pilots in the house!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!!

[IdahoHunter455]

hey was wondering who all are pilots here. I my self want to be a fighter pilot. Here is my plan-
1) attend USAFA (united states air force academy)
2)become a fighter pilot (fighter pilot preferrably but I will fly anything.)
3)retire into commercial after the USAF
4)retire from commercial and own my own little cessna and fly till I die

[fabsroman]

I'm not a pilot, but my best friend is an F-18 pilot and he just recently quit being a test pilot for the Navy. Why not go to the Naval Academy and learn to fly off carriers? Then again, you would have to be on a carrier 6 months out of every 2 years.

My buddy thought about going commercial, but decided that it would be the equivalent of going from professional race car driving to driving a metro bus. He just didn't want to deal with that.

[toxic111]

There are a couple private pilots, couple ex-military pilots on the board.. and at least one student pilot.. ME.. lol

Good luck with what you want to achive.

[Montana Cowboy]

Howdy All
I used to be a pilot, but then the kids and house came along and money went else where. Got my private then commerical license.I love to fly . Seems like every time I get a little money set aside to get back into flying something else comes up. If I couuld just win the lotto! MC

[indyhntr]

I started flying when I was 16 and finished my private license between my junior and senior years of high school. I then went to a junior college for aviation, both flight and maintenance. Got my commercial and instrument at 19, flight instructor and instrument instructor at 20 then added an airframe and powerplant license at 22. You've chosen a very diffacult path so stay focused and work hard. Good luck. Indy

[captain2k_ca]

Originally posted by indyhntr
I started flying when I was 16 and finished my private license between my junior and senior years of high school. I then went to a junior college for aviation, both flight and maintenance. Got my commercial and instrument at 19, flight instructor and instrument instructor at 20 then added an airframe and powerplant license at 22. You've chosen a very diffacult path so stay focused and work hard. Good luck. Indy

Thats alot of $$$ to spend there!! Good luck with yoru career, I am sure it will pay off at the end!!!


I am a private multi-engine pilot. Will get commercial IFR some day when the money allows.

Love it to death.


My wifes cousin flies Citation II's for Sunwest Home out of CYYC. As he says and I quote:

"I just hate it when they make me go to Palm Springs for a week."

Bastard :mad:

:D:D:D Lucky that is!! LOL!!

Flying in the Oldman River Valley.
http://image02.webshots.com/2/3/5/96/46030596CqSRwL_ph.jpg

[indyhntr]

Captain, the money doesn't sound like much today but back in the mid 80's it was a lot.;) When I started I was renting a C-150 for $20.00 hr wet and a whopping $12.00 for the instructor.:eek: As far as it paying off goes I haven't worked in aviation for over 12 years, but I credit my education and the time I spent in aviation for the job I have now, service manager for a major R.V. Manufacturer. While the job itself isn't quite as interesting the $ sure is a whole lot better now:D

[muskrat30]

Yes an old post but not much activity here. I flew off the USS America in the late 1980's & now fly heavy metal around the world out of ORD. Still plugging along, though the world of aviation has been troublesome the last few years.

[toxic111]

It is a very old post, lol it shows me as a student pilot, I passed my checkride over 2 years ago now. I haven't flown any since last May, I hate it when life gets in the way.

One of these days, if we get a nice day, I am going to grab a CFI and get current again.

[captain2k_ca]

I havent flown in a looong time! Wonder if I remember how??

[toxic111]

Like riding a bike, you will remember how, just might be a little wobbly... :D

I know I wouldn't go up with out an instrctor in the right seat just in case.

[Dan Morris]

Younger days....no wife n kids....had single private instrument qualified....
man, I haven't sat left seat in 35/40 years.......
Dan

[Larryjk]

Gave it up when I retired from my job which required me to fly often about 12 years ago. I really miss it occasionally. You never forget how; it just might take a little longer to get it down gracefully. I especially miss flying in the mountains. They say the clouds have a silver lining, but I remember that in Colorado the lining was granite!!!!!!!!!! The mountain turbulence could have you asking yourself what in the heck you were doing there. I used to look for unfortunates who didn't return from flights into the mountains. That will keep your attention level up.

