Took my private check ride on my seventeenth birthday. Flew until I went to college. After law school started to fly again for a few years but between work, children and other commitments I regret that I have not flown in quite some time now. Learning to fly as a fearless high school student was a wonderful experience.

I went to Sowell Aviation in Panama City, FL for a one month flight school back in tHe mid 80s, got my ticket, came home, flew a couple times after, never flew again--totally lost interest. Way too many irons in the fire.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Took my private check ride on my seventeenth birthday. Flew until I went to college. After law school started to fly again for a few years but between work, children and other commitments I regret that I have not flown in quite some time now. Learning to fly as a fearless high school student was a wonderful experience.

Mike from what I've seen of the way you handle yourself in a tight spot. You'd make a fantastic pilot. Any interest in getting back in the saddle?

quote:

Originally posted by surestrike:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Took my private check ride on my seventeenth birthday. Flew until I went to college. After law school started to fly again for a few years but between work, children and other commitments I regret that I have not flown in quite some time now. Learning to fly as a fearless high school student was a wonderful experience.

Mike from what I've seen of the way you handle yourself in a tight spot. You'd make a fantastic pilot. Any interest in getting back in the saddle?

Thanks. When I went back some number of years after I got out of law school I noticed that something had changed. When I was young . . . and immortal in my view . . . I was much more relaxed when flying. Not careless mind you, just relaxed. When I went back I had a hard time recapturing that feeling. I think it was probably a function of a variety of things all working together in my case, more maturity, a greater sense of familial obligations and lack of a sense of expertise/experience. Certainly the latter could be overcome with time in the saddle, the more I flew undoubtedly the more comfortable I would be flying but I just never got to that point. Then the medical lapses, you are no longer current, etc. . . . and you wake up one day and realize that it has been decades since you flew. I think that I have reached that point in flying where I will just enjoy the memories. Like doing my solo cross country and landing at the wrong airport . . .

It would be interesting to know how many pilots that fly for some period of time and then have an extended break from flying actually go back to flying. My guess would be that the percentage is actually quite small.

Mike

I understand where you are coming from brother.

I would have to agree with you that most folks don't come back after a long absence form the cockpit. The guys who usually come back are the guys who have an extreme desire to fly but have been prevented in some way like a medical or financial issues. But they were "physically' held back from flying they didn't quit by choice.

Back when I was a full time CFI I had a guy who had flown F-9F Panthers in Korea. He got out of the Navy and got married got a job, kids, bills, ETC ETC. He came back to flying 30+ years later and bought an airplane and flew for years afterwards. But he was the exception.

Flying is one of those things that if you don't do it frequently you'll becomes rusty and dangerous in a big hurry.

Private pilot with 2450 in the logs. Own a 170A-can't seem to get myself to quit flying or sell the plane. Like Surestrike said, infrequent flying is not good. Guess I will have to start flying more.

Tom

Where is Todd Williams on this thread??!!

Cheers,

Well, I guess I didn't tell my story-

Soloed at 16, Private at 17, college and AFROTC, and into the AF Reserves for 6 years (6mos active)as Command Post Controller in MAC. Lots of"joy" in T-33, C-124, C-141, C-130, T39 training and maintenance hops.
Commercial and Instrument and joined a club with 5 aircraft- Super Cub, Cessna 172, 182,206 and 180 on Floats...that lasted for 25 years, great fun flying in the Northwest, BC and Alaska.
My corporate career was with a Fortune 100 company with a small Air Force, I knew the pilots and Corp Manager from my college job at the FBO where they based and I flew with them regularly.....so after joining I had lots of fun flying co-pilot, spelling off Corp pilots in the King Air 90, Saberliner, later Gulfstream II until insurance regs got so tough that it required only employees hired as Pilots-only to be in the cockpit seats. That ended the fun, but as a good customer I spent many hours later in our Citation III's, Falcon 2000, and just before I retired Falcon 50....as you might imagine lots of jump seat time unless the boss was working us hard!!
After I retired from my Corp job, for fun I went through the Airline Flight Dispatcher program...challenging, ATP written and a 9 hour FAA face to face practical...while Examiner was trying to distract me....eating messy BBQ chicken on the table while throwing questions, wandering in and out while was flight planning etc...he congratulated me on being one of the best he had tested...and the OLDEST!! I had the great idea of Airline employment, totally out of any career path, just for flying benefits...both employee to Africa, etc, and Dispatchers must fly the routes in the cockpit...so a win win- then 9-11 hit and nothing has been the same since...
I still keep Instrument currency in the Sims and have been flying LSA's...if we stay home long enough maybe buy a Carbon Cub on Floats for fun??...and finish my Rotorwing and MEI ratings that have been on hold for a year now!!
I still have a goal of finishing the ATP and getting some Jet-Type rating ....just for fun, to old to exercise it...and that's just what flying has been all about- FUN, FUN, FUN!!
Funny thing now for most ATP and Jet-Types, it's all done in the Sims...you don't get to fly, BUMMER!!
Cheers,

I am a 737 Captain for United in Denver. 30,000 hours plus, started flying when I was very young. I haven't flown any small aircraft for several years, looking at a Maule M9. Need to get a hangar built on my place first though.
I have been flying the 737 for 15 years and Boeings going on 25, what a fantastic airplane. I like the new generation models but my favorite were the old 200's.

