Brian
Administrator
This is the place for random thoughts about aviation.
Anything Aviation
- Thread starter Brian
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Troy Hamon
Private Pilot
I always thought it was a shame that people didn’t fly their airplanes more. But now, after nearly a decade flying as a job, I am just glad my son flies my airplane because I fly so much at work I don’t have much time or energy left for flying on my time off. At least not in the summer.
GingerJ1
In the Clouds
I checked the forecast last night (umm, early this morning 
) before going to bed, to see whether flying would be an option this morning. The TAF called for gusty winds from about 0900, I believe, so I pretty much ruled out flying.
Of course the winds were calm when I got up around 0830; OTOH, I went to bed so late that I didn't have enough sleep to fly. So it goes.
Which brings me to another reflection I've had lately: During the glorious days of endless-seeming summer here, it's nearly always good weather for flying in the morning, so I sometimes just nope out for no particular reason, because I can always do it tomorrow, and still make my 100 hours of flying for the year. But I always seem to forget that the gusty-wind season will come eventually and my flying chances will drop considerably.
) before going to bed, to see whether flying would be an option this morning. The TAF called for gusty winds from about 0900, I believe, so I pretty much ruled out flying.Of course the winds were calm when I got up around 0830; OTOH, I went to bed so late that I didn't have enough sleep to fly. So it goes.
Which brings me to another reflection I've had lately: During the glorious days of endless-seeming summer here, it's nearly always good weather for flying in the morning, so I sometimes just nope out for no particular reason, because I can always do it tomorrow, and still make my 100 hours of flying for the year. But I always seem to forget that the gusty-wind season will come eventually and my flying chances will drop considerably.
Aeromot
Superior Pilot
BoldMethod.com has a daily aviation newsletter that usually includes a quiz. BananAppeal and I take these quizzes every day and mail or text the results to each other. The higher scorer gets to mock the other. I got 100% on today's quiz:
www.boldmethod.com
Quiz: 6 Questions To See How Much You Know About Stalls
Quit stalling and take this quiz!
www.boldmethod.com
95- 95- 98 for high temps this weekend in Minnesota.
The new hangar owner, on our row, has rented 2 stalls and is now cleaning the 3rd one out. I will try and post a few pictures of what he finds.
He purchased the hangar for a dollar, has two new bifold doors and a concrete apron completed.
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The new hangar owner, on our row, has rented 2 stalls and is now cleaning the 3rd one out. I will try and post a few pictures of what he finds.
He purchased the hangar for a dollar, has two new bifold doors and a concrete apron completed.
.
Katzenjammer
Soloed!!
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2019
- Messages
- 192
I often meet with a group of pilots with a varied presence in aviation. All are or were frequent fliers. Some still fly big iron. Some are only small planes. A few are aerial applicators. One was a fire bosss.
It's interesting to note how many enjoy flying, but almost never fly "for fun". Those who are working steady may not have the time or energy to fly after their trip.
When I was flying charter, I still flew "for fun". Small planes and glidrers.
What is your experience in dealing with those who never or seldom fly "for fun?" Do you have a lot of interaction with them? Do they have similar aviation interests such that you can sit down and have a relaxing chat with them?
It's interesting to note how many enjoy flying, but almost never fly "for fun". Those who are working steady may not have the time or energy to fly after their trip.
When I was flying charter, I still flew "for fun". Small planes and glidrers.
What is your experience in dealing with those who never or seldom fly "for fun?" Do you have a lot of interaction with them? Do they have similar aviation interests such that you can sit down and have a relaxing chat with them?
I have a neighbor that flew for Delta. He's in his 60s, so reached the forced retirement age. His experience of aviation is so different from mine -- for decades his only flying has been long haul, flying transatlantic a few times a month, and never in a plane smaller than a 767. Last I spoke to him, he said maybe he'd try going for a flight in a 172 or something, but I am skeptical.
Aeromot
Superior Pilot
There are a few people living here at the airport who never fly solo any more because they have aged out or lost medicals, but they still love aviation and will go flying with someone they trust in an airplane they like. And they are always here for First Sunday Open House with their hangars open and extra seats, so they can talk flying with anyone who wanders by.