[Dan Morris]

Gave it up when I retired from my job which required me to fly often about 12 years ago. I really miss it occasionally. You never forget how; it just might take a little longer to get it down gracefully. I especially miss flying in the mountains. They say the clouds have a silver lining, but I remember that in Colorado the lining was granite!!!!!!!!!! The mountain turbulence could have you asking yourself what in the heck you were doing there. I used to look for unfortunates who didn't return from flights into the mountains. That will keep your attention level up.

LOL, I shared some single engine time with a guy that was a United Senior Instructor.......he was always saying a prayer to 'The Cloud God'.......CAP in Colorado still has 150+ aircraft they have never located!!!! Even when hunting, I'm still on the lookout for aluminum slivers...... Mountain flying is totally different than the flat lands where I learned!
Dan
:cool:

[Larryjk]

Dan Morris, We did pretty well while I was flying down there (Canon City). I think most of the airplanes we looked for were found, some much later. We would usually get the "call-out" about 10:00 pm and sit down and look at the maps to try to figure out where "they" went wrong. Usually had our Cessna 182 off the ground at daybreak. There were about 6 of us that could get time off to search and we had a 182 stationed there for our use. That was why we always had it in the air when someone was missing. At that time there were still some wreckage that wasn't marked and we would get calls on old wreckage. Some were quite interesting. There is the wreckage of a Super Constellation on the west canyon of Mt. Blanca (east of Alamosa) that requires a full flap, power off pass coming down hill to get close enough to see it. Just ground up aluninum. There are many around the state like that. Many memories!

[Reloader449]

Might as well bump this one again. I fly "on the cheap" in our 26 year old Rutan VariEze homebuilt. Wife and I are the third owners, had it about five years now. Three times to Oshkosh, once to Rough River, Kentucky, Nellis AFB Aviation Nation, Burt Rutan's BD party last year- total of 40 airports in 15 different States in just five years. And three Aileron Rolls.

Maintenance is nearly a full-time job, but we fly it a lot. Been flying it long enough to feel absolutely inseparable.

[captain2k_ca]

Come take me for a ride! I'm telling ya, I havent had the money to fly for MANY years now, and I miss it SOOO bad!!

I need to win a big lottery so I can get a plane of my own :D

[toxic111]

Some air time would be nice here too.. been over a year & a half now...

[muskrat30]

Just as Gramps would say,' the world is going to he** in a handbasket'. That being the case I bought a small plane recently. I sold some land we don't go to & have 2 Sons that at least the older likes to fly. It's a 74 Piper Warrior. I used to own an Cherokee & sold that back in 93. I'll try a picture.

[toxic111]

nice.. I got my private in a Warrior.

[Montana Cowboy]

God how I would love to get behind the stick again. I'm glad though to see that some of you folks have the pesos to do it. With the way things are today everything is expensive. Ya never know things change and one day I may be able to get behind the stick again. MC

[toxic111]

God how I would love to get behind the stick again. I'm glad though to see that some of you folks have the pesos to do it. With the way things are today everything is expensive. Ya never know things change and one day I may be able to get behind the stick again. MC

I know the feeling, this may it will be 2yrs since the last time I logged any time. I keep hoping to get up this year. I have been keeping my medical updated.

[Montana Cowboy]

One thing I would just love to do is be able to sit in an F-86 Sabre. The F-86 has always been my favorite fighter jet. I never could pick a favorite between the P-38 Lightning and the P-51 Mustang. All three are incredible airplanes. MC

[captain2k_ca]

My current boss is an ex F104 Starfighter(Widowmaker) Pilot...he was in Europe during the cold war and has some amazing stories.

