| Author | Message | ||
     Stealthxb |
My S.O. bought me an intro to flight school for Valentines Day. On Saturday I took C1 Eclipse for a spin:  The plane evolved from a glider and is almost completely carbon fiber. I got to take off, do 2 touch-and-go's and land with a lil help.  Got to do a negative g dive and a few posi g turns while in flight. It was amazing. My Grandfather was an Air Force pilot and both my parents were in the airline industry. I was on a commercial flight at two weeks old, so I think I have it in my blood. I would love to attend the school but it is completely unreasonable at the present time. I know most pilots also ride so I wanted to get some feedback from the board. Do we have many pilots around here? | ||
| Sooner |
Hey Stealthxb, I am a pilot, and I love it. I mainly fly cessnas and Pipers, but the new carbon fiber planes are really nice. I want to look into getting a cirrus, because that parachute for the plane, is just too cool. If you go for your General aviation ticket, you should make sure you have at least two days a week to fly, and have the money up front for the whole thing. Ground school and the flight hours. Now days it costs about 5 or 6 thousand dollars for all of it. But, it is money well spent. Flying is like riding was fifty years ago. Not that much traffic, and the feeling of freedom is amazing. | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
I went to Embry-Riddle, but decided not to make it a career. I maintained it as a hobby for awhile, but then kids came along.... I still fly on friends tickets occasionally and still "got it" (if I do say so myself), but my motorcycle is my airplane now..... | ||
| Barker |
I fly RC does that count? | ||
| Stealthxb |
Scott_in_nh... Grandpa has told me you need to spend a minimum of 10 hours in the air per month to really keep it! It counts for something Barker! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Looks a lot like a DA-20. Those are very nice. You qualifying under the new Light Sport Class certification? That is going to get a lot of new pilots into the game and hopefully kick start a whole new resurgence in the GA market. | ||
| Court |
I am a pilot with most (in fact ALL) my hours in Pipers (Tomahawk & Saratoga N38188) and Cessnas, mostly 172RG, with some 152, 182 and 210 hours. My daily flier was a 172RG when I worked for my dad. I haven't flown in years but used to go out ever Sunday and fly for a couple hours in the early morning. My other favorite was to take off about 11:00PM on a summer night and see how many places I could hit before getting home the next morning. There is no great feeling of freedom and tranquility. I agree with the training notes above. . . study, study, study. Piloting is one thing I vowed to never be "fair" at. I missed out on the carbon fiber stuff, but I can't even imagine how cool the new stuff must be. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Getting the Buell was the consolation prize to forgoing my ticket for a while. I still hope to get my pilot's license one day. | ||
| Slaughter |
First solo in February 18, 1968 (age 14, Gliders)  Got to crew for Einar Enevoldson in the first Smirnoff invitational trans-continental sailplane derby - 1972. Pic is of me in his Diamant when we got back to El Mirage the week after the contest ended and he let me fly it that afternoon.  Private SEL Power, commercial and expired CFI gliders. Flying is a great sport but you do have to stay current. About all you can afford in the first year. When you solo, it's kinda cool to just do an hour and come back for touch and goes a few times before heading back to the barn. Cross countries in the quest for the "$100 dollar hamburger" are always a great way to meet pilots - many airports have pretty great greasy spoons and a good crowd of regulars. Instant conversation. Fun stuff | ||
| Sooner |
Wow Court, You are just as mutltifaceted in your hobbies as you are with your Buell info huh? I would love to sit down with you a couple of days and just shoot the breeze sometime. Great conversation is a rare pleasure nowdays. I am also wondering if you got any of my email messages about the chaps. I've been having trouble with my computer, and just wanted to make sure. | ||
| Ridesinnm |
Stealth, I flew one of those for the last couple of years . I really like them. About a year ago my daughter and I flew one to the grand canyon, and then to Phoenix, AZ for her soccer tournament. It was a great weekend. I also fly gliders and one of the things I really liked about the Eclipse was the great visibility, like the gliders have. Brad. | ||
| Cixyx_pilot |
I have commercial licences for helicopters and airplanes. you'll have fun!!! | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I am not a pilot myself, but my old man is a recently retired commercial airline pilot (A330). I have a friend of mine who has a gyrocopter. It has to the best flying contraption I have ever had the pleasure of flying. I can honestly say it is better than a motorcycle. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Former glider pilot, back in the '70's. Did all of my solo work in a Schweitzer 1-26. Last produced in 1981, most of them are still in use as a solo trainers.  I flew mostly at Wurtsboro in the Catskills, with occasional forays into Vermont and the California desert. Wonderful sport, keeping current is an absolute must. | ||
| Blackbelt |
I have always wanted to be a pilot, but never had the time or money to invest, plus for the longest time my eye doctor told me it would be impossible for me to fly... figure that one out. However, my cousin was in the Navy as an aviator for many years, flew A-6, F-18D, and P-3's, he now flies for the US Customs dept looking for drug dealers up and down the cost line. he used to sneak me into his flight sims on base when we would visit him either in Virginia Beach or Kingsville Texas.. FUN TIMES!!! I envy those of you who fly and have your own planes | ||
| Nocompromise |
Sorry to drag this thread from the dead. It's nice to see some other pilots on the forum! I'm just getting back into riding, so I'm reading through the archives trying to catch up on the last 4 years. My bike is currently in pieces (multiple projects), but I'm hoping to have her back together soon after I return from vacation. That Eclipse looks like a lot of fun! I was in the USAF for 7 years flying KC-10s and T-1s, and for the last 1.5 years I've been flying KC-10s in the USAF Reserves. Just got hired by Southwest last month, which is my dream job. I've been working towards it for the last 15 years, and it's been quite a journey. Flying is great, but I enjoy motorcycles even more. Enjoy your flying lessons and take care of that wife - she's a keeper! |
