rje@cae780.UUCP (Bob Evans) (01/06/86)
This is a neat idea ! It is interesting to learn something about
the people that you usually get to know only from writing style and
sense of humor (or lack of same ;-).
I have been in love with airplanes as far back as I can remember. I grew
up building models, including ukies. When I finally got a little ahead
I went into RC models - primarily RC sailplanes. I have probably 1000
hours as 'pilot-in-command' of everything from clunky, ugly (until they're
airborne !) wooden crates to sleek, sexy fiberglass craft that look like
they're flying even when sitting in the grass ! My favorite was a scale
ASW-17 (apparently it was also someone elses favorite - the ship & all
radio gear was stolen just before Christmas one year).
In 1984 I started studying for my private ticket. I did the home study
bit, and never regretted it - got a 98 (missed one) on the exam. Most of
the credit however, belongs to a _good_ instructor who never failed to
give me a thorough quiz on all the 'book learning' before we took to the
air.
The hardest part of learning to fly, for me anyway, was landing. Takeoffs,
navigation, procedure, communications - nothin' to it ! But landings,
oh my ! Bounce, squeal, thud ... :-) My instructor's favorite comment
was 'You only get to log ONE of those', followed closely by 'The center
line isn't put there to separate you from on-coming traffic - land ON
it, not to the right or left of it !'.
Since July 84 I've gotten up to 175 hours, with all but 2.5 hours in
either C-172s or C-172RGs. The 2.5 is in C-152s, but that's another
story :-)
I'm now in the process of studying for the Instrument written. I intend
to go on and get Commercial and CFI tickets so someone _else_ will help
pay the bill ! This is also being done at home, using both the Jeppeson
books and the ATC audio tapes.
Cheers and Blue Skies,
Bob
FROM: Robert J. Evans, CAE Systems Division of Tektronix, Inc.
UUCP: tektronix!teklds!cae780!rje
{ihnp4, decvax!decwrl}!amdcad!cae780!rje
{nsc, hplabs, resonex, qubix, leadsv}!cae780!rje
USNAIL: 5302 Betsy Ross Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054
AT&T: (408)727-1234 x4819llh@midacs.UUCP (Linn Hower) (01/15/86)
What I Did On My Summer Vacation. By: Linn Hower, Commercial Pilot, ASELS, AMEL, IA I started flying in the summer of 1976. I soloed that June in an Aeronca Champ. Someone told me the only way to learn to fly was in a taildragger. Could be. Returning to college at U. of Idaho that fall forced a change in instructer and aircraft. I found an out of work ag pilot with a C-150 that would fill the bill. I aquired my SEL private rating Friday the 13th, 12-13-76. Not much superstition here. What stands out the most from my private training was night dual off (and back on!) an unlit 2000 foot ag strip on a dark night. Definitely back on was the tricky part. In March of 1977 I bought half interest in a 1954 C-180. Thats when I really started to learn to fly. If I had a dollar for all those bounces... Gee, come to think about it, what's changed? And everyone should own an old airplane at one time or another. You learn alot about aviation. The rest of the highlites: 5/79 sold interest in C-180 12/79 instrument rating 3/80 commercial rating 3/81 bought 1961 C-185; original trim pattern on polished aluminum 10/84 multi engine ticket 11/84 single engine sea 6/85 bought 1941 J3 cub seaplane on 1941 Edo 1320's; a used airplane I have logged about 1200 hours in the following aircraft: Aeronca 7ac; Cessna 150, 152, 172, 180, 182, 182RG, 188, 185, 425; Grumman AA-5, AA-5A, AA-5B; Piper J3, PA-18, 28, 34; The majority of that time is in the 180 I used to own and the 185 I own now. A skywagon has got to be the best all around single engine plane on the market. Memorable solo: I have an ag pilot friend that flies a Cessna Ag Truck (C-188) off of a 1600 foot one-way dog-legged gravel strip. He asked if I wanted to fly his Ag Truck. The checkout consisted of how long to run the boost pump for starting prime, half the flaps for takeoff, the rest for landing, and "fly it about like your Skywagen". Of course, there is only one seat in an Ag Truck. Let me tell you, an empty Ag Truck is fun to fly! Finest (non 180/185) machine I've flown: Without a doubt the C-425 Conquest I. But what do you expect for a million bucks? Reasons to Fly: Skywagons: Access to the Idaho backcountry. These short, high altitude, canyon, blind approach, oneway, no go-around, crooked strips are not for the untrained or under-equipted. But when your on your toes in the right equipment... the ultimate flying experience. Well next to seaplanes, that is. Seaplanes: My true love. You can't imagine it until you've done it. I was told eastern Idaho was no place for seaplanes. Hogwash. Just be prepared for landing altitudes from 4500 to 7000 and fast flowing rivers. I'll have to admit - having the only one in the country doesn't hurt your ego any. But it keeps you on your toes. Seems like everyone 'round these parts has seen Motherload! Without a doubt the most adventure I've had flying: The first weekend in October last year I flew my cub on straight floats from Idaho Falls, ID to a splash-in at Lakeport, CA and back. I went 25 hours round trip, 15 stops, one forced landing, camped out 4 nights, refueled from a 180 twice, hitch-hiked several times..., and took second place in the water bombing competition! All of this in a 70 MPH 5.5 GPH plane that only lands on water, and pilot, co-pilot, camping gear, and some fuel to stay close to the 427 pound useful load. For sport, I'll let you try to figure out how I did it! What do you do when your engine comes undone ( besides play the Guess Who song) over the high desert of central Oregon? Well I was over a flooded hay field at the time, so an allmost normal landing was in order. Got out and towed the plane as near to shore as she'd go. Piggybacked my co-pilot to shore. What, you don't wear hipboots when your flying planes with those silly little wheels? Hike a couple miles back to the ranch. No one around... But there's a hangar and airstrip out in the pasture. So you leave your wallet and a note on the tool box in the hangar, and take the tools you need back to the plane. Ah, there's the problem. The rocker bosses failed on number one. The next morning your friendly A&P ag pilot in his C-320 bound for the same splashin arrives, with a new cylinder, hipboots, and cylinder base wrenches, and in 3 hours your off and flying. But how did he land that twin Cessna at a splashin??? Projects for the next 6 months: Rebuild the cub; no, it just needs TLC Get a CFI and give seaplane dual!!! ----- What about it? Are there any other 180/185 pilots out there? How about seaplane pilots?? I like to hear from the netlands. -- Linn Hower Phone: 208-526-9353 ...!ucbvax!ucdavis!midacs!isew02!linn