Thats a Beaut of a Cherokee Muskrat! How many hours have you logged in that so far? They are a bit of a handful to land :D

I have quite a few hours in a Cherokee :) Mind me asking what you paid for her?

[Larryjk]

The only Cherokee I have flown is the Cherokee Six. Why is the Muskrat a handful to land? I flew a Mooney Super21 a little and the low wing seemed to float you forever unless you dumped flaps as soon as the mains touched. I don't remember that the Cherokee Six floated like that. A Beechcraft Bonanza sure didn't float. In the picture the Cherokee seems to be higher that the Mooney. What am I not taking into consideration?

[captain2k_ca]

The Cherokee 140 has the "Hershey Bar" wing...she can come down a might fast if you arent careful ;)

[Larryjk]

If the Cherokee 140 had a high sink rate, it would be because it is related to the Piper Tri-Pacer. When you pulled power on that one you better have a runway handy. Good, honest airplane, but a high sink rate power off.

[captain2k_ca]

Worst Piper I flew is a Senca I. That thing is extremely nose heavy, and you pull power it comes down like a meteor!

At max gross rate, on a warm day, 1 engine out would produce a negative climb rate. LoL

Made for some interesting engine failure scenarios!!

[muskrat30]

Just checking in again. I paid $38,000 for the 74 Warrior, 2780 TT & 365 on a Millenium overhaul. Of course a guy could pay less & more for a similar plane, it all comes down to specifics. I sold some land in MI I don't go to, still have another camp property in a partnership. I took that land $$ & sunk it into this plane, no loans anywhere. Like I may of said above, the main reason is to fly with the boys. I used to own a Cherokee 140 but sold it back in the early 90's. This week coming up is Spring break & I will be flying at least a few times.

I have some time off in June. I was thinking about flying out West for some 'dogtown' action. I went twice before near Murdo, SD. I've been eyeing Sheridan, WY & then rent a vehicle & hook up with a local outfitter. Anyone have any other ideas? How about trade a little flying for some time at your private dogtown?

Yes I debated the plane idea much before the purchase. At least I don't have a high $$ SUV on my want list.

[skeet]

Well y'all talk about chopping power. and high sink rates. Heck I had a Brick Coupe. It didn't have much power and when ya cut it it was time to be on the ground. But seriously..it was a 41 Ercoupe. 75 HP no starter no batteries radio ran off a wind generator. Ceconite wings metal otherwise..Serial Number 12. The darn thing did 110 true on 3 1/2 gals an hour....and even though it had no rudder pedals it was a very maneuverable plane and was a fun plane to fly..the neatest was an ol Taylorcraft we used to go to the beach at Ocean City Md and fly just off the beach and check out the girls..especially down on Assateague..Gals did a lot of topless down there.. Ummmm long ago..far far away. You could actually cut the power into the wind and actually go backwards on a windy day.

[Larryjk]

skeet, I had a much newer Ercoupe. It had electric start, radio's (coffee grinder, whistle stop tuning), but still 75 hp. Absolutely fun machine without peddles. Pull it up to try to stall (power on) and it felt like ten gremlins were out there hitting on the wings with ball peen hammers while p factor was pulling you around in a circle to the left. I learned a lot about aerodynamics in that little guy. Nothing like sliding the hood to the right and sitting there with your arm out the side on a ot summer day. No flaps either. You just had to hold the nose up until you created a high rate of sink. Then lower the nose to get flying speed back. Fun - no sh--.

[skeet]

Hey Larry.. I actually got mine to stall one day..well almost. It was a neat plane. You really couldn't fly it much less than 60 or so..but as you said..open the canopy and sit in the sun..It did get a bit loud at cruising though. No rudder pedals was kinda strange.. I also had a Cessna 170B..a really fun plane to fly..no remorse on landings though. But heck..the Helio Couriers we flew would ground loop in a hurry if you weren't careful