I flew an M9. Great plane, but I could not tell the difference between it and my MX-7.

You will enjoy it!

16,0000+ hours. Currently flying 767 International out of DFW. Looking to go to 777 as our flying on the 767 winds down. Flying background is civilian, started out flight instructing, then to charter and freight, followed by commuters and the majors. I might one day check out as a captain, but we have had stagnation for so long. Right now I am having too much fun flying international to care about flying domestic as a captain.

quote:

Originally posted by JDA-CO:
I flew an M9. Great plane, but I could not tell the difference between it and my MX-7.

You will enjoy it!

Hey, thanks for the info! Maybe when I get closer to pulling the trigger on a deal I can pick your brain about the details?

For sure - I'd be happy to take you up. Went and did some T&G's this morning. First time I've flown in almost 3 months!!!

Maules are great airplanes!

I have a private, SEL, SES and have had a 1950 Aeronca 7-EC (90 hp champ)since about 1980. I used to fly to a couple places in Northwest Ontario, but since 9/11, it is much easier and usually faster to drive and get flown in by a local air taxi. Some winters it is on skis, not this year. Way too much early snow. Our lakes are loaded with slush, even the snowmobliers are troubled.

As far as flying a taildragger, the Champ, a Citabria and the Stearman I have time in fly like a dream. It is the landing that can get your attention if there are gusting crosswinds. I was taught to never land or take off with more cross wind than felt right. More than once I have landed on a short crossing taxiway/tarmac at airports without a cross wind runway. That always causes some comments from the locals or FBO. I tell them I am just not good enough to handle the crosswind and do not want to wreck my airplane. I leave into the wind as well. With reasonable density altitude and short field technique I can usually be in the air in less than 150 feet, sometimes much less. I wish I had recorded some of the unicom comments I have heard after I announce my departure across the active. Safe is safe, and the FAA examiner I do biannuals with assures me there are no regulations stating the pilot has to arrive/depart on the designated runway. I don't know if it every blows less than 20 mph in South Dakota or Nebraska, I find those spring trips for Turkey are always a real challenge. With our trees in Minnesota, we don't have nearly the problem with crosswinds.

Roger

I have flown since 1972. I first bought an old worn out Aztec that had been a mail plane. It was a constant maintenance problem.

Then I bought and flew a new Piper Turbo Arrow, then a new V35B Bonanza, then a Beech Baron and finally ended up with the Citabria below which I just sold.

In my mind it would be a toss up as to which was best - the Baron or the Citabria. The Baron was more useful. The Citabria was by far the most fun.

I am not sure what will be next - maybe nothing. Sometimes I think I have used up my limit of "cheating death" in 40 years and over 12,000 hours of flying.

On the other hand, I would really like to try out a float plane for a while.

I wrote about my flying adventures in my book "Seat to Seat by air - Chronicles of a flying Architect." So far it has not made any best sellers list (but is still available on Amazon).

Floats are FUN!! Once you get WET, you'll never go back!!

I think there will be one sitting at my dock shortly after returning from the conventions!!

Happy New Year!!

Cheers

I was just going to say...Float flying is a KICK! I truly enjoyed my time on floats. It is a great sensation of freedom in an area that is full of lakes or rivers.

Palmer,

I've got a ton of respect for a guy who isn't flying for a living and still was able to chock up 12K hours. That is a bunch of GA flying my man!

How do I post an attachment to a Post on AR? I have an excellent flight demo of the newest SU-30MK with canards and variable thrust devices...awesome!!
I am a computer klutz and I don't fly Glass either!!
Cheers,

The easiest way if the demo is on the Internet just copy the link and post it on AR with your reply
Larry

It's not, it is a Windows Media Player. I looked out there including You Tube and it is not there in the most current version.

Cheers,

Instrument rated single engine land with high performance endorsement.

Got back into flying after a 38 year break due to my son getting into aviation. We have a Cessna T182T.

Didn't fully appreciate it at the time, but I had an awesomely rich instruction experience when I got my private. My HS physics teacher taught my ground school in 1974. He had flown B17s in Europe.
My flight instructor at (historically signifigant) KSWW had flown Hellcats off of carrier decks in WW2. He could really put it on the numbers!

Never had a Pilots license.

But I have flown a Mooney in Mexico a bit.
Some in bad weather.

I flew a Plane in Africa for a bit.

And I have flown a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter for a few hours.

I cannot, or rather I have not, taken off or landed, but once airborn I can keep the aircraft off the ground...

Private, SEL

Matt

own a piper 140 for years
i was in a flying club that had 50 different planes you could get check out in
flew anything i could get my hands on.

I've never flown any big stuff but I'm a CFII in SEL, SES and MEL. I have a commercial certificate in rotorcraft helicopter as well and have soloed a gyroplane.

