, beginning with the J-3 Cub he learned to fly in when he was 16 years old.

Lee has also instilled that love of aviation in his children. His daughter earned her private pilot certificate at 18, while he and his sons are already trying to figure out where to take the Sweepstakes Six on their first cross-country. Throughout his phone call with Boyer, Lee just kept chuckling at the thought of winning the grand prize in the AOPA Sweepstakes, at one point saying, "That is the best thing, I swear, next to being married and having kids!"

AOPA spent all of 2006 updating, upgrading, overhauling, and refurbishing the Sweepstakes Six.

The process began at Ultimate Engines of Mena, AR where the 260 horsepower engine was overhauled and rebuilt to better-than-new standards using cylinders and cylinder assemblies from Engine Components, Inc., of San Antonio, TX. Coupled with speed modifications from LoPresti Speed Merchants of Vero Beach, FL -- including a new cowl and "Speed Spats" wheelpants -- and a single-piece windshield from LP Aero Plastics of Jeannette, PA, the overhauled engine makes this one of the fasted fixed gear Sixes around.

While a stock Cherokee Six with a 260 horsepower engine would do about 159 mph (138 knots), the Win-A-Six grand prize will turn an impressive 174 mph (152 knots).

"This year's Sweepstakes grand prize is the product of a lot of hard work and generosity by a long list of contributors," said Boyer. "Their efforts help us show members what's possible when upgrading an older aircraft."

Boyer also reminds all who entered this year that AOPA already has an attractive aircraft in the works for 2007.

"To all of the pilots – AOPA member and non-member alike – who entered the Win-A-Six Sweepstakes, thanks," said Boyer. "And good luck this year, when you could win a classic Cessna Cardinal in the 2007 Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes!"

Anyone who joins or renews membership in AOPA during 2007 is automatically entered in the AOPA Catch-A-Cardinal Sweepstakes. Complete rules, including alternate methods of entry, are available at the FMI link below.

FMI: www.aopa.org/sweeps