Guest tom sixbey Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 I'm studying for the private pilot exam now. Wont be able to get back into a plane again for a couple years, but MAN am i looking forward to it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 I started to get mine about two years ago, but found out I couldnt really afford it at this time in my life. I did get some logged time in a 152 though.....theres nothing like being blown all over the skys in that little flying soda can. good luck on your exam...my father took his about a year ago, he told me thats one of the thoughest things he has done in a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 27, 2003 Share Posted August 27, 2003 My step-dad is a pilot. We have a 1949 Cessna 170(maybe its a 172?) Taildragger. Its currently in restoration project though. So it hasnt seen the "friendly skys" in like 3 years! We also have an "Areonca(SP?) Deffender" not sure what year that one is? Yeah my step-dad is big into flying. Hes an Aircraft Inspector for United Airlines and hes a big time skydiver! He tried to get me to be a airplane mechanic but that wansnt my thing! Cars are! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I had my private ticket back in '76, and had passed the instrument written, and then gave it all up when I became an Air Traffic Controller (yeah, go figure!). I've not put one single hour under my belt since then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tom sixbey Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 yikes.. - ATC sounds like a stressful job... were you a controller at little rock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Monroe LA, and Tulsa (short stint there). LIT was my next bid, but by that time the PATCO strike took place, and my career took at turn (and so far, for the best). ATC is a young man's game, so I'm sure I would not be real happy with it at this point in my life. I saw some neat stuff, and saw some things that were disturbing, so I wouldn't say I regreted the years I devoted to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Terry, was being an ATC anything like in the movie "Pushing Tin" !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patzky1 Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Hey, I happen to be a pilot. Actually I'm a senior at the University of Illinois studying Aviation Human Factors and it's going quite well for me. I love it. Currently I hold a commercial pilot's certificate with an instrument rating and this semester I'm starting on a flight instruction rating. After that maybe a multi-engine rating to go along with an instrument instructor's rating. Man, though, everything costs money and money is tight. I really envy the GI bill guys sometimes because they barely have to pay anything at all! Go Terry, you ATC guys rock, albeit that you are still human, but we pilots are even MORE human sometimes. That might only make sense to those pilots among us I guess... Does it piss you guys off when we talk like Super Troopers? ex: Arnie Peanut Unic GPS direct to Frank Idaho Jimmy? (Guilty) LOL Pat Did I hear a "niner" in that phone number? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I'm embarrassed to say that I've never seen the movie, but this is true on any movie that I know a lot about the subject, e.g. movies about auto racing, etc. I see so much masculine bovine feces in these movies that I cannot pass it off as artistic license to enjoy the movie. I will say that even though pilots can be a PITA sometimes, they are also our best friends other times. You know, the guys that will give me a tight downwind and base in his little ol' 172 so that I can beat the DC9 on a long final. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z-Gad Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Private pilot, instrument rating and 2 weeks from my commercial multi-engine when the school went belly up...and took all of the student's funds with them (had to pay up front and myself included) . If interested in hearing more about the story... hit the link http://www.tppc.biz/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruxGNZ Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I just have to tell you, my buddy and I went flying the other day. He is a very smart guy that gets caught up in pondering technical things while he should be thinking of what he should do next, I on the other hand think about those thechnical things while accomplishing other tasks quite well. So in other words I don't get my mind stuck (sometimes ) . Well, we went flying quite a bit just him and I because we share the same passion, aircraft. He says that sometimes it can get boring, but I feel it can never get boring! The last time we went up there were at the most 4 aircraft trying to land at the same time and with another two eyes it made spoting the other aircraft a heck of a lot easier. It was so much fun finding these guys and calling them out! "I got a guy on your 6" or "I just saw another guy on the trees on your 2"... it was like calling out a FS video game but real life. We were up for 1.2 hours and considering that we were paying 100/hour for this plane, and we still had make a few touch and go's and then land, we should really land this thing! Well, the touch and go's went well execpt for a Hawk that almost smashed the plane at about 200 feet up while taking our final (seriously, the bird was about 10 feet from hitting the wind shield). On our final to land, I decided to watch how my buddy controlled the aircraft while landing. We came in and about 15 feet off the runway the aircraft "balooned" without my buddy touching the controls and went up another 10 or so feet, so I watched my buddy correct and give her some gas, and try to land again, but this happens again! I then ask why is the plane rising without you giving any input? He told me to shut up and we went to land again (third time in one landing) and the aircraft came down nice and soft like always. The ATC then comes on the horn, calls out my buddies aircraft and says, "3SP, you were only cleared for one landing." Imediately, I bust out laughing. He had no idea why I was laughing... I had to explain to him that the tower was making fun of him. After we came to a full stop, he finally got what happened and replied to the tower, "Tower, that's not very funny", to which there was a reply of, "(TOWER: laughing in the background)" It was the best time I had flying yet. I will be getting my pilots liscense soon, very soon. I need to, it's been a childhood dream of mine. !M! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mas28O Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 The private pilot exam was not that hard, just study your books, But the instrument written was not fun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Retired Naval Aviator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatorx Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Retired Army Aviator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patzky1 Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Hey Phantom and Aviatorx, how many hours would you guys say you have amassed so far? Oh, Mat73gnz, tell your buddy not to add power next time he balloons. Unless you're about to stall it will only make you float even more. Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aviatorx Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 ...over 3000 hrs in helicopters (Master Army Aviator) ~1200 in airplanes of various types - all over a 25 year period, and some of that time is as a commercial pilot in an air taxi/aerial photo/part 135 operation. Phantom's experience would be radically different than mine - he flew 'em high and fast (I'm assuming F-4's?)..... nearly all my helicopter time is as a Cav pilot between the trees (AH-1/OH-6/UH-1) and forms the bulk of my experience. Unfortunately, commercial piloting bores me by comparison..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I love helicopters! I'd love to learn to fly one. But to learn is a little too much $$$$ for my blood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denny411 Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I`ve been wanting to get my "private licence" also. It`s something I`ve been thinking about for a few years now. That will have to go on hold for now since we have another baby girl on the way. I guess I should concentrate my extra funds to finishing my current projects before I take on another costly one. But, Someday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tom sixbey Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 hey 73GNZ - patzky's right - your buddy came in too hot and bounced off of the ground effect. - it happens a lot for people transitioning over to the 172 from a 152... It can be dangerous too - i've seen people stall on the rebound during a landing such as this - at Olive branch a few months back we had to write off a 172 for this very thing.. WOW - i had no idea there were so many pilots on this forum... - As soon as i finish my car, i'm getting back into the seat! As for the military - that was my original plan when i was flying as a teenager - that is until i realized that i needed corrective lenses - talk about a let down. I had soloed on my 16th birthday, gotten superior cadet in ROTC and everything - i was ready to go! Now that i'm done with college and getting back into the game, i'm just going to have to be content with civilian flying. If i ever strike it rich i'm going to build a Mk IV Spitfire and have my own private grass runway out in the middle of nowhere... haha YEAH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I've always thought about building the 3/4 scale warbird replicas that use the detroit V8 automotive engines for a powerplant. I've seen a P-51 made from these kits, and they are sweet (did I just say "sweet"?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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