Brian
Administrator
My experience is the opposite: I've never flown commercially and most of my pilot friends are strictly GA. However, 10 or 12 years ago, I go to the airport really regularly just to practice landings, maneuvers, etc. As the years have gone by, I find that a much higher percentage of my flights are flights to somewhere rather than just an hour or two in the pattern.
Brian
Administrator
When I was working on my PPL and my CFI was young and hungry, he had a "student" pilot who was around 95 years old. He had never had a license but was a pretty good pilot and loved to fly. So once every week or two, off they'd go for an hour or two. I think both of them enjoyed the experience a great deal.
BananAppeal
In the Clouds
And I got 100%BoldMethod.com has a daily aviation newsletter that usually includes a quiz. BananAppeal and I take these quizzes every day and mail or text the results to each other. The higher scorer gets to mock the other. I got 100% on today's quiz:
Quiz: 6 Questions To See How Much You Know About Stalls
Quit stalling and take this quiz!
My son who lives in Northern Kentucky asked today if there was a reason he was seeing WWII airplanes, I said yes: https://warbirds.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?page_id=4002&club_id=65690&item_id=1963870
MRC01
In the Clouds
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2019
- Messages
- 3,426
I've loved airplanes since I first flew in one at age 5. Accumulated a shelf full of aviation books, built & flew paper airplanes, then later R/C airplanes.
The first time I soloed was the greatest feeling ever. I knew my life would never be the same and I only regretted waiting so long, not learning to fly 20 years earlier. Back then I thought I was too poor but in hindsight I realize when there's a will there's a way.
Every time I walk out to my airplane I tell myself this is the flight that will kill me unless I pay attention. Respect. And if I do pay attention I will gain some new knowledge or skill (however small) from this flight.
Every time the wheels leave the ground I still get that feeling. It hasn't worn off yet and I doubt it ever will.
The first time I soloed was the greatest feeling ever. I knew my life would never be the same and I only regretted waiting so long, not learning to fly 20 years earlier. Back then I thought I was too poor but in hindsight I realize when there's a will there's a way.
Every time I walk out to my airplane I tell myself this is the flight that will kill me unless I pay attention. Respect. And if I do pay attention I will gain some new knowledge or skill (however small) from this flight.
Every time the wheels leave the ground I still get that feeling. It hasn't worn off yet and I doubt it ever will.
BananAppeal
In the Clouds
When I was learning to fly I convinced myself that, although I understood much of what was happening I had no clue how I would ever learn to land the plane. It all seemed to happen so fast.
After many, many, many hours with a very patient instructor, I had an epiphany about landings: it didn’t happen all at once. And ever since, every time I fly, when I am on short final, I smile internally because landing seems like the easiest part of the process.
After many, many, many hours with a very patient instructor, I had an epiphany about landings: it didn’t happen all at once. And ever since, every time I fly, when I am on short final, I smile internally because landing seems like the easiest part of the process.
My dream is to buy a summer house in a far northern airpark where I can live and fly from mid-June to mid-September without suffering the dreadful heat and humidity of Florida summers. But that is something I should have started planning for long before retirement. Our thinking these days is more like selling here and buying there, but then we will have to deal with the dreadful winter cold for an even longer time frame.
We don't have nearly as many airparks up north as you do in Florida. Where would you like to go?
Windsock Village Air Park | Residential Fly-In Community
windsockvillageairpark.com
10 minutes down the road from me. 4000 feet of nice grass. No state taxes or sales tax. My plane is an hour away at KLCI and I would have seriously considered building our new house there but my wife said “ I am not living where every neighborhood get together all they talk about is airplanes. It sounded good to me but then it has my whole life.
I may have posted this story a few years ago, but I think it fits into this new thread. When I was 10 or 11 one of my Christmas presents was a gift certificate for an hour flight at the local county airport - that was my first flight ever. It took some time to arrange, but my father, a cousin, and I did the flight in a 172 that spring. About 6 or 7 years later I earned my PPL flying at that same airport in a 150. Shortly after getting my certificate, I decided to get checked out in the 172 they had for rental - and of course it was the same 172. I looked up the N-number recently and found that it had been sold and exported to Canada in the late 1980s.
Brian
Administrator
I had one of those epiphanies, too. I wonder if most pilots do when learning to land?