wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (01/14/86)
Favorite aircraft flown, in order: L-19, Citabria, L-16
Current Mount: 1965 Cessna 150E (ah, the realities of economics)
Dream airplane: Starduster Too w/220 hp Cont. Radial engine.
Most Unusual "Time": 2000+ hours "flying" satellites for NORAD. TRW
model 647s, for those who read Aviation Leak.
Flight History: Soloed 6 December, 1970 (two months before receiving
driver's license), Private certificate 6 October 1971. Total of 220 hours
by Feb. 1977. Flew 2 hours between Feb 77 and July 84. Flown 70 hours
July 84 to present.
Memorable Flights:
A. Deadstick landing after engine failure. Details posted to net.
B. Mass Flight by fellow CAP cadets, mid 1970's. About seven of us cadets
had student permits or privates, and one fine summer day, we and our
squadron commander rented planes and descended en mass to a small airstrip
where one of my buddies uncles had a farm. Formation mix included T-41s,
C-150s, a Citabria (me!), Grumman TR-1s, and an Arrow. Don't think the
Arrow retracted its gear for this flight...
C. First passenger carried after getting Private. Took my best friend up
as my first passenger. While demonstrating steep turns, I stalled out and
spun over the top. Embarrassing. I'm not as stupid now.
D. Hitting a dust devil in an Aeronca L-16 (military Champ). My head hit
the headliner (how often do you *really* cinch that belt tight?), the
microphone hit the windshield, and my flailing right leg contacted and
triggered a Carbon-Tetracloride fire extinguisher under the seat. When
things had settled, I opened the slide-back window and stuck my head out to
breathe. Got hit by a bug (ick).
Favorite Aviation Fairy Story: Once upon a time, there was a young boy who
ate, slept, and lived for flying. One day, he left his aviation life and
joined the Air Force. Contrary to the name, there was no flying for the
young boy... the Air Force saw to that. Even after leaving the Air Force,
supporting his new wife kept him from the sky. He whimpered whenever he
heard a faint flutter overhead. One day, in frustration, he decided to
make his computer act like an airplane. He succeeded. Some nice people
decided they liked his computer airplane, and paid him money for it. The
young man then bought an airplane, and all was fun again.
But then.... Nahhhhhhhhh....
Ron Wanttaja
(ssc-vax!wanttaja)