I've been building a RAF 2000 gyroplane. When that's done, I'll be back in the air again cheaply and much to my wife's dismay.

Like Rusty, I'm just an old, jealous wanna be.
If I had my druthers, I'd have one of the sweet new Carbon Cubs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AhUkjjpSOs

You don't have to be a WANNABE...lots of LSA options...not as expensive as the Sport Cub. I love that one too and am going there until the Third Class Medical requirements are lifted!!

Another one is the Technam....including one on Amphib Floats.....FUN!!

Cheers,

Just got my medical exam done, BFR, and the 170 annual. Start flying this weekend after five months of winter.

Tom

Started my Private at the beginning of December 2013, and took my check ride April 4th. Just got back from taking a trip to see my dad who got me started with R/C planes in the late 80's. He didn't know anything about me working on my certificate. When he got to the purport to pick us up he asked where our pilot was. My wife pointed to me and I hand him my card. He was speechless. Now rather than a 9 hour drive to see him it's only about 2 and a half ours in a 172.

My next goals are to do instrument by the end of 2015, and commercial by 2017.

Having an instrument rating is the only way to stay out of trouble and make trips reliably. Also at least a wing-leveler autopilot.

After the Bonanzas I owned, my C172 was my favorite. It was a 1970s vintage (1976 I think). It had the 180 hp conversion and 1,100 pound useful load. The useful load increase came with the Penn-Yan conversion. My 172 also had a 40 degree flap setting, making it a good short field, airplane.

Apparently a lot of people like the 172 since it was the best selling small airplane of all time.

quote:

Originally posted by Rhys:
Started my Private at the beginning of December 2013, and took my check ride April 4th. Just got back from taking a trip to see my dad who got me started with R/C planes in the late 80's. He didn't know anything about me working on my certificate. When he got to the purport to pick us up he asked where our pilot was. My wife pointed to me and I hand him my card. He was speechless. Now rather than a 9 hour drive to see him it's only about 2 and a half ours in a 172.

My next goals are to do instrument by the end of 2015, and commercial by 2017.

Congratulations! I still remember my private pilot check ride as if were yesterday. But it was in 1975.

The 172 that I've been using is a pretty fun setup. 180hp Penn Yan motor and Horton STOL kit. You can pretty easily put it into slow flight deep enough to stop getting a reading on the ASI.

Well, a little history about me! I took Aeronautics and welding in high school and upon graduation, I was able to obtain a position as a gas welder at Cessna Aircraft Co. I then joined the Kansas Air National Guard and the Cessna Flying Club, where I learned to fly.
I enrolled at the University of Wichita( now Wichita State University) and enrolled in their ROTC program.
I then moved to Southern California where I was transferred to the U.S. Reserves and finished my 8 year obligation in the military.
I have worked for Cessna Aircraft Co.;Boeing Airplane Co.;Hughes Aircraft Co.;Santa Barbara Research Co.;Perkin-Elmer Co.;Santa Barbara Aviation;and a number of other aviation companies.
I started flying with the A & E Flying Club located on the Hawthorne Airport in Southern CA. ;where I received my solo,private,instrument,multi-engine and commercial certificates.
I have a CMSELI Ratings and have flown Cessnas 172,310;Beech Bonanza's B,M & P models as well as Aerostar 600 and 601P models.

I am a Life,Sustaining & Patron Member of NRA.
A Life member of FNAWS.
A Life member of NAHC.
A Life member of BASS
A Life member of Alaska Professional Hunters Ass'n
A life member of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
A member of AOPA
A member of EAA
A member Alaska Airmen's Ass'n

Wow
To much for me
Good job
Larry

Private License age 18 (1967). Then fliying the national airline. Just retired due to age (65). More than 33.000 hrs flying time . Had flown HS-748 , B-727 , B-707 , DC-10 ,B-737 , B-767 , A-340 . Plus more than 5.000 hrs as simulator instructor. Been instructor for 29 years : B-737, B 767 and Airbus A -340.
Now dreaming on a Husky to go fishing and hunting.
Pulki.

Pulki,

What a great Career....makes me envious!! Congratulations.

That said, I don't see much GA time beyond Private. Be VERY,VERY CAREFUL- these light planes like the Husky are VERY, VERY different than the heavy iron....and they will bite very quickly!!...the Bush is even more tricky, don't be fooled by scud running either!!

Lots of practice is in order ....which is, of course, lots of fun!! ENJOY!! Might look at a Carbon Cub too....great bird as well.

Cheers

Awesome to see some guys with over 30K hours. My uncle had about 35,000 when he retired. Those hours come with a story or two for sure.

Any of you ever fly a DC-5? Not many of those were made, I think only 12 if I recall correctly. My uncle flew the DC-3 to the DC-10, including the 5.

There is a flying DC-2 here in Seattle that Clay LAcey redid and it is fabulous. HAd the opportunity to go inside once. Wish my uncle could have added that to his DC-list.

Thank you Eddie for the advise.
Yes , I know its another type of flight, easy to get involved in problems (meteo) you don't have fliying the big , fast , powerful, beautiful....oh I think I am starting to miss fliying.
Pulki.